Top 5 SPL transfers so far

By: Ian Rose | July 12th, 2007

Well, we’re about halfway through the silly season, and already a lot of talent has moved both out of and into the Scottish Premier League. Here’s my take on the five biggest moves by SPL clubs in and out so far this season. I know that many of the popular choices aren’t here, such as DeMarcus Beasley and Laryea Kingston, but this isn’t the list of the most expensive transfers or the ones that made the most news. These are the moves that I think will make the biggest impact on the league this next year. Discuss.

1. Donati – AC Milan to Celtic
Donati has spent the past five years on loan from Champions League holders AC Milan to just about every other side in Italy. He was looking for some consistency, as was the Celtic midfield. This is the move of the summer in the SPL, hands down. Donati is yet to prove he can take the pace and physicality of the Scottish game, but I believe he’ll fit in quickly and complement Nakamura and Scott Brown quite well, especially with the trouble-making Thomas Graveson on the way out.

2. McCulloch – Wigan to Rangers
They might not have the budget of Celtic, especially after the massive windfall the Bhoys got from this year’s Champions League, but Rangers have made the most of their money with some great moves this summer. DeMarcus Beasley and Jean-Claude Darcheville have made headlines, but its the less well-known homegrown players like former Falkirk man Alan Gow that interest me. The biggest Scottish player coming to Ibrox is undoubtably Lee McCulloch from Wigan. Not only is it great to see a player come back to the SPL in his prime (albeit the end of his prime), but to see a player get his chance to play for his boyhood dream team is an extra plus. McCulloch has always been a Rangers supporter, and he will turn it up for Rangers in the midfield. I can’t wait to see him and Scott Brown line up against each other in the Old Firm derby. Brown got all the early attention, but my money’s on McCulloch to make the bigger impact.

3. Anderson – Aberdeen to Sunderland
He’s not well-known outside of Scotland, but Sunderland got the deal of the year on Russell Anderson, who went to Roy Keane’s side for 1 million quid. The former Aberdeen captain was one of the strongest defenders in the SPL, and he will be sorely missed. It remains to be seen if Sunderland’s backline will become even more Scottish soon, as they continue to bid for Hearts keeper Craig Gordon, but regardless of that, they could have paid twice the fee for Anderson and still gotten a bargain. I only hope they realize what they have.

4. 4 Players in one day to St. Mirren
Okay, it’s not a single transfer, but in one day, St. Mirren took themselves out of being my favorite pick for relegation next season. On June 28th, they signed Craig Dargo from Inverness, Will Haining from Oldham, Mark Howard from Cardiff City, and Gary Mason from Dunfermline. Dargo is a quality striker, something the Paisley side desperately need. Haining is a defender with a strong work ethic and a good head for goal on set pieces. Howard is a young keeper with some SPL experience at Falkirk, where he had a decent, though not particularly impressive run. Gary Mason has more time in the SPL than most of the St. Mirren side, having spent 6 years with Pars. None of these names are particularly impressive on their own, but together, I think they may be enough to send Gretna back to First Division and keep St. Mirren in the SPL for a third straight season. Not a bad day’s work.

5. Cuellar – Osasuna to Rangers
Dollar for dollar, he should be higher on this list, but I won’t be completely convinced until I see him play in the Scottish game. Still, luring a player like Cuellar, an established and powerful defender, from a strong team in arguably the best league in the world (La Liga) was a great coup for Rangers. Like Donati, he might take some time to adjust to Scotland, and the record for continental defenders in the SPL isn’t a great one, but I think he has the grit to get it done.