Meet The New Boys- The Premiership’s New Arrivals #2

Even this early in the summer there's been massive influx of talent to the Premiership. Square Football spotlights four more arrivals led by new Brazilian cap Anderson of Manchester United .

Anderson- Manchester United

Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliviera is Manchester United’s latest big addition from Portuguese football. The Brazilian comes with a pedigree having won the Golden Ball at the World Under-17 Finals, plus he’s part of the Brazilian squad in the Copa America at the moment.

United bought Anderson from Porto, where he has already won two League titles and the domestic ‘double’, though a broken leg limited his appearances. The teenager has been identified as a potential great for many years- he actually joined the famous Gremio club at the age of 5.

Anderson is an attacking midfielder who has played mainly on the left side for Porto and he’s just won his first 2 Brazil caps in the Copa America group matches. Porto snapped him up after he had made only 5 starts for Gremio and have used him in the Champions League.

Touch and close control are what identify Anderson as a star in the making; possibly a long-term replacement for either Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes.

Sulley Muntari – Portsmouth

The Ghanian international arrives at Fratton Park from Udinese in Serie A, where he has played since his teenage years (he’s 22). Muntari also played in last year’s World Cup Finals in Germany.

The midfielder is known for his physical presence, being compared to Edgar Davids in some quarters. Certainly his combative instincts have got the player into some disciplinary trouble during his time in Italy.

Muntari actually had a trial with Manchester United before he moved to Udinese- he’d attracted much attention after Ghana’s storming performances in the World Under-20 Finals where he played left midfield. For Ghana he forms an awesomely powerful midfield with Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah.

Portsmouth got their man despite interest from Roma. The player had indicated a desire to play in the Premiership for some time and it should suit his more robust style, just as it has Essien.

Julien Faubert- West Ham

Bordeaux midfielder Faubert was on his way to Rangers before West Ham nipped in and used their new financial muscle in the market place to divert him to East London.

Yet another of the posse of midfielders coming into the Premiership this summer, Faubert made his debut for France last year after the World Cup- he scored against Bosnia/Herzegovnia too but Faubert hasn’t added to that single appearance yet.

When he came to Bordeaux from Cannes Faubert was a right back but converted to midfield; he brings useful options and solid defensive awareness, as well as his attacking qualities. He starred in the French under 21 side that reached the semi-finals if the European Championships.

He’s reputed to have a thunderous shot from range and Bordeaux have used him as an out and out winger as well as a more central role.

Maceo Rigters- Blackburn

With other middle rank Premiership sides adding talent to their squads, Rovers needed to be active in the market too. The capture of Rigters from NAC Breda has been relatively low key compared to some of the big names but it could be significant.

Rigters has just been part of the Dutch Euro under-21 Finals success where he won the Golden Boot as top scorer. Celtic were strongly interested in him before Rovers stepped in.

He began his football career in the Ajax academy before spells at Heerenveen and with Dordrecht in the second tier. Rigters scored the last minute equaliser which kept Holland in the under-21 semi-final against England. He has 6 goals in 9 starts for the Under-21 side.

Known as a hard grafting striker prepared to close down defenders and make runs for his colleagues, his scoring rate for NAC Breda has not been impressive but coaches have identified him as a player of the future, which he proved at under-21 level.

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Meet The New Boys- The Premiership’s New Arrivals #2

Anderson- Manchester United

Sulley Muntari – Portsmouth

Julien Faubert- West Ham

Maceo Rigters- Blackburn

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