Summer signings - a debate

We are roughly a month into the new soccer season and it has been about two weeks since the close of the transfer window in many major leagues.

This has given us a bit of time to reflect on the business done by clubs and its potential impact on success over the coming months.

My vote for best value-for-money buy right now goes to Carlos Tevez. When it comes to players, that is.

Juventus signed him for around 10-million euros and that looks a steal to me.

Sure, he is 29 and perhaps a tad moody, but Tevez is both a creator and a scorer of goals.

I feel my beloved Inter should have made a move for either Tevez or Samuel Eto'o - but it seems they have other (younger and cheaper) ideas.

Not that I can complain about the early season form under Walter Mazzarri. The former Napoli coach has made an impressive impact at Inter and could still prove the signing of the summer.

Real Madrid have added a star in Gareth Bale, but is he really worth what they spent on him...

I guess he did score on debut last weekend.

Real allowed Kaka to return to AC Milan and their risk has been underlined by the latest injury to hit the gifted Brazilian.

Speaking of gifted Brazilians, I cannot fail to mention Neymar in this debate. He is superb with the ball at his feet, but has cost a packet and may not necessarily fit well at Barcelona.

Of course, I am talking value-for-money here and you may well argue that the best signing is not necessarily the best value-for-money purchase...

Here in South Africa we have seen the return of Knowledge Musona and a Pirates investment in Lennox Bacela. My money is on Musona to score a few more than the former Bloemfontein Celtic marksman.

I like Mabhuti Khenyeza as a potential surprise package for Aces, but only if he somehow manages to escape a lengthy suspension. Khenyeza has looked lively this season. I certainly enjoyed his finish against Supersport United over the past weekend. He did follow it with a bad miss and kept the assistant referees rather busy with several mis-timed runs.

I believe Manchester United have made a good signing in Marouane Fellaini. I think he is a class player. A dodgy temper is perhaps his biggest weakness.

Arsenal have a decent buy in Mesut Ozil, but for me they are a striker short. However, now I am straying outside the borders of this debate.

I guess I could write at least another thousand words, but let me make my prediction and let you get on with other things.

Walter Mazzarri will prove the best investment. He will salvage the Inter ship and get enough out of a young and relatively cheap squad to challenge seriously for the Italian Serie A title.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- Andre Bloem

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre