Mourinho, though, had previously noted that he saw only Mata as naturally suited to cutting in from the right. With his teams always so potent on the counterattack, Mourinho would also have been attracted by the raw pace that Willian will add to the team. An added bonus was that he succeeded in preventing Tottenham from signing a very dangerous player. JW
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Mesut Özil
£42.4 million from Real Madrid
Likely fall guy Tomas Rosicky
Arsène Wenger has remained faithful to his 4-2-3-1 system for the past five years and Özil is arguably the world's very best player in the 'No 10' role behind the main central striker. Since Cesc Fabregas was sold to Barcelona, it is a position that has, at different times, been filled by Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere.
Özil 's arrival will mean Cazorla playing predominantly on the left and Wilshere starting in his more natural role as one of two deepest-lying central midfielders. Rosicky could be the main casualty, although his versatility means that he will still be competing to start in central midfield or even out wide on the right.
With Cazorla, Özil , Theo Walcott and Wilshere behind him, Olivier Giroud should be the principal beneficiary. For both Real Madrid and Germany over the past three years, Özil has provided 94 assists – nearly double Fabregas in that same period.
Wenger will also hope that Özil 's arrival has a transformative impact on the mood that surrounds the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal again need to be seen as a club that recruit rather than sell world-class players and the signing of Özil could provide a pivotal shift in the club's momentum. JW
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MANCHESTER UNITED
Marouane Fellaini
£27.5 million from Everton
Likely fall guy Tom Cleverley
The answer to what Fellaini will bring to United is a difficult one to identify as the Belgian midfielder divides opinion as to exactly what he offers. Few would argue that the Belgian is a holding midfielder, one capable of playing alongside Michael Carrick to strengthen the shield in front of United's back four.
Yet there would be equally few observers willing to label the 25-year-old as an attacking midfielder with the creativity to unlock doors and make chances for the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
By signing Fellaini, David Moyes has at least bolstered an area of weakness in the United squad as it is no secret that the club has been vigorously searching for proven midfield reinforcements in recent years.
But who will make way? Will Tom Cleverley be sacrificed alongside Carrick, or will Moyes rotate Fellaini with Rooney and Shinji Kagawa in the role behind the central striker. At Everton, Fellaini's height and presence made him a crucial figure behind the front-man in a 4-4-1-1 formation, but United rarely play that way and it will be a gamble if Moyes opts for Fellaini's physical attributes ahead of the craft and guile of a flair player. MO
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LIVERPOOL
Mamadou Sakho
£15 million from Paris St-Germain
Likely fall guy Martin Skrtel
Following his man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United, it will be harsh on Martin Skrtel to find himself instantly dropped to make way for Sakho. However, having paid £15 million to secure the French international from Paris St-Germain, it is inconceivable that Brendan Rodgers will not find a place in his starting line-up at the earliest opportunity.
Sakho has the physical presence Liverpool often craved during Rodgers' first season. The prospect of the club's defence being bullied as it was too often a year ago has now surely receded, not only with the addition of Sakho but also Kolo Touré's recruitment.
There is a suggestion either Touré or Sakho could be used at full-back, particularly given the untimely injury to Glen Johnson, or Rodgers may even play three centre-backs to accommodate his sudden variety of centre-halves.
Most likely, however, Sakho will be placed firmly where he was during his most successful period at PSG, offering the brute force and intimidation at the heart of the back four alongside the more elegant Daniel Agger.
It will be nigh on impossible for Rodgers to keep every defender happy during the course of this season, but longer term – with Liverpool determined to return to Europe – the assembling of high quality centre-backs is a luxury no one at Anfield will be complaining about. CB
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