Zlatan, Kante, Mane? Fans choose their signing of the summer

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Striker has joined on free transfer

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Striker joined United on free transfer

Manchester United’s capture of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been voted as the best signing of the summer so far, according to a fans’ poll.

Premier League fans have witnessed several significant signings already this summer, particularly from the biggest clubs, setting the 2016/17 season to be very special indeed. What’s more, it’s still only just getting to late July.

More than 121,000 people registered their vote in a 90min poll to determine who fans believe to be best new arrival so far from five high profile options.

Given the fervour and hype surrounding his move to Manchester United, it is perhaps unsurprising that Ibrahimovic came out on top with as much as 48% of all votes cast.

The Swede announced the move via his personal Instagram account in late June in a post that has been liked well over 1,000,000 times. He is yet to join up with his new team-mates, but Zlatan has been likened to the second coming of Eric Cantona at Old Trafford, a comparison not assigned lightly considering the Frenchman’s legendary status.

 

Signing of the summer

Second behind Ibrahimovic with 20% of the overall vote was N’Golo Kanté, Chelsea’s new midfield engine. The diminutive dynamo made the switch £32m switch to Stamford Bridge from Leicester after becoming a Premier League champion with the Foxes in May.

The move rounded off an incredible 12 months for the 25-year-old. In July 2015 he was still at Cannes and unknown to most after just one season of top flight football to his name. Now he’s a title winner, a full international and one of the most expensive French players in history.

Kanté was marginally ahead of new Liverpool winger Sadio Mané, signed from Southampton for a fee of £34m that could potentially rise to a club record £38m.

The Senegalese winger, who finished the 2015/16 campaign in fine goalscoring form, is the latest player to make the switch from St Mary’s to Anfield, following the path previously walked by Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne, among others.

Granit Xhaka’s move £30m to Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach was the first big move of the summer but has been somewhat overtaken by everything that has happened since. As such, just 10% of those voted chose the Swiss international as their top signing so far.

Even fewer, just 5%, went with Ilkay Gundogan, currently the most expensive new arrival of the Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City. Hype has arguably been diminished because the German arrived with a knee injury that will likely prevent him from making his debut until October.

 

Jamie Spencer

 

For more fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com