Top 5 Premier League transfers so far

The pre-season programme is well underway and the 2009/10 Premier League campaign is fast approaching. In the era of the transfer window, of course, the summer becomes a whirlwind of transfer speculation: the ins, outs, maybes and sagas.

The Premier League clubs haven't done a whole lot of high-profile business yet, bar Manchester City and the odd hard-hitting transfer here and there (like Michael Owen), but a few cunning signings have been made which might just have slipped under the radar. Taking a little from column A and a little from column B, here are my top five Premier League transfers (in) so far:

1. Gareth Barry, Manchester City

Despite the signings of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz, the best signing of the summer so far - for Manchester City or anyone else - has been Gareth Barry. As a Villa fan, I hate the greedy twat, but he is a solid if unspectacular player who could well be the steadying influence needed in the Manchester City midfield.

He's the perfect foil for Stephen Ireland, but he has a lot to prove. In a World Cup year Barry will be playing in unfamiliar circumstances for the first time in a decade and will be in the spotlight of a new set of supporters who will soon see the glaring weaknesses in his game. But he's a great player and with the boundless energy of Ireland alongside him could become the first name on Fabio Capello's teamsheet.

2. Michael Owen, Manchester United

Depending on your standpoint, Michael Owen's move to Manchester United is either a clever piece of business or the most bizarre transfer of recent years. Owen has become notoriously prone to serious injury and has lost the pace which made him so dangerous early on in his career, but retains a deadly eye for goal in the penalty area.

Owen would undoubtedly have been a massive gamble for Everton or Villa, the other clubs (reasonably) linked with the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man, who would've required more appearances and more goals than Owen is capable of. But for United it's more a case of picking up a striker in the style of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, and eight goals in 20 league games plus a showing in the cups would be a worthwhile return.

3. Kyle Naughton, Tottenham Hotspur

Despite being managed by a massive gobshite, Spurs still pick up a highly-rated young talent every now and again - and not always from Africa. Sheffield United's Kyle Naughton has been hot property in this transfer window and a move to the Premier League became inevitable.

Harry Redknapp snared Naughton's signature despite the attentions of Everton and, reportedly, Villa. And if he gets close to living up to his potential he will be a real bargain for Spurs.

4. Dean Whitehead, Stoke City

Whitehead moved to Stoke from Sunderland for £3m and might well turn out to be a snip. He is a decent enough Premier League midfielder and represents further consolidation by Stoke as they gradually improve their squad. If we assume Stoke's target this season is to finish 14th-17th, players like Whitehead are clever signings.

With the backing of an excellent manager in Tony Pulis and a potentially good partnership to be forged with Matty Etherington, Whitehead will be a key creative member of a midfield capable of supplying the ammunition for resurgent goalscorer James Beattie.

5. Andrew Surman, Wolverhampton Wanderers

This is hardly the most spectacular signing of the summer but for £1.2m Wolves have picked up an absolute bargain. The 22-year-old South African-born midfielder has been capped by England U-21s and has been a bright spot for a Southampton side on a downward spiral.

I know Surman best from his loan spell at AFC Bournemouth, where 6 goals endeared him to supporters with little else to cheer. Is he Premier League quality? We'll see, but I wouldn't be surprised. He's an excellent prospect.

(Pic: Birmingham Post)