Jamie Redknapp: After the transfer window and internationals, now it starts for real

By Jamie Redknapp for the Daily Mail
Updated: 18:00 EDT, 8 September 2011

The biggest statement signing of the window was Peter Crouch. It tells you that Stoke mean business.

Tony Pulis has an excellent transfer market record. Players such as Matthew Etherington, Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Shawcross and Rory Delap have been successful signings.

Now having qualified for the Europa League and, I suspect, having fallen short at the FA Cup final, he wants to improve. And he has, with Crouch, Wilson Palacios and Cameron Jerome increasing the competition for places.

High times: Peter Crouch arrived at Stoke as part of a £22m deadline day splurge

Can you play big Kenwyne Jones and Peter Crouch together? It might mean that Jones has to work a bit harder to keep his place. And there is a benefit in that too.

The two moves that most excited me were Craig Bellamy to Liverpool and Manchester City’s bold signing of Owen Hargreaves. I hope both work out.

I know Bellamy has a rough reputation, but Jamie Carragher and Scott Parker both rave about him and his passion for the game. He can play and he loves the game. Sometimes his frustration comes when he feels others don’t share his desire. That won’t happen at Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool.

Roaring to go: Craig Bellamy has returned to Liverpool on a free transfer

Another free, Hargreaves, has to prove his fitness. If he can get out on the pitch and play like he says he can, he can be as good as anyone out there. We wait with bated breath.

Spurs signings Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker will add firepower and a stronger spine to the team. Adebayor’s arrival can help Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon rediscover their form.

I’m sure Luka Modric is excited to play with him. My dad has wanted Parker for years, because of what he gives a club on and off the pitch. He’ll be the only one pleased Parker didn’t start for England in the week, because he’ll be fresh for when Spurs play Wolves away.

Arsene Wenger doesn’t usually buy players with questionable injury records, but he has contradicted that principle with the signings of Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun. Both are fine players, but they have had injuries in recent years and haven’t yet rediscovered their best form.

I have friends who are Everton fans and they weren’t distressed at Arteta’s exit. He was poor last season. If Arsenal get the Arteta of two years ago, he will be a great coup. But he has a lot to prove and so does Benayoun, who has been a fringe player at Liverpool and Chelsea.

Head boy: Germany's Per Mertesacker could finally fix Arsenal's defensive problems

Per Mertesacker is an interesting one too. He’s a big, powerful central defender who will give Arsenal some help with defending set-plays.

I expected them to buy a holding midfielder to give their defence more protection. If Mertesacker plays as he did at the World Cup, he will be a good signing. But he too is returning after ankle surgery last season.