BPL: Best buys of the summer

Here's a look at five players who could vindicate the managers' decision to sign them in the summer.

Javier Hernandez, Manchester United
"Javier who?" was the response of many United fans, especially those unhappy with the Glazer regime, when the signing of the man nicknamed 'Chicharito' was announced in April. No one had heard of him and there were fears Wayne Rooney would have to don the mantle of goal-scorer in chief for his club yet again.

But then 22-year-old Hernandez showed Sir Alex Ferguson had secured a bargain at £7million from Guadalajara as he emerged as one of the outstanding players of the World Cup, the highlight being a stunning goal against Argentina.

Joe Cole, Liverpool
The England midfielder is still only 28 and his capture on a free transfer from Chelsea is great business for new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson.

Former club skipper John Terry infamously said during the World Cup that Cole and Wayne Rooney are the only England players who can open up defences, and certainly no-one else did anything to challenge that statement.

Jermaine Beckford, Everton
It is unusual for a player to break into the big time at the age of 26, but Beckford has shown at Leeds he has an eye for goal, whoever the opposition.

His 72 goals in 126 games for Leeds may have come mainly in League One, but included a memorable winning strike against Manchester United, and his free transfer was a no-brainer for David Moyes.

Jerome Boateng, Manchester City
Powerful, tough-tackling Germany defender who looks perfectly-designed for the rigours of the Premier League.

Can play either at centre-back as well as left-back - sound familiar, Joleon Lescott? - and his £10.4million signing from Hamburg looked great value after a successful World Cup.

Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
A 24-year-old centre-back eligible to play for both France and Poland, Koscielny has been chosen by Arsene Wenger as the man he hopes will become Thomas Vermaelen's long-term partner.

He was playing for the unfashionable Lorient last season and if he proves his worth for the Gunners will be another 'unknown' for Wenger to notch up on his long list of successes.

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