Transfers: Best and worst

BEST (in no particular order)

Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax to Arsenal, £10m)

Considering the amounts paid for certain other defenders this transfer window, the £10 million paid for the Belgian stopper looks a real bargain. Already the 23-year-old has risen to the challenge of competing at the highest level and has been magnificent in the Gunners' rousing start to the season. Confident on the ball, good in the air and adept at snuffing out opposition attacks, Vermaelen is exactly what Arsenal needed.

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa to Manchester City, £12m)

Mark Hughes knew what he was getting by signing the former Aston Villa midfielder: a highly effective player who can link defence and attack seamlessly, hold a team's shape and weigh in with a few goals of his own. Of all the galaxy of stars City brought in over the summer, Barry could prove to be the brightest. And with a price tag of just £12m, one of the least expensive.

Michael Owen (to Manchester United, free)

Given the fact he did not cost United a penny, Owen may well turn out to be the bargain of the summer. His signing represents a no-risk transaction for Alex Ferguson - only the striker's own reputation is at stake - and if he can benefit from the creative juices flowing through the United side and rediscover some goalscoring form, a recall to the England set-up in time for next summer's World Cup should not be ruled out.

Glen Johnson (Portsmouth to Liverpool, £17.5m)

Proof if it were needed that transfer business does not have to be overly-complicated: Liverpool needed a right-back so they went out and bought the best the country had to offer. Yes, they paid over the odds for him (even Rafa Benitez has admitted as much) but in terms of getting what they wanted - a pacy, skilful defender who poses a real threat going forward - Liverpool have come up trumps.

Christian Benitez (Santos Laguna to Birmingham, £7.7m)

A bit of a wildcard, in that we are yet to truly see what he is capable of, Benitez looks a real prospect. The Ecuadorian, should he feature in Alex McLeish's starting XI (he should), is sure to give opposition defences a real headache. Pacy, powerful and direct, he boasts a tremendous scoring record at both domestic and international levels and if he is given a run in the side, his goals could help secure Birmingham's top flight status this season.

Joleon Lescott (Everton to Manchester City, £24m)

Lescott heads the 'worst' list, not because he is a bad player - he is not - but more because of the amount paid for him. £24m is an extortionate amount to pay for any defender, but one who is not even third-choice centre-back for his country? That he can do a job at the back for City is undoubted, but his critics say he was made to look good alongside the classy Phil Jagielka last season and he may struggle under the weight of expectation at Eastlands.

Alberto Aquilani (Roma to Liverpool, £18m)

Liverpool knew they had to replace the influential Xabi Alonso in the centre of their midfield so, understandably, they targeted the Italy international, who may well prove to be a player capable of filling the Spaniard's rather large boots. But for the moment we are still in the dark, given that he was signed carrying an injury. Considering Liverpool's sluggish start to the new season, the problem is that by the time Aquilani is back to fitness and in a position to justify his price tag, Liverpool's title hopes may already have been irreparably damaged.

David Nugent (Portsmouth to Burnley, loan)

Owen Coyle hailed the striker's loan signing as a "tremendous acquisition" but there can be few Clarets fans who are overly-excited by his deadline day arrival at Turf Moor. A record of just six goals in two years at Fratton Park for the man who incredibly boasts a 100 per cent strike rate for England has done little to suggest he can cut it at the highest level. At least he did not cost anything.

Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn to Manchester City, £17.5m)

In a squad that has been bolstered with such a wealth of attacking options over the summer, the transfer of Santa Cruz increasingly appears to be a strange one, certainly for the player himself. With fellow forwards Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robinho, Craig Bellamy and Benjani all competing for a spot in Mark Hughes's starting XI, the former Blackburn man cannot realistically expect to see regular action. £17.5m for a bench player seems to be rather extravagant, and it remains to be seen how long he will be happy to fulfil that role.

Tommy Smith/Mike Williamson (Watford to Portsmouth, £5m combined)

Portsmouth's last minute panic shopping was encapsulated by the double signing of the Watford pair for a total of £5m. Neither are Premier League talents - although it could be argued that Pompey will not be in need of such players in nine months' time - and neither are likely to feature in Paul Hart's starting XI. For a club with such cash problems, the amount paid for a pair of squad players is nonsensical.