MARK Hughes, manager of Manchester City, has a reported £150 million ($348 million) to spend in the summer.
But a huge transfer kitty is no guarantee for success, as City fans already know. The best players do not always require pulling an Ocean’s Eleven to finance. In some cases, the best things in life do actually come free.
Here, in my view, are the ten best pieces of business pulled off by various clubs this season.
10 Sebastien Bassong (Newcastle)
Yes, his club did get relegated. Yes, the 22-year-old French defender was sent off twice this season. Yes, the Magpies have the fourth-worst defensive record in the league.
But ask any Geordie and they will agree, Bassong was the only shining light in what turned out to be a nightmare year in the North East.
9 John Pantsil (Fulham)
After two years at West Ham where he made only 19 appearances, the Ghanaian full-back was a regular starter for Fulham, starting 37 games.
Strong and quick with good anticipation, the highlight of his season must surely be stopping Cristiano Ronaldo when the sides met in March, with Fulham claiming a sensational 2-0 victory.
He was even reportedly given a £10,000 reward from manager Roy Hodgson for successfully man-marking the Portuguese winger.
8 Albert Riera (Liverpool)
Wingers signed by Rafa Benitez have been unqualified failures. The list so far has read Mark Gonzalez, Harry Kewell, Jermaine Pennant, Antonio Nunez, Ryan Babel.
Step forward the man from Manacor in Spain who has finally given balance to Liverpool’s flanks.
His dipping volley from Jose Reina’s 80-yard clearance in a 5-0 trashing of Aston Villa highlighting the Spaniard’s goalscoring ability.
7 James Milner (Aston Villa)
Signed for £12 million at the start of the season, the England U-21 international has been especially dangerous with his set-pieces.
Comfortable on both flanks and adept at shooting with either foot, the 23-year-old has eight assists this season, the most at Villa Park.
Added to his goals (3), Milner was responsible for more than a fifth of his team’s goals this season.
6 Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea)
While not exactly a steal at almost £17 million, the overlapping right-back quickly solved the Blues problem position from last year.
Strong defensively, his ability to get forward was an early feature of Chelsea’s wing play and despite the appointment of Guus Hiddink, the Portuguese has continued to impress with his raids down the right.
5 Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
The commanding 36-year-old goalkeeper has played every minute of Fulham’s campaign this season, collecting 15 clean sheets along the way.
With the 1.94m-tall Australian in goal, the Cottagers have the fourth-best defensive record in the league and finished in seventh position, earning them a trip to Europe next season.
An excellent shot-stopper, Schwarzer arrived on a free transfer and has been the best goalkeeper in the league this season.
4 James Beattie (Stoke City)
Tipped by almost everybody to go down, Stoke left their critics stunned by finishing in 12th position.
The 31-year-old veteran, signed in the January transfer window, has played an immense role in the Potters’ survival.
With four goals in his first five matches, “Beats” single-handed earned his new club four invaluable points, helping them pull clear of the relegation zone and to Premier League safety.
3 Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
The most recognisable player in the league. And yet when he first arrived, Everton fans were asking themselves “Marouane WHO?”
As the club’s record signing at £15 million, the box-to-box midfielder was under pressure from the start.
38 games and eight goals later (tying him with fan favourite Tim Cahill), Fellaini has provided Everton with a physical presence in midfield and at only 21, the Belgium international looks to have a bright future at Goodison Park.
He was also named Everton's Young Player of the Season.
2 Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal)
Another January transfer signing, the Russian has only started 12 league games but what an impact he has made.
Adding an attacking midfielder to the Arsenal rooster seemed an unnecessary luxury that Arsene Wenger could ill-afford. But Arshavin’s sheer class and technique has overshadowed his London teammates.
There have been goals (four against Liverpool in an incredible individual performance), there have been assists (a crucial cutback for Robin van Persie to equalise against Hull in the FA Cup in March).
But most of all, there is renewed hope at the Emirates Stadium.
1 Federico Macheda (Manchester United)
Okay technically the 17-year-old teenager is not a new signing. He was signed by United in 2007 from Lazio as a trainee.
But he did sign his first professional contract last August with the Red Devils.
And there’s no denying the impact this Italian wonderkid has had on this season’s title race.
Two goals (his only of the campaign) against Aston Villa and Sunderland turned two draws into miraculous wins. Instead of two points collected, a maximum of six were snatched instead.
That’s a difference of four points. And United’s winning margin at the end of the season?
You guessed it. Four points.
PHOTO: AP