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With the start of the new Premier League season nearly upon us there is a steady trickle of transfer deals being concluded. Here, the Life’s a Pitch team assesses whether West Ham’s signing of Modibo Maïga (pictured, above), Michael Turner’s switch to Norwich from Sunderland and New York Red Bulls’ acquisition of Everton’s Tim Cahill will end up in success or failure.

“It’s probably going to come back to bite me, but I think it’s going to be a miss,” starts the Guardian’s Dominic Fifield on Maïga’s £4.7m move to West Ham. “He’s got his big move to the Premier League, he will arrive with a point to prove, wanting to establish himself. And I guess Sam Allardyce could get the best out of him, but he’s not come with the greatest goalscoring record. I would imagine a flurry of goals at the start and in a couple of years we’ll be wondering who’s going to sign him.”

Journalist and author Ian Ridley has higher hopes for Norwich new boy Turner, provided he can stay fit. “A good, solid Premier League pro and a good age for Norwich to pick him up at 28. He went to Sunderland and he’s been plagued by injury. He had half a season out with a knee injury and it recurred again last year. That would be the big worry at Norwich and they’re taking a bit of a chance on him. But Chris Hughton knows what he’s doing and Turner is going to slip into a good system at Norwich — it could be the making of him. If he stays fit, it’ll be a hit.”

One player departing the Premier League is Everton’s Cahill, who is off to Major League Soccer outfit New York Red Bulls. “I was a little bit surprised he went, I think he’s still got a lot to offer in a top league,” explains the People’s Dave Kidd of the 32 year-old. “He’s obviously gone there for financial reasons, and probably lifestyle reasons. But I think it’s a bit of a shame he’s left the Premier League. I’m not quite sure how you judge if he’s a hit or a miss in the MLS, but I’m sure he’s a much better player than most of the players there, so I think he’ll be a hit.”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the play button in the image above. 

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