European Preview: England

Kanu is staying at Arsenal after a Fulham bid was rejected

BBC Sport Online's Filippo Maria Ricci previews the English Premeriship and looks at a country which has proved a difficult destination for many African players.

This has not been the liveliest summer for African players aiming to come to England.

Only three players have moved to the Premiership in the off season, Senegalese midfielder Djibril Diawara, Moroccan defender Abdelsalem Ouaddou and Nigerian star Finidi George.

Diawara was loaned by Italian club Torino to newly promoted Bolton, Ouaddou also moved to another newly promoted side, Fulham, from French side Nancy, while George's move from Real Mallorca to Ipswich was confirmed on Thursday.

Nyarko has gone to Monaco on loan

Two more players have moved inside the country, Moroccan internationals Mostapha Hadji and Hassan Kachloul, who both joined Aston Villa from relegated Coventry and Southampton respectively.

At the moment there are 23 African players in the 20 Premiership clubs, that no longer includes unsettled Ghanaian midfielder Alex Nyarko.

Nyarko has now been sent on loan to French side Monaco by Everton after the turmoil that followed a confrontation with a fan at Highbury at the end of last season.

Two other players have left the country, Nigerian defender Taribo West and South African Pierre Issa.

West was loaned by AC Milan to Derby County and played a vital role in the last gasp survival of the Rams in the top flight, while Issa, was loaned by Chelsea from Marseille but was never used by the Blues manager Claudio Ranieri.

Bartlett has confimed his future at Charlton

There were rumours that West could return to Derby but the wage demands and the international commitments of the Nigerian international are seen as problems by Rams manager Jim Smith.

Charlton have completed the acquisition of South African striker Shaun Bartlett from Swiss side Zurich, after the positive loan spell he had with the Addicks during last season.

Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu was rumoured to be on the move, with Fulham officially bidding for him, but the Arsenal forward is going to start his fourth season with the Gunners.

Also staying put is Cameroonian defender Rigobert Song, who was reportedly ready to go back to France after having faced difficulties in England both at Liverpool and at West Ham.

Radebe into his eighth season at Leeds

Former South African and Leeds captain Lucas Radebe his starting his record eighth season in a row at Elland Road, with Nigerian Celestine Babayaro, who has just renewed his contract, entering his fifth at Chelsea.

There are great expectations for young Cameroonian striker Joseph Desire Job, who lost almost his entire first season at Middlesbrough due to a knee injury.

Hopes are also high for Leicester's record signing Ade Akinbiyi, who had a disappointing season despite the nine goals scored for Peter Taylor's side last year.