Best Transfer deals of the season (so far)
Welcome to my latest article, and today we will be looking at the best deals of the summer so far!
10. Danny Ings, Buendia and Bailey to Aston Villa
Who saw this coming? All 3 have been linked to clubs in the CL and EL for months now, and end up at Villa? This is not meant as an insult to Villa’s status as a club, but is more of a compliment to their superb transfer dealings this summer. They have signed three top class attackers to provide more depth (and in Buendia’s case to replace Grealish) to their squad in rapid time, and they are certainly the dark horses for European qualification next season. Overall, three massive deals from the Birmingham side.
9. Cristian Romero to Tottenham
The second player signed from Italian side Atalanta, the Argentine will provide much needed steel at CB for Nuno’s side. He can be described as a more sophisticated and mobile version of Man Utd cult figure Rojo, and Nuno will be delighted to get him. However, his price tag should have been at least 5 Million less given the fact that Varane, a world class CB for Madrid, was brought for the meagre sum of 42.7 million pounds. Good transfer in footballing terms, but financially, Tottenham could have done better.
8.Boubakary Soumare to Leicester
Leicester have done a great job here. Getting in such a quality player who helped Lille win Ligue 1 last season on such a low fee is great business, and he will form an intimidating midfield trio with Ndidi and Maddison if all goes well. Lille should have done better to keep him, however, given their manager, first team GK and other stars have already left. In the end, good job to Leicester, but Lille should do better.
7. Ramos and Donnarumma to PSG
Both free transfers, both players will provide even more squad depth for the Parisian team, who feature multiple times in this top 10 transfers. The former left Real Madrid after he was unable to convince them to keep him for two years, and joined PSG on the two year contract he craved at Madrid. Donnarumma left Milan over a wage dispute however, and joins PSG as an GK option mostly for the future, given Navas has done too well to be dropped immediately. To sum up, smart transfers from PSG to provide two players what they desired while also strengthening their team.
6. Upamecano to Bayern
Bayern did well to sign one of their new manager’s favourite players for such a decent price. Bayern are known for snapping up Bundesliga talent for cut-price deals, but this one is perhaps the best of the lot after Lewandowski, given the recent clearing out of CBs the club had. Alaba ( who is up next), Boateng and Martinez all left Bayern last season, and Upamecano is a more-than-apt replacement for them. Youngster Nianzou has also formed a formidable partnership with him, and Nagelsmann will be licking his lips at the selection dilemma he faces.
5. David Alaba to Real Madrid
What is it with 2021 and free transfers? Alaba moved to Los Blancos to replace Sergio Ramos after La Capitan left them, and despite this being a big ask, he is more than up to the task. The Austrian has years of experience in the bank despite being only 28, and will solidify the backline amid Real’s mini rebuild. While he was bought to play as a CB, he can play at LB and CDM too! All in all, good dealing and wheeling by Perez.
4. Raphael Varane to Manchester United
The Frenchman is a world renown defender, yet moves to the red side of Manchester for a fraction of his worth due to his contract situation. He had one year left on his deal with Los Blancos, but decided to move to Manchester to test himself in England’s top flight. As a Manchester United fan, I’m over the moon as Maguire finally gets a worthy, pace-y partner at CB to compliment his physicality and heading ability. The price tag is another thing I’m impressed with, and all in all, good job by Murtogh and team to complete this deal.
3. Achraf Hakimi to PSG
I promise this is the last PSG deal guys. Jokes aside, PSG have done very well to strengthen at RB, a problem area of theirs for years by signing Hakimi from Inter. Inter have also done well to get a good profit on him, even though they are losing a huge talent. Hakimi will allow PSG to convert their system into a 3–4–2–1, which should allow them to take Ligue 1 as well as the CL by storm. To sum up, superb deal for everyone involved.
2. Jack Grealish to Manchester City
Paul Pogba is no longer the most expensive buy in the PL, as Jack Grealish FINALLY seals his move to City. The Englishman was in hot demand after a stellar two campaigns for Villa, and gets a move to the blue side of Manchester done at a hefty fee. Villa have done well to be firm in wanting a 100 million pound deal, which City finally agreed to last week. I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling he’s been a bit overpriced, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a great signing for the Mancs. All in all, a bit overpriced, but great coup by City.
- Jadon Sancho to Manchester United
Could it be anyone else, honestly? What a blockbuster transfer this is. Sancho is a phenomenal player for his age, and he can only get better at United under Ole, an attacking talent himself. He had been chased by United for years, and the fact they got him for only 72.9 Million pounds is impressive. The fee is still huge, but not as big as Grealish’s is it? He will return to the PL with a lot of technical knowledge after learning his trade in the Bundesliga, and you can expect big things from this lad from Watford.
