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The summer transfer window is one of the most interesting periods in Europe’s footballing calendar. With the new season only a few weeks away, some of the biggest clubs in the continent are making some important additions to their rosters to prepare for their title bids.
Some of Europe’s footballing heavyweights have already played their hands in the transfer market and have made some important acquisitions. The likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have made a few pivotal investments this month to bolster their chances of winning silverware this season.
The current financial climate has produced a few complications, however, and has set the stage for an interesting transfer window. There haven’t been as many massive deals this year, and the rumor mill has also been fairly quiet and understandably so.
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Despite the sticky situation most clubs find themselves in at the moment, there seem to be a number of deals in the works in the transfer market. I found it quite difficult to make an order out of these transfers, and a multi-million deal next week may well wreak havoc on Europe’s footballing landscape.
That’s the wonderful thing about pre-season. With so many transfers doing the rounds, we always seem fairly confident with our predictions. It’s quite likely that some of these players will prove us all wrong in the coming months.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the five most high-profile transfers in this transfer window so far:
#5 Ben White - Brighton to Arsenal
There hasn’t been a plethora of big transfers because of the COVID situation, but Arsenal have certainly created a splash with their acquisition of Ben White. Not a lot of people would’ve been familiar with Ben White before his late call to the Euros.
Arsenal spent £50 million to bring the 23-year-old to the club and considering the amount of money they’ve invested, I’m certain that their scouts have looked at a lot of data to assess Ben White’s potential.
A transfer decision isn’t just about how many goals a player has scored, or how many tackles he can manage. It is also about personality and character. There was plenty of talk around how good Ben White was with the England squad and I think Arsenal have got their money’s worth here.
The Gunners have not been successful in over ten years, and I don’t believe the FA Cup is good enough for a club of their stature. If I was an Arsenal fan, I’d want my team to mount a Premier League title bid.
Arsenal do have a promising squad and the likes of Bukayo Saka are outstanding for their age. The Gunners have plenty of work to do to become a Premier League title contender and the acquisition of Ben White could be a step in the right direction.
#4 Georginio Wijnaldum - Free Agent (Liverpool) to Paris Saint-Germain
I can’t understand why Georginio Wijnaldum didn’t stay at Liverpool. He was one of their most consistent players for several years and it comes as a surprise that they let him leave on a free transfer.
Liverpool have had a successful transfer model over the past decade, and their recruiting both before and after Jurgen Klopp’s arrival has been exceptional. With Ibrahima Konate already brought in from RB Leipzig, the Merseyside giants could have something up their sleeve.
Wijnaldum’s departure is unlikely to be a detriment to Liverpool, but it’s definitely a positive for PSG. The French giants have bolstered their squad this summer and Wijnaldum’s experience could play a massive role in their immediate future.
Also read: Jim Beglin's column - 5 best left-backs in Europe right now
#3 Gianluigi Donnarumma - Free Agent (AC Milan) to Paris Saint-Germain
PSG were lacking in a few areas last season and they seem intent on plugging all their gaps in this transfer window. With Gianluigi Donnarumma joining the club, PSG may well have pulled off the steal of the summer.
I’m utterly shocked that AC Milan have allowed Donnarumma to leave on a free transfer. At 23 years of age, Italy’s Euro hero has a brilliant career ahead of him and could easily be worth £100 million in the transfer market.
The French giants have also signed Sergio Ramos this summer and while the Real Madrid centre-back could solve some of their defensive challenges, Donnarumma could make a bigger difference in the long term. PSG won’t be content with a league title this season and have already made a statement of intent on the European front.
#2 Raphael Varane - Real Madrid to Manchester United
Raphael Varane is on the verge of joining Manchester United and could complete his medical this weekend. He’s another internationally renowned defender and his statistics at only 28 years of age are quite scary, to be honest.
Varane has never really been the focal point at Real Madrid but could prove to be a game-changer at Manchester United. He’ll certainly have an impact on that changing room and his incredible experience could prove invaluable to the Red Devils’ cause.
There have been a few questions over Harry Maguire’s credentials but it’s safe to say that he’s proved his mettle as an excellent defender at the Euros. Manchester United have always had serial winners in their squad and Varane’s contributions could help Solskjaer win some silverware this season.
#1 Jadon Sancho - Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United
Jadon Sancho’s transfer is monumental to Manchester United. The Red Devils haven’t won a lot of silverware in recent years and their fans will not be particularly happy about the current situation. Sancho’s transfer is a big statement from Manchester United and will bolster their chances in the Premier League.
Jadon Sancho might not be an era defining signing at Manchester United but he can certainly have an impact on the big stage. He received limited opportunities at the Euros but we all saw what he could do with the ball at his feet. Sancho has been an incredible player for Borussia Dortmund and has already proven his worth in the Bundesliga.
The fact that Manchester United are now knocking on Europe’s door is quite ironic when you consider that they were leading the way a few years ago. With Sancho’s arrival, however, the Red Devils can go a step further and mount a title bid this season.
Honorable mentions
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have dropped their levels recently and seem to be in the same camp at the moment. Barcelona have signed Memphis Depay on a free transfer but the club is in so much flux that a single addition might not make as much of a difference.
Depay is certainly a great signing but with Barcelona still dependent on Lionel Messi, the Dutchman might not be able to restore their former glory in Europe. Real Madrid have also signed an experienced player in David Alaba but still have some work to do to become contenders in Europe.
I reckon the UEFA Champions League could be a bit like the Lord of the Rings this year. It has all the makings of a brilliant movie script, with all these warriors being amassed by different camps in the transfer market. PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea seem to have most of them at the moment, but this transfer window could certainly shake things up and pull a few surprises in the coming weeks.
