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The summer transfer window of the 2018/19 season was full of surprises. It involved a heavy movement of players and also huge splashing of cash. Players like Andre Silva and Paco Alcacer are performing up to their true potential for their new teams. But some like Tiemoue Bakayoko are struggling just like they did for their previous team.
Real Madrid let go of their star man Cristiano Ronaldo. Although they were favourites to land Neymar Jr., they ceased in their pursuit and turned their attention to Eden Hazard. In the end, they failed to bring either one of the two, thus leaving the void created by Ronaldo as it is.
Liverpool signed Alisson Becker for a GK record €72.5 million but the record was broken just days later by Kepa Arrizabalaga’s Chelsea move. Liverpool also managed to bring in Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita to increase the depth in the midfield.
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Some teams had a good time spending cash in the transfer market. Others like Tottenham and Manchester City chose not to spend much, as in the case of the latter, or not spend at all, like the former. Over the years, some of the summer signings have been instrumental in the team’s performance and some have been flops.
We look at 5 teams who got their transfer window on spot.
#5 Juventus
The reigning Serie A Champions went into the transfer window with an intent of overhauling the squad. They brought in Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo for £105 million to spearhead the team. To complement the signing of Ronaldo, they also signed Douglas Costa following his impressive performance during the loan spell as well as the World Cup 2018.
To keep the balance in the forward positions of the team, they released Gonzalo Higuain in exchange of defender Leonardo Bonucci from AC Milan. They signed Emre Can from Liverpool on a free transfer. They also landed Joao Cancelo from Valencia to add depth at the right-back spot.
According to Transfermarkt, Juventus spent a huge amount of £231 million in the window. Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored 7 goals in 10 league games for Juventus. Joao Cancelo is comprehending well at the right-back spot as a cover for De Sciglio. Bonucci has added more solidity to the centre back partnership of Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli.
Juventus has spent a huge amount of money and they have spent it on good players.
#4 Chelsea
Chelsea’s first signing was, of course, their new coach, Maurizio Sarri. Sarri however, as good as he is, won’t be considered as a transfer. Instead, he brought a man along with him from Napoli. His trump card, Jorginho.
Jorginho impressed under Sarri for Napoli last season. Roman Abramovich decided to give Sarri what he wanted and signed Jorginho, ahead of Manchester City. Jorginho has been an anchor in the defensive midfield position. He has retained his favourite position ahead of N’Golo Kante and he is creating a huge amount of problem for oppositions. Jorginho has been good on interceptions, on counter attacks and also with his impeccable passing.
Jorginho broke the record for most passes in a single game by a Chelsea player, at the very start of the season. Other than Jorginho, Chelsea also landed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Bilbao. Kepa’s signing was a very sensible choice from the team management. Kepa has a potential that nobody is really aware of and he is young. He has been on the top of his game. His save percentages beat that of Alisson Becker, who was the favourite to win the golden glove this year in EPL.
Chelsea also loaned Mateo Kovacic who has been good off the bench for the Blues. They spent an approximate amount of £123 million on both Jorginho and Kepa. However, both are performing to their level best, which makes Chelsea’s decision to sign them, spot on.
#3 Arsenal
Arsenal was dismal last season in the Premier League but this season they have found their rhythm. Unai Emery has got Arsenal together as a squad and they are just 4 points behind league leaders Manchester City and Liverpool. Arsenal will face Liverpool next in the EPL, which could potentially see them move to third place in the table, should they win, irrespective of other results.
The big talking point about this Arsenal team has been their young defensive midfield partnership, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi. Arsenal acquired both Torreira and Guendouzi in the summer window. Arsenal scouts spotted two really good talents, capable of playing together and complementing each other.
Torreira is a great holding midfielder, also capable of breaking defensive lines with his long through balls. Guendouzi, on the other hand, has been working really hard. He has been running long distances to recover the ball, get the ball off the opposition with whatever means necessary.
As good as the partnership is building, Arsenal didn’t spend a fortune on the two players. They got them both for a combined amount of £34 million, which is less than what Cancelo cost Juventus. The two have made a big impact on the team’s performances as well.
Other than the two, Arsenal also signed goalkeeper Bernd Leno as a backup for Petr Cech, who could also serve them as a long-term alternative in between the sticks. Sokratis was signed from Dortmund to add to the centre back spot.
According to Transkermarkt, Arsenal spent a total amount of less than £75 million. Given the inflated market, Arsenal managed to get the players they needed for a fairly low price. Arsenal has invested in young players, who will serve them for a long time. The signings are also making an early impact. This makes Arsenal’s window a very successful one.
#2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund is also under a new coach in Lucien Favre. Dortmund is truly the dark horse of Bundesliga this season. They are currently on top of the league table and they are also on top of their Champions League group.
Dortmund spent quite a few million euros in the transfer window. They managed to get Achraf Hakimi, Paco Alcacer, Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel in the transfer window.
Witsel has turned into an engine for the Dortmund midfield. He makes a good contribution to build-up play and also backtracks fairly well to defend. He was a standout against Atletico Madrid in their previous Champions League game.
Hakimi has exceeded expectations at the fullback position. He has unreal pace inside his young body and he has no problem in running to the front and all the way to the back. He notched up a hat-trick of assists against Atletico Madrid.
Alcacer has been the surprise package of the team. Still, only 25 years old, Paco’s loan deal comes with an option to buy, which should be activated by Dortmund. He has scored match-winning goals, last minute goals, equalising goals, whatever you like. He has performed very well in the centre-forward position and already scored 8 goals in a total of 126 minutes that he has played. Dortmund also signed Abdou Diallo from Mainz to play at centre back.
The only thing that Dortmund missed out on is inserting an option-to-buy in Hakimi’s loan deal. However, their window is still successful in terms of 2018/19 season. Dortmund could very well win the league and could go as far as quarter or semi-finals in the Champions League.
Dortmund spent only about £67 million in the transfer window and managed to get the players who would contribute well to their season. Business at its best.
#1 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona had a poor 2017/18 summer transfer window. They failed in their pursuit of Marco Verratti from PSG and lost Neymar to PSG. They also signed Gerard Deulofeu who turned out to be a flop. Their only good thing was bringing Ousmane Dembele in.
This season, however, things have been very different. Barcelona managed to sell Paulinho to Guangzhou Evergrande for almost €50 million. They cleaned their benches of all the dead wood. Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina, all left for Everton.
Barcelona’s first summer signing was Clement Lenglet from Sevilla. They managed to get Arthur Melo earlier than expected, as he was scheduled to arrive in the winter originally. They followed it up with Malcom's signing and capped off the brilliant summer by bringing in Arturo Vidal.
Barcelona’s signings have been pinpoint. In Umtiti’s absence, Lenglet has shown why exactly Barcelona invested in him in the first place. He has been rock solid at the back, making important blocks in almost every game.
Arthur Melo has proven to be the controller that Barcelona so desperately wanted ever since Xavi left. Arthur has shown inspiring performances against Real Madrid, Inter and Tottenham, three top class sides. He was applauded when he was substituted against Inter.
Malcom hasn’t got much playing time thanks to an impressive showing from Dembele and Coutinho on the left wing, the right wing always has Messi. However, the Brazilian is a very good player as he proved with Bordeaux last season.
All the signings, with the exception of Vidal, are youngsters and will help Barcelona in the long term. Vidal brings in the physical dimension of play that Paulinho provided Barcelona with, only he has European experience and thus is better.
Barcelona has spent only about £115 million and they have landed world-class young players. Their summer signings have made a big impact. They are the ultimate winners in the 2018/19 summer transfer window.
