Nowadays we live in the era where paying £50 million for a player doesn’t even raise an eyebrow. In the days where inflation in the transfer market is at its zenith, it is a skill and art to secure a bargain deal for a player of some genuine quality.
Player acquisition is no longer a simple business proposition but a barometer of the skill and the acumen of the football administrators. From fulfilling the manager’s expectations and adhering to the financial restraints, the challenge of acquiring a quality player is getting difficult by each passing day.
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So here we are presenting you with the 5 potential bargain signings of the summer which have slipped under the radar.
#1 Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Guerreiro was a star for Portugal in Euro 2016 where he won his first major international silverware. Not only did he have a scintillating season with the national team but also had a stellar season with his club team. Guerreiro was a star for FC Lorient.
A fullback who doesn't dive into tackles and likes to bomb forward at every possible opportunity is surely any coach's dream fullback. Dortmund faced some stiff competition from clubs like Liverpool in their pursuit of the Portuguese.
The 22-year-old is known for his astute style of play. He is one of the few modern day full-backs who can defend sturdily without compromising in the attacking department. Borussia Dortmund did some quick business by buying him for €12 million. This seems a total bargain considering his performances in Euros and inflation in the current transfer market.
This has to be the most underrated transfer of the season.
#2 Ever Banega (Inter Milan)
He was Sevilla's midfield charm in Europa League las term. The Argentine was at his scrumptious best when he helped Sevilla win their third European cup in as many seasons.
A hardworking midfielder who is known for his creativity, Banega was one of the most sought after free agent this summer. The 28-year-old isn't a quintessential attacking midfielder who likes to operate in pockets of space like a trequartista. Instead, he is more of a regista who is defensively sound as well as a potent attacker. Internazionale has signed him up after he decided to leave Sevilla at the end of the season.
Banega is currently considered to be at the peak of his prowess. Many are touting this as the coup de grace of this summer considering the current state of Inter Milan.
#3 Hatem Ben Arfa (Paris Saint-Germain)
The 'French Messi' has had a rollercoaster of a career. From being tipped for scaling greatness to returning France as a vagabond reject. Last season, OGC Nice took a gamble with this maverick and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ben Arfa scored 18 goals and had 6 assists for Nice last season in all competitions. His performance inspired Nice to their best finish in Ligue 1 in the 21st century.
He was shrewdly snapped up by French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer at the end of the season. This move if works along the expected lines, has the potential to be one of the shrewdest signings of the summer. The Frenchman seems like a late bloomer and may as well realize part of his vast potential.
#4 Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund)
Barcelona’s next Puyol had failed to live up to the hype which was associated with him at the Camp Nou. After enduring a trophy-laden but frustrating six years in Catalonia, it was high time for him to move on.
And Borussia Dortmund came to his rescue as they offered him a way out by paying up his release clause of €8 million. Dortmund has bought him to potentially replace Mats Hummels. This is a classic déjà vu for the young defender but the initial signs of his new innings in Dortmund are looking very promising.
He is a player who is very highly rated by his former mentor Pep Guardiola and he was proving it against his Manchester City side in pre-season friendly in China. With the quality of player in question and the transfer fee paid for him, he has very low-risk factor attached to him and the chances of him reaping rich dividends at Borussia Dortmund are very high.
#5 Nampalys Mendy
Leicester’s replacement for their midfield star N’Golo Kante is one of the brightest midfield talents in the European football. Nampalys Mendy might not be a headline grabber but he surely has his fair share of admirers in the footballing fraternity.
At 24, he was captain of his former side OGC Nice who’ve had their best season in recent past. Mendy isn’t exactly a like for like replacement of N’Golo Kante. Kante prefers sitting deep tries to pull strings by sitting in front of his defence whereas Mendy is more of a midfield dynamo who likes to bomb the midfield with his tenacity and aggression.
Leicester bought Mendy for an approximate fee of €10 million which looks like a steal. Especially after his manager, Claudio Ranieri had dubbed him as “our Makélélé” when he was with the midfielder at AS Monaco. This shows how highly he is rated by the Italian, who at the moment is into his golden phase.
