As in previous years, Manchester City, the beneficiary of a seemingly inexhaustible budget and a management policy that few teams in the world can boast, has been the leader in the transfer market this summer. The most important acquisition for the Citizens was undoubtedly that of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. He cost just £51.2 million, with Manchester City paying the Norwegian’s resiliation clause imposed in his contract by Borussia Dortmund, his last club. Erling Haaland’s signing has generated a lot of mixed reviews. Some pundits have argued from the outset that Haaland will not adapt to the style Pep Guardiola has imposed on City. The response of the player, who seems to have come straight from the computer games, has been spectacular: 10 goals in just six games, including two hat-tricks, plus a brace in the Champions League against Sevilla. Those are Erling Haaland’s figures in less than a month and a half in a Manchester City shirt. “This boy will shatter all existing records. He’s too big, too fast, unforgiving in front of goal and he’s in a team that creates dozens of chances. All he has to do is not get injured,” said Michael Owen. Another former England great striker, Gary Lineker, also added: “Bloody hell, Haaland has scored two hat-tricks in the last two full halves he’s played. Madness!”
Pep Guardiola continues to have a soft spot for full-backs, however, with the defensive department a constant worry for the Catalan manager since his arrival at the City of Manchester Stadium. Since 1 July 2016, when Guardiola signed for City, the English club has spent well over half a billion pounds on full-backs alone! This summer at City the shopping has continued! Manuel Akanji was brought in from Borussia Dortmund for £16.7 million, a modest price for City, with the Swiss making his direct debut in a UEFA Champions League match.
After giving up Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino, Liverpool paid a fortune, £64 million, to bring Uruguayan Darwin Nunez from Benfica Lisbon. After just one match, in which he did score, Darwin Nunez has shown that he is not yet adapted to English football. The 23-year-old striker was sent off on his debut at Anfield Road for kicking an opponent and received a three-match suspension!
Arsenal London made some interesting acquisitions this summer. Gabriel Jesus (£45 million) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30 million), both from Manchester City, Marquinhos, 19, from São Paulo (just £3 million) and Portugal’s Fabio Vieira, 22, from FC Porto (£34 million) have arrived at the Emirates.
Chelsea London lost big names like Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Romelu Lukaku (on loan to Inter Milan), Timo Werner, Emerson, Ross Barkley, Callum Hudson-Odoi (on loan to Bayer Leverkusen), Marcos Alonso and Michy Batshuayi this summer. Almost a team! Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria have arrived at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham have been industrious this summer! They’ve brought in such valuable players as Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Clement Lenglet, Cristian Romero, but especially Brazilian Richarlison (£60 million) from Everton.
Manchester United’s most important transfer was that of Dutchman Erik ten Hag, 52 years old, the most critical of all the candidates for the manager position at the time of the interviews. Perhaps it was precisely this detail that was decisive in the choice made by United’s bosses. Then came the transfers of players with whom Erik ten Hag is trying to rebuild the team: Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Antony, Christian Eriksen and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. United have spent £208.5m on the first four alone!
After the acquisitions made since the winter, Newcaste United continued its “aggressive” transfer policy this summer. Young manager Edward John Frank Howe has this summer Joao Palhinha, Kristian Sekularac, Andreas Pereira, Manor Solomon, Bernd Leno, Shane Duffy, Issa Diop, Layvin Kurzawa, Willian, Carlos Vinicius, Daniel James and, at the last minute, Loris Karius.
Brazilian-Spanish Premier League star Diego Costa is back! The former Chelsea London great striker, who will turn 33 in October and played for Atlético Mineiro last year, has signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
