BarcelonaWith the Premier League already in the second round, until August 31 the English teams have time to incorporate players into their squads. After a market start with few moves from big teams, the start of the competition coincides with the growing spending of big clubs with little fear of seeing their pockets drained. The domino effect of players must continue to roll chips.
The valuable crown of Manchester
United were proclaimed winter champions last season, but in the second round suffered a drop that led them to finish in second place 12 points behind their eternal rival, City. To prevent further deflation, the red devils they have incorporated two high-level names: Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane. Sancho arrives from Dortmund as the most coveted piece by the Old Trafford fan and at 21 years old. His price of 85 million euros seems like a great opportunity for United, given the versatility and future of the young English striker. Varane, champion of everything with Madrid, will be Harry Maguire’s dance partner. The 28-year-old Frenchman will seek to justify his signing, of 40 million euros plus 10 in variables, proving to the Premier that he remains one of the best central defenders in the world.
While at Old Trafford the goal is to raise a Premier League again, at the Etihad the shadow of an obsession flies: the Champions League. Guardiola’s City have invested more than a billion pounds in signings since the arrival of the Santpedor coach and, this summer, after being closer than ever to European glory, he continues to spend. Jack Grealish has so far been the only addition. It comes from Aston Villa. The English winger has become the most expensive signing of the summer – for now – by paying City 117.5 million euros for him. A record amount, but still not enough for the club’s Arab owners. Now the target is Harry Kane. England’s 9 could leave Tottenham for a transfer close to 150 million euros. A new historic move that only a team as rich as City can cope with. Guardiola continues to collect cracks, but he would have liked to know before that Lionel Messi would not continue at Barça to reunite with his 10th favorite.
With these two signings, Rahem Sterling – with problems to renew -, Gabriel Jesus – who has Juventus as a great contender – and Bernardo Silva – who could be a key piece in the Kane operation despite wanting to stay on the starting ramp play in Spain–. So far, Angeliño (18 million), Jack Harrison (12) and, free of charge and destined for Barcelona, Kun Agüero and Eric Garcia have left the club.
The domino effect of the islands
If the City ends up putting 150 kilos on the Tottenham table, it’s only a matter of time before the moves are triggered. Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool have signed French midfielder Ibrahima Konaté for £ 40 million. A new defensive player for Merseyside who will help forget the trauma of Van Dijk’s injury. For its part, Chelsea have closed the return of Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge for 115 million euros, leaving Inter Milan without a star but with a large amount of cash. With this move, the European champion adds a goal-scoring machine, as he has shown by scoring in his debut, to a very solid set. Inter, in addition, could also receive a good shot by Lautaro Martínez, Tottenham’s goal. The Nuno Espírito Santo team has already incorporated one of the pearls of Spanish football, Bryan Gil, for 25 million euros, and the young Argentine center Cristian Romero, for 55. If Harry Kane finally leaves White Hart Lane, the goal number 1 is precisely Lautaro, valued at about 70 million euros.
With this, Inter would go in search of Hector Bellerin, Arsenal, after losing Hakimi (PSG) in the right wing position. The gunners they would be happy to let go of the Spanish, as they need to recoup some of the investment made in Ben White. The young English midfielder is leaving with high expectations, but the weight of his signing – 58.5 million euros – is an added pressure that is difficult to manage in a team that has not won an official match since April.
Small fish want to get big
With the proceeds from the sale of Grealish, the Aston Villa could not stand still. Emiliano Buendía and Leon Bailey arrive at Villa Park for 38.49 and 32 million euros respectively, two of the most expensive signings in their history. Two wingers, with talent and a lot of speed, who will seek to cover the hole left by Grealish in Dean Smith’s team. In addition to the pair of ends, veteran center forward Danny Ings also joins the Villa, for 35.2 million euros. They are 105.6 million invested by a team that finished eleventh in the last Premier. Deunidó with the economic potential of a half table.
Danny Ings has already scored one of the goals of the year in his first game at Villa Park
For its part, Crystal Palace has dared to pay 23.3 million euros for the under-21 center Marc Guehi. Leicester have released 30 for Patson Daka, RB Salzburg’s center forward. Even a team from the Championship, Brentford, has paid 15.7 million to Glasgow Celtic for Kristoffer Ajer, a Norwegian center-back. So far, Premier teams have spent more than a billion in total. A week badly counted for the closing of the market, and with the Premier already started, there are still moves to be made.
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