Although Real Madrid has almost made it a routine to win the Champions League, the truth is that it is becoming more and more difficult for Spanish teams. The clubs of the major European leagues have been reinforced with guaranteed signings when there is still a month and a half left to close the market and there are three foreign competitions (Premier, Bundesliga and Serie A) that have already spent a much higher amount than that invested by the LaLiga clubs.
Manchester City
He has hit the big hit of the summer taking Haaland for the 60 million of his libertarian clause, plus 30 in commissions to his father and agents. Of course, his salary becomes the highest in the history of the Premier. A necessary signing for City, who did not have a pure 9 and who with the Norwegian will be able to dominate the opposing area even more. With the first objective closed, players can arrive for other specific positions: Cucurella, from Brighton, is interested in the left-back and Kalvin Phillips, from Leeds, as a midfielder to complete the area.
Liverpool
His response to the signing of Haaland by City was the hiring of Darwin Núñez from Benfica, for whom he pays a sum that reaches 100 million adding variables. Of course, it will be necessary to see how he digests the departure of Sadio Mané to Bayern, an icon in this brilliant era with Klopp on the bench. He has also signed young talent like Carvalho, brilliant at Fulham, and Ramsay, from Scottish Aberdeen. It remains to be seen what happens with Salah. A possible departure of the Egyptian would definitively activate the change of cycle and would lead to another star.
Chelsea
The change in ownership has somewhat delayed its market plans. At the moment he has not done any operations, except for the returns of Broja and Gallagher on loan from Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively. The most imminent must be Lukaku’s transfer to Inter. Once that space opens up up front, new owner Todd Boehly will look for a great replacement. At the moment the signings that sound the most are for the defensive plot: Koundé and De Ligt are the best placed. The Gabriel Jesus option is being considered for the attack.
Tottenham
He is moving well and quietly, as always since Paratici came to sports management. He has signed a midfield powerhouse like Bissouma, from Brighton, for 30 million, and two experienced players have arrived for free, like the lane Perisic and the substitute goalkeeper Forster. Antonio Conte knows what he is doing. Of course, the attack player is missing to complete a dream attack with Son and Kane. The Brazilians Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison sound. Either option would be great for Spurs.
Arsenal
Losing the Champions League place in the last two days of the last Premier is taking its toll. Although he wants to fight for Raphinha players, the fact that he can only offer them a place in the Europa League works against him. Yesterday he made the signing of Gabriel Jesús official for 52 million and has also opted for Fabio Vieira, Porto’s left-hander for whom he pays 35 million. Even less contrasted is Marquinhos, the very young signing of São Paulo. An Arsenal in the same line as always, with many pretensions and money to go to the market but perhaps an uninteresting project to offer.
Manchester United
A big one in distress, a sleeping giant. The great debate is to know what happens to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not worth the Europa League and is looking for a Champions team that can pay him and in which he can land. The biggest change at Old Trafford is on the bench. Ten Hag arrived from Ajax and with him a new project begins in which emblems such as Pogba, Cavani or Mata will no longer be. Many names around, as always, although De Jong and Antony are the clearest targets to reinforce the midfield and the attack. He will have to spend a lot of money to be great again… and the others know that when it comes to negotiating.
Bayern
One of the winners so far in the market. He has spent 50 million and has hired three good players: Mané (32), Gravenberch (18.5) and Mazraoui (free). The next must be Laimer, from Leipzig. His next moves will depend on what happens with Lewandowski. The club insists that it does not want to sell him, but a good offer and the player’s desire to leave could make him rethink things. And watch out for Gnabry, who is in a similar situation. There are things to come. There is talk of a central defender, another midfielder and perhaps one more forward.
Dortmund
Extraordinary summer, despite the fact that he has lost Haaland. He has confirmed, although not official, Haller, a substitute with real guarantees, and has also signed good, nice and cheap: Adeyemi, Özcan, Süle and Schlotterbeck. Especially interesting is the ‘Germanization’ of the team, including the almighty Bayern, from whom they have snatched the central defender Süle. Some more footballer may arrive for the defense (Raum likes it), but the feeling is that he has done his homework quickly and well, and that with this squad, plus what was there, he can stand up to Bayern more than in recent years.
PSG
His great ‘signing’ is to renew Mbappé. Everything else will come as a consequence of it, including the changes in the sports organization chart and on the bench. The name of the new coach is yet to be announced, although he suggests that it will be Galtier. The signings of the Luis Campos-Antero Henrique couple will not be as bombastic as with Leonardo, who will also come out. This week the Portuguese Vitinha and Renato Sanches, who will be the first to arrive, should be announced. The great economic effort will be made by the Inter central defender Skriniar. In the absence of any of the megastars coming out of him -the option is Neymar-, the rest will be what happened last year with special relevance for the new boss of everything: Kylian Mbappé.
Milan
Many unfinished business in his first summer defending a Scudetto that took so long to reconquer. The first moves for Renato Sanches could not be fruitful due to the appearance of PSG as a competitor for him. The renewal of Ibrahimovic is also up in the air, a topic of central interest in Milan. A dream within reach is Marco Asensio, but everything depends on Madrid’s willingness to let him out. Milan’s strategy of these years will repeat itself: young and medium-profile players with the ability to improve, just what has made their best footballer stand out: Rafael Leao. Keeping it for another year can also be considered a success.
Inter
He is very aware of the change of pace in his lead, Lukaku and Dybala can arrive although neither of them is definitively tied. It remains to be seen what impact this would have on important players in the squad like Lautaro Martínez. Although it was not his will, PSG’s 60 million offer for Skriniar could mean that he would end up agreeing to transfer the Slovak central defender. Perisic, a fundamental player for Inzaghi playing as a left winger, has left him, forcing Inter to find a replacement for him. There is still no official signing closed, but there are movements started and impact. Inter wants to recover a Scudetto that its rival and city neighbor snatched from it last season.
Juventus
His big move may be Pogba. The Frenchman is close to returning to Turin six seasons later and for free, when he left for Old Trafford for 100 million. A round operation, although it remains to be seen what performance he can offer in his return. There are important departures, especially Morata, Dybala and Bernardeschi, which practically force Juve to make signings in attack. The most important came last winter, when Vlahovic landed. Di María has been in the orbit and recently Neymar has been offered. He would be quite a hit…
