With Silly Season now in full flow, the transfer window has finally kicked into high gear and has well and truly started off with a bang. With some big deals happening in the Premier League and abroad, and with a looming and expanded Club World Cup, teams from all over Europe our scouring the upper echelons of the transfer market to try and find the best players to not only suit their Club World Cup aspirations but also develop their teams for next season.
Done Deals
With the transfer window now in full swing, here are some of the completed deals and those expected to close soon.
1. Tijjani Reijnders: Manchester City
Kicking things off in Manchester, the Citizens have agreed to a deal for AC Milan and Netherlands international midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. Last season, City found themselves overrun in midfield; at times, they were literally outrun by opposition midfielders who could just cover more distance and KM on the pitch. However, it didn’t stop there; teams also found it very easy to bypass their midfield press and out-muscle City’s players.
This wasn’t also help by the loss of Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri, who tore his ACL at the beginning of the season. This left City’s midfield light and in the end cost them the most important part of any Pep’s team: “control”. City’s ability to dominate and control games comes from their ability to press teams high up the pitch and pin teams in.
Without Rodri providing the necessary legs and strength in the middle of the park, City looked ordinary and at times looked very easy to play against. And while Rodri is back and the signing of Porto midfielder and former Barcelona Academy graduate Nico Gonzalez, City are still very light and with the departure of talisman Kevin De Bruyne, Reijnders will no doubt provide some; legs, muscle, guile, and creativity in that City midfield. However, I still think they will need another creative outlet to replace De Bruyne. Given Pep’s track record in replacing the unreplaceable, I have no doubt City will find the right man for the job.
2. Rayan Aït-Nouri: Manchester City
Staying at the Etihad City, have also completed the signing of Wolves and Egypt international defender. Ait-Nouri, this represents City’s second foray into the transfer market and signals Pep’s intention to not only sure up his defence but also add extra quality and competition for places. Aït Nouri has been one of the best 1-v-1 defenders in the league, and while he is not one of the outstanding attacking fullbacks, like Bournemouth’s Kerkez or Anthony Robinson at Fulham. Aït Nouri more than makes up for it with his innovative passing, dynamic ball carrying, and strong defensive capabilities. Given Pep was able to turn Josko Gvardiol into a marauding, goal-scoring, bend-it-into-the-top-corner left-fullback, Ait Nouri will definitely be a useful tool at City. This is also, Pep’s first defensive signing that is not a converted centre-back; maybe Pep intends to convert full-backs to centre-backs.
3. Matheus Cunha: Manchester United
Sticking in Manchester, it has very much become public knowledge that United are in a dire financial situation. It seems that it has not stopped them from going out and becoming very bullish in the transfer window. By paying Cunha’s release clause, which was around about $75m, United have shown they are going to be very much active in the transfer window, and rumours of their financial misfortune have been greatly exaggerated.
Cunha provides United with some much needed cutting edge something the sorely missed out on last season as their two strikers, Zerkziee and Hojland proved to draw blanks when it came time to pull the trigger in crucial moments throughout the season.
Equally adept at playing on the wings as he is at playing centre forward, even though it is at a much withdrawn role, Cunha scored 15 Premier League goals from an xG (expected goals) of about 11.5. A player’s ability to outscore their xG shows great finishing ability, and not only does Cunha have that, he also has an eye for the incredible finish. With Cunha’s arrival and Mbemo’s possible entry, United are adding some much-needed goals and creativity to the side.
4. Liam Delap: Chelsea
Chelsea have acquired the services of former Manchester City and Ipswich Town striker, Liam Delap, for a reported $45m. Chelsea may have just bought the best English striker in the Premier League, and given his impressive 12 goals in the Premier League, from an xG of 8.5, Chelsea may have further proved their striking options for the next 10 years.
With the emergence of Delap, Chelsea may have found the striker that can lead them to glory and also give the English fan base another player of their own to identify with and rally around. If he looked good in the sky blue of Ipswich, he will definitely feel right at home in the deep blue of Chelsea on the King’s Road.
Delap represents not only a bargain option for Chelsea given his low release clause and probably low wages relative to some of the players of similar profile to him within the club, Delap also fits the model Chelsea have been using. Find young, talented, upcoming players who they can tie down to long contracts, and build the squad around that core of players. Chelsea may have found another Cole Palmer. I really wish Arsenal had gone for this player.
5. Martin Zubimendi: Arsenal
With Fabrizio Romano having given the “Here we go” for this player, Arsenal fans can rest easy knowing that they have solved two pressing issues they had in their midfield. One was, who was going to provide cover and competition for Thomas Partey, who is still yet to sign a new deal to keep him at the club.
However, talks remain ongoing, and positive news may yet come out soon on that front. And two, solving their issues with a lack of creativity in their deep build-up play. Zubimendi may yet breathe new life into that midfield and allow Arsenal to build up more efficiently, thus allowing Ødegaard more space to play higher up the field, where he does his best work.
Final thoughts
With silly season well and truly in motion, teams will no doubt spend big money on players, keep fans on the edge of their seat for more news and insights, and players will keep taking to social media to send cryptic messages to fans all over, so if you enjoy football news, you better keep it locked right here for more transfer and football news.
Source: Skysports