The football media season, i.e. transfer season, is upon us and we are just midway through it.
Some major deals have been completed already. Fans spend hours reading the transfer news and completed deals so lets discuss a top signing of top five European leagues.
La Liga: Vitolo – Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are facing a transfer ban and still arguably have made the best signing of La Liga so far. Atleti cannot register new players before January, so have loaned Vitolo to Las Palmas for the first half of upcoming season.
The 27-year-old Spanish international paid his own £33 million release fee, which was funded by Atletico Madrid according to Marca.
Vitolo was vital part of Sevilla side that won Europa League three years in a row. The winger has scored four goals for Spain in his 11 caps.
Other major transfers: Dani Ceballos from Betis to Real Madrid, Nelson Semedo from Benfica to Barcelona, Gerard Deulofeu from Everton to Barcelona, Ever Banega back to Sevilla from Inter.
Bundesliga: James Rodriguez – Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich are not just having fun on their Twitter accounts, they are also making transfers in a fun way.
After signing Kingsley Coman on a two-year loan from Juventus couple of years ago, they struck again by signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid on a two-year loan deal. The fee paid for two seasons is €10m and an option to buy him for €40m around.
Signing the Colombian international can be crucial for Bavarians as Thomas Muller faced a poor last season and Robbery (Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery) not getting any younger. New signing Serge Gnabry was also sent out on loan to Hoffenheim.
Bayern alone have dominated the Bundesliga transfer business, also acquiring Sebastien Rudy and Niklas Sule from Hoffenheim and Corentin Tolisso from Lyon.
(Copa2014.gov.br, Wikimedia Commons)
Premier League: Alex Lacazette – Arsenal
Since Premier League transfers get most clicks and comments, let me first accept that there have been many many good signings made. Arsenal’s new number nine stands out in my opinion because finally the Gunners have splashed the cash to replace Robin van Persie.
Arsenal fans were demanding a proven goalscorer for some years now and finally their prayers were answered as the Frenchman joins from Lyon for £52 million.
Alex Lacazette scored 28 goals for Lyon last season in Ligue 1 and 76 goals in last three seasons and has also featured in Ligue 1 team of the season three times in last four seasons.
Other major deals: Romelu Lukaku from Everton to Man United which also resulted in Wayne Rooney’s return to Goodison Park, Victor Lindelof from Benfica to Man United, Kyle Walker from Spurs to Man City, Bernardo Silva from Monaco to Man City, Mohammad Salah from Roma to Liverpool.
Serie A: Leonardo Bonucci
We can write a book on new signings made by AC Milan in this window but they have arguably signed the best in Serie A in Leonardo Bonucci. A stunning transfer completed yesterday which saw Italian champions sell arguably the best defender in the world – the best player in the world in my eyes if defenders get same recognition as goalscorers – to their rivals.
Problems between the defender and coach Max Allegri might prove costly to the Old Lady. A Champions League final loss to Real Madrid also caused problems between Leo Bonucci and the pair of Andrea Barzagli and Paulo Dybala.
Other major transfers: Douglas Costa from Bayern to Juventus, Borja Valero from Fiorentina to Inter, Hakan Calhanoglu from Leverkusen to Milan, Andre Silva from Porto to Milan, Roma signed two defenders in Rick Karsdorp and Hector Moreno.
Ligue 1: Dani Alves – Paris
Veteran Dani Alves was announced as a Paris Saint-Germain player this week after rejecting the approaches from various Premier League clubs including Manchester City. The Brazilian was released from Juventus this summer and hence was a free agent on the market.
Boss Unai Emery will hope that this signing can help them win the league from AS Monaco and continue progression in Champions League.
Other major transfers: Adil Rami from Sevilla to Marseille, Steve Mandanda from Crystal Palace to Marseille, Bertrand Traore from Chelsea to Lyon, Terence Kongolo from Feyenoord to Monaco, Luiz Gustavo from Wolfsburg to Marseille.
A tremendous amount of money has been spent so far and we are still halfway into the market. More major deals to happen. So which has been your favourite signing? Roar readers are you enjoying Arsenal’s Australia tour?
Aneesh Chandoke
Roar Pro
hey James why don't you write one article or even copy one from somewhere and send it to them by writing your title.
James
Guest
And you decided to write an article about transfers halfway thru the window for some reason. People need to stop blaming the title guy, when you submit a story you must have agreed somewhere to allow for a title to be added to the piece and know the history of the title guy. Own your blind acquiescence of the title.
Buddy
Guest
The long break in the A League has to be filled with football talk and the manner in which Europe goes about its transfers is fertile ground indeed. An interesting angle is watching how clubs go about their business, when they strike etc and how quickly players integrate into their new club sides. The media as a whole tend to dress things up in a totally different fashion and the rumour tree is laden with fruit. Working out who has done good business though is a long term project and is often clouded by how you look at money spent, on field performance, trophies and gate revenue with fans coming to see the new players etc. The last few weeks have been fun waking up to see who Wanderers have signed overnight and which Australians playing overseas are returning to the A League and whether it is a new club or returning to old haunts. There isn't quite the same fanfare here though compared to Lacazette signing for Arsenal or even Rooney returning to Everton but its still fun to follow.
Aneesh Chandoke
Roar Pro
Haha I don't know why Roar removed opening para where I clearly said just want to talk about the first half of transfer window. Also thanks for the criticism but writers submit article to the website and they have decided the 'won' part of the title.
Aneesh Chandoke
Roar Pro
thanks for rubbishing it but Roar decides the title
Al-Shazahd
Guest
Stop wasting everyone's time with such a stupid article. You know the transfer window is still open right?
Gavin R
Guest
I'll stick to the Daily Mail to get my useless football transfer updates
Brendo51
Roar Pro
what a strange article, we are only half way through the window and you are trying to pick winners already? Did you hit publish by mistake. I see by your profile pic that you are a Arsenal fan, I suspect someone may be a little too excited by the Lacazette signing.
The Auteur
Guest
How can you possibly say someone has 'won' the summer transfer window? It's not even closed yet and you have no idea how these players are going to perform in the season.
Nick Symonds
Guest
OFF TOPIC - NEWS: Hong Kong firm Jiayuan pledges $300 million for A-League stadium http://www.afr.com/real-estate/hk-firm-jiayuan-pledges-300m-for-aleague-stadium-20170714-gxb6e8 NEWS: NPL clubs meet with aim to push for national second division https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/07/16/npl-clubs-meet-aim-push-national-second-division