The football transfer window has barely been open for a month and already there has been plenty of movers and shakers in the transfer window. From Chelsea’s obsession with hiring a manager from a club (Leicester City) and then poaching some of their players (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall) from the same club, this year’s summer transfer window will arguably be a window like no other. Why? Well, that’s due to the FFP rules in place I believe. In the January transfer window, after seasons upon seasons of spending, clubs were very cautious about spending.
In the current transfer window, if early evidence is anything to go by, clubs will be doing business but in a more creative way. Think Barcelona and Juventus for when they did a swap deal between Miralem Pjanic and Arthur Melo. As we know, football fans, that deal turned out to be one of the worst in history, so Aston Villa who have done a cash+swap deal with Juventus will pray that won’t happen in their dealings. If the Villains’ signings are anything to go by since Unai Emery has joined the club, the Midlands club should be ok in this deal.
Swap deals have happened with Everton and Aston Villa too. Strong rumours were circulating that Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was set to leave the club for Newcastle, but as for now, this deal won’t be happening. The FA have addressed the issue of clubs doing internal transfers in an apparent attempt to collaborate for balancing the books, it’s something English’s governing body have said they will clamp down on if need be. Teams with a set academy structure such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Everton are going around this issue by selling their young stars.
In the case of the two later examples, they haven’t been as well known for doing this practice as Chelsea and City before them, but both do have talented youngsters so if they can sell them at a good price then why not? The football romantics amongst you, such as me, wanted Lewis Dobin to stay at Everton, but like Ellis Simms before him, he had to be sold in an effort to balance the books. Teams like Manchester United need to sign players, but with what money? As well as no club wants to sign Harry Maguire for that kind of money at his age.
Players like Joshua Zirkzee have been linked with the club. Although a good player, a hardworking player, the young Dutchman isn’t a player that The Red Devils need, but Mathijs de Ligt is. The young centre-back formerly of Ajax and Juventus would add some authority to that area of the pitch, especially since Raphael Varane left the club at the end of last season. United could do with signing de Ligt and Ivan Toney as a priority, but even more pressing than that is that The Reds need to get rid of players they don’t want at the club any more.
Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire arguably got back into the side last term as Man United manager Erik Ten Haag struggled for alternatives. The Dutch coach wanted them gone, but rather embarrassingly for ETH, both played pivotal roles in United’s season. So for Manchester United, if they address the centre of defence and attack as issues that need strengthening, then they should do better than last season. Across the city champions Manchester City were superb, but at times did lack the steel that former skipper Ilkay Gundoguan gave them.
Maybe Matthheus Nunes can come good in the second season as can Matteo Kovacic, but if City do look to go in the market, then surely look to sign Everton’s Amado Onana. The 22-year-old was brilliant in Euro 2024 and played well during the season for club side Everton. Something that strengthens the chances of a deal is if the former Lille man got more goals.
Every year some talented free agents come on the market and this year is no different. The other Premier League sides could look to go into the free transfer market in an attempt to ne creative due to FFP rules, the big six clubs who are the biggest offenders of falling foul of the rules would be mad to miss some of the deals available. Arsenal are said to be in for a tough-tackling midfielder and there is one available on a free transfer (Adrian Rabiot).
Need a good centre-back? Mario Hermoso once of Atletico Madrid could be a wonderful signing at a club like Manchester United. Memphis Depay formerly of Manchester United, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is another one on the search for a new club as well as Wilfred Ndidi Nigerian International Ndidi could slot into Newcastle’s midfield, especially since they are still without Sandro Tonali. As for Memphis, I too argue he could excel at St James Park. With Callum Wilson being injury-prone, the former PSV man could be a potential ball-up option.
In an ideal world (for them) clubs will be able to spend however much they can, but with the grass roots level in dire straights, the need to tighter the strings is necessary. So here’s our opinion, do you agree? Do let us know in the comments
