Ranking Europe’s clubs on transfer activity

0
150

10. Liverpool

In: Mohamed Salah,  Dominic Solanke

Out: Andre Wisdom

Liverpool started off incredibly well with the aquisation of Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, however, there haven’t been any recent transfers since since the official confirmation of Solanke. There’s still plenty of time for Liverpool to nab some prime targets but they seem to be chasing Naby Keita for the past two weeks. Liverpool fans grow more and more impatient as social media tells us, already frustrated over the Virgil van Djik incident that took place early in the season.

With Salah and Solanke representing a good job in the window so far, Liverpool need to up their game in order to achieve greater in the coming season.

9. RB Leipzig

In: Yvon Mvogo, Bruma, Jean-Kevin Augustin, Conrad Laimer

Out: Davie Selke

RB Leipzig have pulled an exceptional deal out from under the radar, as they nabbed one of the most lethal one-on-one finishers in Europe. Augustin wasn’t given much of a chance at Paris Saint-Germain due to the fantastic form of Edinson Cavani, however they lost a great talent in the departure of the young striker.

Augustin shares a very similar style to Timo Wermer, so Leipzig now have to strikers cut from the same cloth.

8. Chelsea

In: Willy Cabellero, Ethan Ampadu, Antonio Rudiger

Out: Nathan Ake, Alex Kwiomya, Bertrand Traore

The Premier League Champions have enjoyed an impressive transfer window so far, albeit missing out on a prime target to Manchester United in former Chelsea player Romelu Lukaku. The Blues have kept fans waiting on a deal for Tiemoune Bakayoko, and now Manchester United have joined the bid war and attempt to beat Chelsea to yet another player this season.

7. Arsenal

In: Sead Kolasinac, Alexandre Lacazette

Out: Yaya Sanogo

The Gunners have finally brought an end to the Legend of Yaya Sanogo as his bizarre Arsenal career was full of disappointments and very few moments of spark. He continues his career at Toulouse in order to try and prove everyone wrong.

Arsenal have also showed true initiative in the acquisition of Alexandre Lacazette for a price north of fifty millioin pounds. Along with Lacazette, Arsenal have brought in Sead Kolasinac that can play in three positions and signals an end to Kieran Gibbs’ time at the Emirates.

6. Borussia Dortmund

In: Maximillian Phillip, Omer Topak, Mahmoud Dahoud, Dan-Axel Zagadou

Out: Adrian Ramos, Mathias Ginter

The biggest development for Borussia Dortmund has been the sale of Mathias Ginter to Borussia Monchengladbach. Ginter had offered a decent output at Dortmund but coudn’t hold down a consistent position the team. With Dahoud, Phillip and Toprak already signed, things look good for the Black and Yellows.

5. Manchester United

In: Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku

Out: Wayne Rooney

This transfer window saw the end of a fantastic thirteen year career at Manchester United  for Wayne Rooney. United were finding the most respectful way to get rid of the legend and a move to Everton seems like the perfect way to do so.  With attacking options looking short, the Red Devils have swooped a fantastic deal for Romelu Lukaku from right under Chelsea’s nose. Lindelof was acquired a few weeks ago and he seems like an adept signing for the Reds to threaten for the title next year.

4. Manchester City

In: Bernardo Silva, Ederson Moraes

Out: Enes Unal, Pablo Zabeleta, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas, Aaron Mooy, Ruben Sobrino

Manchester City fans must be slightly concerned. Where is the gargantuan influx of star players the club were seemingly on the verge ofBernardo Silva and Ederson represent a terrific start, make no mistake about it, but how long is this Benjamin Mendy medical taking? PSG have spoiled City’s prospects of signing Dani Alves.

It was hard to split Man City and Man United for the ranking, but the reasoning for City being ahead is this: If you compare the hauls side-by-side, Ederson and Lindelof cancel each other out, and Silva is a superior deal to Lukaku both from a price- and talent-level perspective.

3. Everton

In: Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane, Henry Onyekuru, Sandro Ramirez, Wayne Rooney

Out: Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu, Tom Cleverley

Everton have made approximately £100 million off three players and used it to quickly improve the overall quality of the team.

Keane is a perfect player for Ronald Koeman and strengthens the defensive line, Pickford ends the 2016-17 goalkeeping nightmare, while Klaassen brings drive from deep to a midfield which is lacking exactly that.

The key question is whether any of this matters given that Lukaku has gone. That £75 million is a phenomenal price for him, sure, but Rooney’s going to have to remember a lot of old tricks and Sandro’s going to have to perform out of his skin to replicate the Belgian’s production up top.

2. AC Milan

In: Andre Silva, Franck Kessie, Ricardo Rodriguez, Mateo Musacchio, Hakan Calhanoglu, Fabio Borini, Andrea Conti

Out: Keisuke Honda, Diego Lopez, Andrea Poli

Calhanoglu’s had some time out of football due to a suspension, but the set-piece majesty he brings to teams is borderline unrivalled. Once he works off the rust, he’ll be a fine addition.

Conti was one of the finest young defenders in Serie A last season (with Atalanta) and boosts the Rossoneri’s Italian contingent, while compatriot Borini has escaped the Championship via a loan to the San Siro and can add depth in three positions.

They’ve been knocked off top spot in our rankings, but don’t let that take away from what a stellar job they’re doing this summer.

1. Bayern Munich

In: Corentin Tolisso, Niklas Sule, Sebastian Rudy, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman (permanent), James Rodriguez

Out: Medhi Benatia

There’s one rather notable addition to Bayern Munich’s squad since we last took stock of things: James Rodriguez has joined them on a two-year loan from Real Madrid with an option to buy, per the club’s official website.

This is an incredibly smart move from the German giants, who reunite James with the manager who he really flew under in the Spanish capital, Carlo Ancelotti. Presumably there’s an exit from Bayern to follow—likely Douglas Costa, who has been heavily linked to Juventus, per ESPN FC’s Ben Gladwell—but that doesn’t harm the team much.

Elsewhere, the previous haul of Rudy, Sule, Tolisso, Gnabry and Coman (permanently) still stands impressive, and combined with James, it’s enough to nick top spot in our rankings off Milan.