A lineup of the best signings made around Europe in this summer’s transfer window.
There was plenty of excitement going into this summer as clubs looked set to spend like never before. With the likes of mega-rich Manchester City, PSG and Monaco now on the market and clubs cashing in on some star names, there was plenty of movement in this transfer window, with too many big names to possibly fit into one starting eleven. Still, here is the very pick of the best signings made by clubs around Europe in each position on the pitch.
Defence
Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) – After a highly impressive season with Sunderland last year it was no surprise to see Belgian shot-stopper Simon Mignolet leave the Stadium of Light for a bigger team this summer, and Liverpool were the benefactors as they snapped him up for just £9m, ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Napoli. The 25-year-old marked his debut with a fine penalty save at Anfield, and already looks a great addition to the club, who had relied on the in-decline Pepe Reina for far too long.
Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) – The Spanish right-back spent just one season with Bayer Leverkusen before Real Madrid exercised their buy-back clause in his contract to bring him back to the Bernabeu. Having initially failed to break into the first-team as a youngster, Carvajal has now shown his tremendous potential with his displays in the Bundesliga, where he managed 1 goal and 7 assists from defence last season. His attacking instincts should go down a treat for Los Blancos fans this season, and he makes a significant upgrade on Alvaro Arbeloa in that position. Undoubtedly one of the best defensive purchases this summer.
Eric Abidal (Monaco) – In the opposite full-back position, Eric Abidal looks the best purchase of the summer, as the likes of Leighton Baines, Luke Shaw and Fabio Coentrao never ended up making the proposed moves that circulated in the media. The 34-year-old has had a difficult time of late with a lengthy spell out through illness, but his quality and experience makes him a valuable asset to this new team being formed by Claudio Ranieri.
Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid) – There was a long queue of clubs lining up to sign Toby Alderweireld this summer, many of them in the Premier League, though the highly-rated Belgian was eventually snapped up by Spanish side Atletico Madrid. The versatile and strong defender should be a top addition for Diego Simeone’s side and will no doubt be one to keep looking out for if he continues to impress.
Marquinhos (PSG) – A highly exciting defensive prospect, Brazilian teenager Marquinhos spent just one season with Serie A side Roma before PSG were willing to pay around £27m to sign him this summer. This strong and intelligent centre-back looks set to become the best in the world in the next few years, and will surely prove to be worth every penny if he continues his remarkable rise in Ligue 1. Although he has a lot to live up to now, he made the step up from Brazilian football very quickly last season and shows no signs of fear at any level.
Midfield
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) – A £27.5m deadline day signing, Marouane Fellaini already looks to have added some much-needed steel to David Moyes’ side in the middle of the park. He may not have been the signing a lot of the fans felt they needed, and United reportedly came close to signing any one of many other playmakers such as Thiago Alcantara, Kevin Strootman and Ander Herrera, though Fellaini’s performances for Everton last season still show that he’s one of the best, and there are plenty of other clubs who would have been very happy to add him to their squads this summer, with Arsenal believed to be the other main contender for the powerful Belgian. As well as a physical presence and defensive nous, he can get forward to good effect, making a nuisance of himself with his height and aerial presence, and has an eye for goal too.
Victor Wanyama (Southampton) – An outstanding midfield prospect, it was somewhat surprising that Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama wasn’t snapped up by one of many other clubs chasing him this summer, which supposedly included the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. At 22, Wanyama has his best years ahead of him and is a great capture for a club the size of Southampton, who will likely sell him for a big profit at some point in the future if he continues to impress. There were many other top midfield players signed this summer, but it feels right that the former Celtic man gets recognition in here given the importance he will no doubt have at St Mary’s this season.
Attack
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) – He may have cost a fortune, but that doesn’t stop him being an excellent signing and the latest world class name brought to Real Madrid by Galactico-loving president Fiorentino Perez. The Welshman was in superb form for Tottenham last season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions, many of them being stunning solo efforts that could make up a goal of the season list all by themselves. The prospect of seeing the £85m man line up alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Isco at the Bernabeu is certainly an exciting one, and he seems to have settled quickly with a goal on his debut against Villareal. Although no other club could probably have come close to affording him, Real Madrid have done well to keep showing themselves to be a true force in the transfer market.
Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich) – One of the best young players in the world, if not the best, Mario Goetze will be an excellent addition for last season’s treble winners Bayern Munich, especially under the guidance of new manager Pep Guardiola. As well as adding yet another quality attacking midfielder to their star-studded lineup, Goetze’s signing also significantly weakens Bayern’s main rivals Borussia Dortmund, who played some great football and enjoyed tremendous success with the young German pulling the strings. At £30.9m, Goetze’s transfer briefly made him the most expensive German player of all time.
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) – A real bolt out of the blue by Arsenal, as they pulled off a transfer that shocked the footballing world on deadline day, signing Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a club-record £42.4m (which also took him above Goetze as the most expensive German player). No one quite expected this sudden show of ambition from the Gunners, who have been known for their frugality in the transfer market since moving to the Emirates Stadium, often preferring to sign and nurture young players available on the cheap. Ozil, however, was a highly influential player at Real Madrid and his transfer fee reflects that, which could signal a turning point for Arsene Wenger’s side as they look to end their long wait for silverware.
Radamel Falcao (Monaco) – A superb goal-scorer and terrific all-round striker, Monaco perhaps edge other clubs’ big moves for strikers this summer with their £51m signing of Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid. The prolific Colombian has been in sensational form for a few years now, starting at Porto and continuing in La Liga, where he had a better goals-to-games ratio than Barcelona and Real Madrid stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Claudio Ranieri looks to be building a great side at the mega-rich Ligue 1 club, and Falcao is his most ambitious purchase of the lot this summer, giving them a real chance of competing with fellow big-spenders PSG for the title.
