Sadio Mane (Liverpool
⇒ Bayern)
Transfer amount:
€32 million
A few weeks ago, one of the main sagas of the summer period of additional applications ended.
Mane's possible move was reported back in May, but several circumstances interfered - Liverpool's financial requests and the lack of certainty on Robert Lewandowski.
On paper, Sadio was supposed to be a replacement for the Pole, who firmly decided to move to Barcelona, but the clubs could not agree on the amount of compensation.
The German champions demanded €60 million to buy out the player's contract, while the Catalans were willing to pay a third less.
As a result, Lewandowski found himself in a difficult situation.
As of early July, he has not yet joined the blue garnet squad, while Bayern have already acquired Mane.
And although he spent most of his career as a left winger and, in theory, can form a bond with Robert, in the new team he is considered primarily for the position of the “nine”.
This was written in the local media, and the sports director of the club, Hasan Salihamidzic, noted that the Senegalese ideally fits the philosophy of Julian Nagelsmann, who prefers to use a more mobile and pressing striker in the center of the attack.
At Leipzig, the coach relied on the speedy Timo Werner, and Sadio could well be called a more “pumped” version.
In addition, it may well be a kind of hairpin to the Pole.
After all, earlier it was reported about his conflict with the coach on tactical issues.
Mane himself signed a contract with Bayern until 2025 and has already repeatedly confessed his love to her.
According to him, in the new team he is able to win all the trophies in modern football, including the Champions League.
So far, the Senegalese has played three times in the final of the prestigious European Cup with Liverpool, but won only once.
Twice Real Madrid got in the way of the Mersiaids.
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea
⇒ Inter)
Transfer amount:
€8 million (loan).
In the summer of 2022, another top forward left Foggy Albion.
But if Mane signed a full agreement with Bayern, then Romelu Lukaku moved to Inter on loan.
True, in his case, this can be regarded as a return.
The Belgian played for the Nerazzurri from 2019 to 2021 and even helped them win the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years.
That season, he scored 30 goals and gave 10 assists in all competitions, after which he was bought by Chelsea for a record £97.5 million for the club. By the way, he also played for the Blues at an early age, but not too well.
Nothing has changed this time either.
To the surprise of many, Thomas Tuchel did not change Chelsea's game plan for a costly striker, as a result of which he could not use his strengths.
Lukaku quickly withered away, and in the winter his scandalous interview with Sky Sport Italia was released.
In it, he criticized the principles of the German coach, confessed his love for Inter and said that he did not want to leave the club, but was forced due to difficulties in contract negotiations.
As a result, it did not please either Italy or England.
Fans of the Milanese accused Romelu of betrayal, and the head coach of the Londoners transferred to the reserve.
As a result, in the second part of the season he came out mainly as a substitute and eventually scored only 15 goals in 44 meetings in all competitions.
It is not surprising that after this, Chelsea were not interested in continuing cooperation with Lukaku, but they could not profitably sell him either.
Therefore, renting at Inter became the most logical decision.
The Belgian returned to where he shone before like never before, and the Londoners saved £10 million - that's how much the striker received in a year.
True, in the summer of 2023 he will have to return to the capital of Great Britain, because the option of a buyout is not provided for in the agreement.
Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City
⇒ Arsenal)
Transfer amount:
€52.2 million
Lost the striker and the reigning champion of England.
In the summer, Erling Haaland joined the Citizens, Julian Alvarez returned from the lease, so the need for Gabriel Jesus disappeared.
So, it would be extremely difficult for the Brazilian to compete with one of the most talented forwards in the world and a potential successor Sergio Aguero for the position of the “nine”, and there are also plenty of top performers on the flanks.
Moreover, Arsenal made an advantageous offer, which City did not refuse.
The interest of the Gunners in Jesus is easily explained.
In the summer, Alexandre Lacazette left them, as a result of which the team had a shortage of central forwards, and it was difficult to find a more suitable candidate than the Brazilian.
Firstly, in terms of its functionality and anthropometry, it is very reminiscent of a Frenchman.
Secondly, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, who worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at City for three years, is well aware of his strengths.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Spanish specialist was extremely inspired by the signing of an agreement with the football player and hastened to predict a bright future for him in the camp of the “gunners”.
And there is practically no doubt that he will definitely have a chance to prove himself.
Currently, his only competitor for a starting spot is Eddie Nketiah, who scored only 10 goals in all competitions the previous season.
Richarlison (Everton
⇒ Tottenham)
Transfer amount:
€58 million
At the same time, Jesus' compatriot has become the most expensive acquisition of recent weeks.
Over the past four seasons, Richarlison has consistently been among Everton's top two scorers, and in the last he even overtook the more completion-oriented Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“Helped” and the Englishman himself, who missed 125 days due to injury, but the fact remains.
The Brazilian once again confirmed that he is able to solve more serious problems than maintaining a residence permit in the Premier League.
And he exchanged the second team of Liverpool for an untitled club from London, but having the right to represent the country in the Champions League.
True, Richarlison's prospects at Tottenham are not clear.
He is unlikely to be able to win the competition for a place at the start of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, and in the rivalry with Dejan Kulusevski does not look like a clear favorite.
The Swede joined the team only in the winter, but immediately fell to the court.
In the Premier League, he spent 18 matches and scored 13 points in the "goal + pass" system (5 + 8).
The Brazilian has the same amount, but for this he had to hold 30 meetings.
But there is still Lucas Moura, Steven Bergwein and Ivan Perisic, who are also not eager to sit on the bench.
In the conditions of a tight schedule and the presence of five substitutions, the rookie will certainly have match practice, but it will be extremely difficult to become the main one.
Calvin Phillips (Leeds
⇒ Manchester City)
Transfer amount:
€48.75 million
Another important event was the departure of one of the most expensive English defensive midfielders from Leeds.
In the unofficial top, Calvin Phillips is in second place (€50m) and second only to Declan Rice from West Ham (€80m), but even this does not allow a clear assessment of the prospects at the new club.
In fact, the midfielder finds himself in the same situation as Richarlison, and will be forced to fight for a place at the base with a superior opponent.
According to Guardiola's scheme, City have one point guard.
And this role is tightly occupied by Rodri, who for several years not only performs at the highest level, but continues to progress.
Last season turned out to be one of the best in his career, as evidenced by personal records for goals, accurate and advancing passes, as well as passes on shot.
Phillips also missed the lion's share of the year due to a hamstring injury and lost in almost every aspect, except for defensive performance.
But this is unlikely to be enough to get into the start of a team that puts total control over the ball at the forefront.
Andreas Christensen (Chelsea
⇒ Barcelona)
Transfer amount:
free agent.
Unlike Phillips, Andreas Christensen's position in the new team seems to be stronger.
While Gerard Piqué is still very good but in the final stages of his career, Clement Lenglet and Oscar Mingesa do not meet the standards of a top club, and Eric Garcia is too young.
On paper, the Dane seems like the perfect match for the highly developed Ronald Araujo, and the signing of a strong free agent makes him a near-perfect transfer.
But even in this case there are pitfalls.
In addition to Christensen, Frank Kessier has recently added to the squad.
Both were signed for free, but at the same time for a solid salary - about €6 million a year.
And it is unlikely that the pupils of the Barcelona academy, who are currently playing for much less money, liked it.
And especially the talented pupil of the blue garnet Gavi, with whom they have not yet reached an agreement on a new contract.
The young midfielder had an impressive debut season and immediately gained the status of one of the main hopes of Spanish football, but the management was ready to offer him a fee at the level of other young players.
And this despite the fact that those around him were aware of the conditions under which a Dane and an Ivorian come to the team.
So far, no new treaty has been signed, but there has been some progress in the negotiations lately.
Reportedly, the management of "Barcelona" went towards the midfielder and agreed to pay him more.
The only question is whether this will provoke other players to demand a raise.