European Transfer Window Power Rankings

In the last week or so, clubs from across Europe's elite divisions have really started to crank up their transfer intentions with big moves happening in Spain, England, Germany and France already.

These rankings consider every team from the Continent's top leagues on a proportional scale, with the magnitude of each purchase or sale valued by the size of a team and the impact any move may have on that squad.

What’s more, only completed player transfers are taken into account, although, in special cases, very heavy speculation can still affect where a side is placed.

Players marked with an asterisk (*) will complete the mentioned transfer on July 1, 2013 unless a deal has been struck to conclude said deal sooner.

20. Valencia

Movement: Down Two

Transfers In: Michel (Levante, £350,000), Javi Fuego (Rayo Vallecano, Free)

Transfers Out: Tino Costa (Spartak Moscow, £6 million), David Albelda (Released)

Although the club has signed two players as well as letting two leave, it's those departing Valencia who currently outweigh the strength of those coming in.

Yahoo! reported that after spending 15 years with the club, David Albelda would be leaving the club, with retirement looking most likely eventuality for the 35-year-old.

While Albelda's exit brings in no cash, Tino Costa's sale to Spartak Moscow, reported by Goal.com, is estimated at a worth of £6 million and helps fund the £350,000 buy-back clause that Inside Spanish Football reported Valencia had chosen to trigger for Levante's Michel.

Valencia-based newspaper Superdeporte (via ISF) also allege that Javi Fuego would be arriving as a free transfer from Rayo Vallecano, presumably to fill the void left by Albelda.

19. Borussia Monchengladbach

Movement: Up One

Transfers In: Max Kruse* (Freiburg, £2.2 million), Christoph Kramer (Bayer Leverkusen, Season Loan)

Transfers Out: Igor de Camargo* (Hoffenheim, £1 million), Mike Hanke* (Freiburg, Free), Matthew Leckie* (FSV Frankfurt, Undisclosed) 

With departures outweighing arrivals for Boussia Monchengladbach thus far, the club’s official website announced that Matthew Leckie would be leaving for FSV Frankfurt this summer, while the Bundesliga’s official website added that Igor de Camargo will leave for Hoffenheim come July.

Goal.com reported that The Foals had managed to tempt Freiburg’s Max Kruse to North Rhine-Westphalia. Considering the deal cost 'Gladbach just over £2 million, the striker’s arrival is a small coup for Luicen Favre's side for a player who will undoubtedly prove worth the outlay. As part of the move, Mike Hanke will move in the opposite direction, according to the official Bundesliga website.

Coming to the Lower Rhine on loan, 'Gladbach have also made a slightly less impactful signature in Christoph Kramer, whose arrival Borussia Monchengladbach announced through their official website.

18. AC Milan

Movement: Up One

Transfers In: Cristian Zapata (Villarreal, £5 million), Jherson Vergara (Deportes Quindio, £1.5 million)

Transfers Out: None

Cristian Zapata remains the Rossoneri’s big signature so far this summer, as the Serie A giants were reported by Sky Sports as making use of a purchase clause in the defender’s deal, following a successful spell on loan at the San Siro.

According to TheElastico.com, Jherson Vergara has also been recruited, with the European-wide revolution of Colombian stars continuing its rise following the 19-year-old's £1.5 million switch.

17. Fiorentina

Movement: Down Five

Transfers In: Marcos Alonso (Bolton Wanderers, Free), Oleksandr Yakovenko (Anderlecht, Free)

Transfers Out: None

After a strange three seasons with Bolton Wanderers, Marcos Alonso will make the move back to a top European club this summer, after Goal.com announced Fiorentina had agreed his free transfer with the Trotters, whose first team he made just 39 appearances for. 

The former Real Madrid Castilla product isn't the only savvy transfer for La Viola this summer, however, with ESPN reporting that Oleksandr Yakovenko would also sign on a free after the Ukrainian spent a great deal of his development with Anderlecht.

16. Juventus

Movement: Down Three

Transfers In: Fernando Llorente* (Athletic Bilbao, Free)

Transfers Out: Vincenzo Iaquinta (Released), Nicolas Anelka (Released)

With defence assuredly the club’s forte in recent seasons, Juventus have gone about revamping their attack so far this summer, releasing Nicolas Anelka, according to Football-Italia, with Vincenzo Iaquinta expected to follow.

Recent weeks have seen Juve linked with a raft of purchases, most of which have related to the Old Lady's attack.

Goal.com have reported former Argentine great, Juan Sebastian Veron, as saying that either Manchester City's Carlos Tevez or Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain, both of whom have been linked with Juventus, could make the difference for the club.

15. Real Betis

Movement: New Entry

Transfers In: Chuli (Recreativo de Huelva, £450,000), Cedric (Numancia, Free), Juanfran (Real Madrid B, Free), Stephan Andersen (Evian, Free)

Transfers Out: Jose Canas (Swansea City, Free), Adrian (West Ham, Free)

Having lost two of their senior players to the Premier League on free transfers, one might be forgiven for thinking this a bad transfer window for Real Betis.

BBC Sport announced that West Ham had won the race for goalkeeper, Adrian, while defensive midfield talisman, Jose Canas, would link up with Swansea City despite a host of other interested sides.

However, the La Liga side have been quick to replace their goalkeeper as Yahoo! allege that Betis have brought Evian's Stephan Andersen over from Ligue 1, also on a free.

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo (via Inside Spanish Football) reported the free signatures of striker Cedric Mabwati from Numancia as well as former Real Madrid youngster, Juanfran, also as a free.

In fact, the only money Real Betis have spent this summer so far has been on the £450,000 signature of Chuli from Deportivo Huelva, reported by Soccerfame.

14. Chelsea

Movement: Down Seven

Transfers In: None

Transfers Out: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, Season-Long Loan) Florent Malouda* (Released), Paulo Ferreira* (Retired), Ross Turnbull* (Released), Yossi Benayoun* (Released), Henrique Hilario* (Released)

As has now been confirmed by BBC Sport, the above-mentioned barrage of released Chelsea veterans has been made official, freeing up a heap of wages for the club to recycle this summer.

With Jose Mourinho now at their side, the Blues are bound to go on a summer spending spree, but have as of yet failed to recruit any faces, focusing more on their departures so far.

Another name set to leave the club, albeit temporarily, is Thibaut Courtois, who will join up with Atletico Madrid for a third consecutive season, as reported by the Daily Mail.

13. VfB Stuttgart

Movement: Down Three

Transfers In: Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata, £1 million), Thorsten Kirschbaum (Energie Cottbus, Free), Daniel Schwaab (Bayer Leverkusen, Free), Sercan Sararer (Greuther Furth, Free), Konstantin Rausch (Hannover, Free), Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory, Free)

Transfers Out: None

Having not made any moves since last week's rankings, Stuttgart have dropped off slightly but have been nonetheless impressive in their recruitment process so far.

Despite making six signings already in time for the 2013-14 campaign, Stuttgart have only spent £1 million in their redevelopment this summer, relying largely on free transfers instead.

The official Bundesliga website announced back in January that Gotoku Sakai would join up with the club until 2016, while reporting more recently that Daniel Schwaab and Konstantin Rausch would also be added to the roster, both as free transfers.

Meanwhile, FoxSoccer reported that both Sercan Sararer and Marco Rojas would become a part of the Stuttgart side in time for next term while Thorsten Kirschbaum is another efficient addition, which Sky Sports announced.

12. Inter

Movement: Down Seven

Transfers In: Hugo Campagnaro (Napoli, Free), Diego Laxalt (Defensor Sporting, £2 million), Ruben Botta (Tigre, Free), Marco Andreolli (Chievo, Free)

Transfers Out: None

Having seen out what was an ultimately disappointing season by their standards, it's of little surprise to see Inter begin an early assault on the transfer market, doing well to bring in a combination of free signings, as well as those more expensive.

Although the move was announced by ESPN back in February, Hugo Campagnaro's move to Inter from Napoli will officially go through this July, regardless of the distance between the two teams this Serie A season.

The only fee Inter have paid for a player thus far was for Diego Laxalt, while Goal.com have also told of Inter's capture of Juventus and Roma target, Ruben Botta.

Football Italia also publicised news of Marco Andreolli's move to Inter after the defender reached the end of his contract with Chievo.

11. Atletico Madrid

Movement: Down Three

Transfers In: Leo Baptistao (Rayo Vallecano, £4 million), Jose Maria Gimenez (Danubio, £1 million), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea, Season-long loan)

Transfers Out: Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco, £50 million)

Coming to the club on a five-year contract, as confirmed by Marca, the arrival of 20-year-old attacker Leo Baptistao is something for Atletico Madrid fans to be excited about given how much potential the young attacker shows.

However, when you consider that reinforcement is the only one made to compensate for the £50 million exit of Radamel Falcao, reported by BBC Sport, things don't seem quite so hopeful after all.

Of course, the club still has a whole summer to continue their recruitment pledge, but Atleti minds would certainly rest easier with another keen goalscoring talent in the squad.

With Monaco happy to pay such an exorbitant fee for Falcao, Atleti now have a cool sum to spend on squad improvements, already reinvesting 10 percent, after Sky Sports announced that the club had also brought young Jose Maria Gimenez to the club for less than £1 million.

10. Barcelona

Movement: Down One

Transfers In: Neymar (Santos, £48.6 million) 

Transfers Out: Eric Abidal (Released)

In what could prove to be one of the biggest deals of this decade, Neymar’s prophesised move to Europe came to pass almost a fortnight ago, with Barcelona ultimately chosen as the prodigal son’s destination.

BBC Sport value the deal at a sum total of £48.6 million, although that price would seem to rest on the young Brazilian fulfilling numerous targets during his time at the Camp Nou.

On the departures list, Eric Abidal also says an emotional farewell to the club who saw him through a liver transplant after not seeing his contract renewed, according to Sky Sports.

Given their internationally high status, Barca are unsurprisingly being linked with a wide assortment of players, although it's unknown just how much they'll be hoping to spend after splashing so much on the services of just one star.

9. Real Madrid

Movement: Up Five

Transfers In: Dani Carvajal (Bayer Leverkusen, £5.5 million), Carlos Casemiro (Sao Paolo, £5.1 million)

Transfers Out: Ricardo Cavalho (AS Monaco, Free)

Real Madrid's official website announced in May that Dani Carvajal would be returning to the Bernabeu from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Arguably the Bundesliga’s best defender last season, the Spaniard fills a major void at right-back for Los Merengues, one that Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos have done their best to satisfy of late.

However, the club have now announced another signature in Casemiro, the young Brazilian who spent a portion of the last campaign at Real.

Sky Sports say the deal is worth the 21-year-old's Sao Paolo release clause of just over £5 million, a steal considering how much promise has been tipped of the defensive midfielder in recent years.

With Ricardo Carvalho reaching the end of his deal in the Spanish capital and Sky Sports reporting of the defender's move to Monaco, there won’t be much fluctuation in the wage bill, either.

8. Benfica

Movement: Up Three

Transfers In: Lazar Markovic (Benfica, Undisclosed), Filip Djuricic (Heerenveen, £5 million), Miralem Sulejmani (Ajax, Free), Jorge Rojas (Club Cerro Porteno, £1 million), Uros Matic (Kosice, Free)

Transfers Out: Pablo Aimar (Released)

Filip Djuricic’s £5 million arrival from Heerenveen, as reported by Goal.com, is no longer the most expensive signing for Benfica so far this summer, following Sky Sports' announcement that the club had brought in Partizan Belgrade forward, Lazar Markovic.

In what's been a very odd deal, Chelsea were reported by Sky Sports earlier this weekend as saying that they already owned Markovic's player rights and were simply loaning the player to the Eagles, something Benfica deny.

Jorge Rojas, a centre-back from Paraguay, is also a valuable signing this summer after Radio e Televisao de Portugal (via SoccerNews) reported the player's move being worth a fee of just over £1 million.

Uros Matic will also get to play alongside older sibling, Nemanja, after the Serbian was reported by Portuguese outlet Record (article in Portuguese) as agreeing a free transfer, while Ajax's Miralem Sulejmani will complete a similar move, according to Spanish newspaper Sport (via SoccerNews).

7. Sunderland

Movement: Up Nine

Transfers In:  Modibo Diakite (Lazio, Free), Cabral (FC Basel, Free), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, Free),Duncan Watmore (Altrincham, Undisclosed)

Transfers Out: Titus Bramble* (Released), Matt Kilgallon* (Released), Ryan Noble* (Released)

After a heap of speculation, Sky Sports have finally confirmed what plenty of Sunderland fans will have been hoping to hear for some time.

Paolo Di Canio's defence has received some major reinforcements with Modibo Diakite, Cabral and Valentin Roberge arriving at the club from Lazio, FC Basel and Maritimo, respectively, and all on free transfers.

The triple signing is some very smart business for the north east outfit and is evidence of the links that Di Canio brings to the club.

BBC Sport have also reported that the new Black Cats boss has already agreed to let Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon leave the club, with the expiration of their contracts coming in several weeks’ time.

6. Norwich City

Movement: No Change

Transfers In: Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon, £8.5 million), Javier Garrido (Lazio, Undisclosed)

Transfers Out: Chris Martin (Derby County, Free), Marc Tierney (Bolton Wanderers, Free), Simeon Jackson* (Released), Lee Camp (Released), Elliot Ward (Released), Korey Smith (Released), Tom Adeyemi (Released)

One of the fastest-moving English sides so far this summer, Norwich City have completed a fairly large deal compared to their usual spectrum after sealing a swoop for Sporting Lisbon’s Ricky van Wolfswinkel back in March, as reported by Sky Sports.

The Dutchman will arrive at Carrow Road in an official sense this July, along with Lazio signing Javier Garrido, whom BBC Sport alleged would make the deal long-term after he enjoyed a successful term on loan with the Canaries in 2012-13.

At the moment, departures still account for a major part of Chris Hughton’s business, with seven players released.

5. Manchester City

Movement: Up 10

Transfers In: Jesus Navas (Sevilla, £22.9 million), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk, £30 million)

Transfers Out: Kolo Toure (Liverpool, Free), Wayne Bridge (Reading, Free), Roque Santa Cruz* (Released)

Fast catching up with their reputation for big spending after a slow start to the summer, Manchester City have quickly moved past the £50 million splurge mark after the Telegraph's John Percy announced the signings of Fernandinho and Jesus Navas.

The Guardian has reported that Kolo Toure will make his way to Liverpool as a free transfer, freeing up some part of the wage structure that was otherwise going to waste at the Etihad.

Also, BBC Sport has reported Wayne Bridge as joining Reading after seeing his contract with the club run out while Roque Santa Cruz enters free agency.

4. Fulham

Movement: Down One

Transfers In: Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, Free), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Free), Sascha Riether (Cologne, Undisclosed), Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma, Undisclosed)

Transfers Out: Simon Davies* (Released), Giorgos Karagounis* (Released), Chris Baird* (Released), Mark Schwarzer* (Released), Mahamadou Diarra* (Released), Mladen Petric* (Released) 

Seemingly keen to improve upon their most recent Premier League campaign, this summer has seen Fulham delve into the transfer market more swiftly than ever.

Literally months before the transfer market had officially opened, the Express had reported the Cottagers' triple signing of Fernando Amorebieta, Derek Boateng and Sascha Riether, the former two of which were on free transfers.

Adding to that, Goal.com have also stated that Maarten Stekelenburg has completed a medical before sealing his move to West London for an undisclosed fee.

Along with those coming into the club, BBC Sport have also announced a flood of names leaving the West London club including Simon Davies, Giorgos Karagounis, Mahamadou Diarra and Chris Baird.

3. Bayern Munich

Movement: Down One

Transfers In: Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund, £34m), Jan Kirchhoff (Mainz, Free)

Transfers Out: Nils Petersen (Werder Bremen, £2.5 million), Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Zenit St. Petersburg, Free)

Despite a relatively slow week at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich still remain near the summit of our power rankings, albeit seeing a slight slip in its order.

Mario Goetze was already one of the hottest commodities in world football during his final months at Borussia Dortmund, and Sky Sports' April announcement that the German superstar would be moving to the Allianz Arena has only strengthened the Champions League title holders.

Along with Goetze, der FCB have also made a much more economically friendly move for Mainz’s Jan Kirchhoff as a free transfer, also according to Sky Sports.

It’s also been announced by Sky Sports that Nils Petersen will be moving from Munich Werder Bremen for a fee of £3 million, while Yahoo! have reported Anatoliy Tymoshchuk's return to Zenit St. Petersburg, representing valuable shifting of some Bayern fringe players.

2. FC Porto

Movement: Up Two

Transfers In: Hector Herrera (Pachuca, £7.5 million), Diego Reyes (Club America, £6 million), Lica (Estoril, Undisclosed), Carlos Eduardo (Estoril, £750,000), Josue (Pacos de Ferreira, Undsiclosed), Tiago Rodrigues (Vitoria de Guimaraes, Undiclosed), Ricardo Pereira (Vitoria de Guimaraes, Undiclosed) 

Transfers Out: Joao Moutinho (AS Monaco, £21.5 million), James Rodriguez (AS Monaco, £38.5 million)

While it may be confusing that Porto are ranked so highly given the departure of some of their biggest assets this summer, these rankings are based on business and not just who can bring in the most.

This year, it's Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez (pictured) that have completed a £60 million double move to AS Monaco, according to BBC Sport.

In the past, Porto have shown the ability to survive the fallout of the sales of some of their best players while maintaining a strong international presence, as well as benefitting financially from such deals.

As such, the club have already begun to rebuff their side after selling the latest batch of stars.

Speaking to Portuguese publication O Jogo (h/t Goal.com), Herrera said that he has "Given his word to Porto" and the 23-year-old will be expected to play in a similar role to the departed Joao Moutinho.

Herrera will accompany fellow Mexican, Diego Reyes, to the Estadio Dragao after Goal.com reported that the former Club America defender would link up with the Portuguese giants for a fee of £6 million.

The official UEFA website recently reported that the Dragons had signed Lica and Carlos Eduardo from Estoril, as well as wrapping up a deal for Pacos de Ferreira's Josue.

It's also been reported on Demotix.com that Porto completed a double swoop for Vitoria de Guimaraes pair, Tiago Rodrigues and Eduardo.

1. AS Monaco

Movement: No Change

Transfers In: Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid, £50 million), Joao Moutinho (Porto, £21.5 million), James Rodriguez (Porto, £38.5 million), Ricardo Carvalho (Real Madrid, Free),

Transfers Out: None

With a net spend of over £100 million already and over two months still left until the transfer window closes, the French outfit are putting Paris Saint-Germain’s spending to task, showing that there’s a new French force in town.

Although the club remain on top of our rankings, it's fair to say Monaco's spending could eventually see them ruined as a club, making it not so economically prudent until results are seen. As of right now, however, the French side remain on top thanks to the sheer size of their moves.

Radamel Falcao, widely regarded as one of the best finishers in world football, will lead the club’s line this coming season after BBC Sport announced the South American's £50 million move to the tax-free state.

The BBC have also proclaimed that Falcao’s Colombian compatriot, James Rodriguez, will be joining the former Atletico Madrid forward at Monaco as part of a £60 million double deal with Porto, which also includes the signature of Joao Moutinho.

Veteran Ricardo Carvalho is a sole defensive recruitment from Real Madrid on a free after his deal expired in the Spanish capital, according to BBC Sport.

As of yet, the French side are yet to officially sell any of their stars, but one can bet they’ll have to make room given the swift nature of their spending pattern.

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