La Liga's 8 Biggest Summer Transfers So Far

The summer transfer merry-go-round is beginning to turn apace.

As we ease into preseason, La Liga clubs have been at the forefront of some of the biggest transfers so far this summer.

There is still plenty of time left in this transfer window for the landscape of teams right across Europe to change significantly, and it's fair to assume that we should expect further movement involving La Liga teams as we gear up for the new season.

Let's take a look at the eight most expensive deals involving the Spanish clubs to have been concluded so far.

Casemiro

Young Brazilian starlet Casemiro was originally loaned to Real Madrid from Sao Paolo back in January of this year.

His performances from that time until the end of the 2012/13 season were enough to convince the Madrid hierarchy to part with €6 million to secure the player on a permanent deal this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping that the player can rid himself of the poor attitude and work ethic that seems to have been a feature of his earlier playing days and at just 21 years old, the player still has plenty of time to mould himself into the player Madrid hope he will become.

His versatility may well be key to an extended run in the first team.

Dani Carvajal

Dani Carvajal finds himself back at Real Madrid after a year spent in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen.

A product of the Madrid cantera, Carvajal worked his way through the ranks to Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve side, but could never force his way into the first-team picture.

A year after selling him for €5 million, the Spanish giants exercised their buy-back option and brought him home for a slightly increased €6.5 million fee.

As Sky Sports report, the player hopes he can make a significant impact on the first team this time round.

"

Since I has little, I have worked hard to get here.

I don't want to be an example for anyone, but I want to encourage the youngsters to keep working every day, because making it to the first team is every academy player's dream.

Perhaps if I had stayed I wouldn't be sitting here now.

The fact that I am sitting here means that it was the right decision. I was missing a few skills that I needed in order to compete with world-class players and now I've come back to give everything I've got.

"

Leo Baptistao

Brazilian striker Leo Baptistao made the short journey across Madrid to sign for Atletico from Rayo Vallecano in a €7 million deal.

After only 28 appearances for Rayo, Baptistao decided to move on; according to Marca, the 20-year-old said:

"

I feel very happy and I'm very pleased. I'm coming to Atleti highly motivated to do good things and learn more, because I'm a young lad; I'm 20 years old and I want to learn a lot more about the world of football.

I want things to go well from day one, to meet the squad, the coach, learn the style of play, be on good terms with them, fight for a place and help Atletico this season. I'm going to contribute positive things.

"

The striker will link up with another new signing, former Barcelona star David Villa, who secured a move to the Rojiblancos earlier in the week.

Benat Etxebarria

Benat Etxebarria returned to former club Athletic Bilbao after agreeing an €8 million deal with Real Betis.

The five-year deal disappointed a whole host of clubs according to Estadio Deportivo (h/t Football-Espana), who noted that West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers were in the frame for the player's signature.

The central midfielder refused to sign a new contract with Betis leaving the club no option than to get a fee for him now rather than letting him leave on a free transfer this time next year.

Jesus Navas

Sevilla's Jesus Navas completed a €17.5 million deal to take him to Manchester City during the early part of June.

The transfer abroad was something of a surprise given the well-known homesickness problem suffered by the player.

However, he has promised his new employers that he has conquered the illness and is ready to achieve great things.

City have bought themselves an "old school" winger who loves to get at—and beat—defenders with pace, but Navas is certainly not known for his goalscoring prowess having failed to find the net for Sevilla throughout the last campaign.

Isco

Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez, more commonly known as "Isco," completed a €30 million deal to join Spanish giants Real Madrid from Malaga on 26 June 2013.

The "all whites" are getting themselves one of the brightest young talents in the Spanish game as evidenced here.

Isco is new Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti's first signing, and the player's first task may be to try to win over the Bernabeu faithful who could be left reeling from an interview the player gave as a 17-year-old.

Metro report the player's allegiance to fierce rivals Barcelona:

"

I named my dog, a labrador, ‘Messi’ because Messi is the best in the world, and so is my dog.

I’ve always been a bit antimadridista and I still am. I have the feeling it’s an arrogant club, and without humility you don’t get anywhere.

"

Neymar

When Neymar signed for Barcelona back at the beginning of June for €57 million, there was a wealth of excitement coupled with the stark reality that a central defender still hadn't been secured.

Whilst the status quo of the latter acquisition frustratingly remains the same, it's fair to argue—after the young Brazilian's wonderful Confederations Cup tournament—that those associated with Barcelona are licking their lips at the mouth-watering prospect of seeing Neymar and Lionel Messi together in the same club side.

The player himself has been saying all of the right things to the media, per BBC Sport:

"

The thrill of being cheered when I entered the Nou Camp—it was hard not to cry. My dream has come true.

I've never worried about being the best in the world. The best is already here and that's Messi.

I'm one of the luckiest men in the world to be able to play with him and it's an honour. I'm very happy to be realising my life's dream.

To have the opportunity to play with great players I admire like Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta—I've begun a new stage of my life and I'm going to be very happy and achieve a lot.

"

La Liga had better watch out!

Falcao

The accolade for the most expensive transfer so far goes to Radamel Falcao.

By the end of May, AS Monaco had served notice of their intent to take the French Ligue 1 by storm by successfully bidding a monumental €60 million to secure the Colombian from Atletico Madrid.

"El Tigre" was being chased by some of Europe's top clubs, as reported by Metro, and it was a surprise to everyone when he popped up in the principality.

Whatever the machinations of the deal, Falcao is likely to prove he is worth every penny—52 goals in 67 appearances for Atleti speak for itself.