Ranking European Clubs on Their Transfer Activity Up to August 16 Deals
The end of the summer transfer window is in sight. Clubs have had months to secure new signings to improve their teams, and yet, startlingly, some still appear unprepared and behind schedule.
One of those teams is Chelsea, who have now dropped out of the top 15 on account of the fact they have few senior players and have sold a tonne of them. It's all good business in isolation, but they don't have enough staff to effectively work at this point.
We have one new entry in the top 15 from La Liga, and Gylfi Sigurdsson's transfer to Everton has changed the complexion of the top 10 a little. However, Blaise Matuidi did not sign for Juventus in time to count here.
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15. Real Betis
Real Betis may have lost a star in Dani Ceballos, but they've quietly built themselves a decent little team using the money. Andres Guardado, Victor Camarasa, Sergio Leon and Ryad Boudebouz are all exciting signings.
14. Bournemouth
Bournemouth's net spend is pretty high this summer, as they've made little from sales (most of their unwanted players have left on loan). But don't let that trick you into thinking they've spent frivolously—the three players they have splashed the cash on are all good and address problem areas.
13. Villarreal
Last week Villarreal added Pablo Fornals to their already-talented squad; this week they've welcomed Carlos Bacca on loan. He bolsters the strikeforce in the wake of Roberto Soldado's Fenerbahce move.
12. RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig's summer haul has been the same for weeks now. Yvon Mvogo, Bruma, Jean-Kevin Augustin and Konrad Laimer have all joined the club and flesh out the first-team squad ahead of a season in which they'll be fighting on multiple fronts.
11. Borussia Dortmund
Mahmoud Dahoud and Omer Toprak are smart signings, and to get the pair for a combined €10 million or so is great business. Maximilian Philipp's high-profile transfer has sparked intrigue, though; where does he find his minutes in this side, given how many options they have up top?
10. Juventus
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In: Medhi Benatia, Juan Cuadrado, Rodrigo Bentancur, Douglas Costa, Wojciech Szczesny, Mattia De Sciglio, Federico Bernardeschi.
Out: Leonardo Bonucci, Dani Alves, Kingsley Coman, Simone Zaza, Neto, Mario Lemina, Tomas Rincon (loan).
Juventus are on the verge of adding a much-needed piece to their midfield: Matuidi.
He hasn't signed in time to count for this edition of the rankings, but for £18.2 million, it's one hell of a buy that will give them the legs and explosiveness that Sami Khedira, Miralem Pjanic and Claudio Marchisio lack.
Tomas Rincon was loaned to Torino in anticipation of the move, making a little room in midfield. The Venezuelan had largely been used as a safety substitution late in games and was seemingly solely bought as cover for the second half of last season.
9. Inter Milan
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In: Borja Valero, Matias Vecino, Facundo Colidio, Milan Skriniar, Dalbert.
Out: Ever Banega, Gianluca Caprari, Federico Dimarco, Juan Jesus, Saphir Taider, Gary Medel.
Inter's squad continues to take on a fresh look, and the latest out the door is Gary Medel. It never seemed likely that head coach Luciano Spalletti would accommodate him tactically, so to see him leave for Besiktas is not a surprise.
Other than that, not too much has happened. Inter's Serie A kick-off is looming, and the squad was already massive; with four or five new signings through the door, it's quite feasible the bench couldn't take the strain if there were any more.
8. Everton
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In: Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane, Henry Onyekuru, Sandro Ramirez, Wayne Rooney, Cuco Martina, Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Out: Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu, Tom Cleverley, Aiden McGeady, Henry Onyekuru (loan).
With the £45 million capture of Sigurdsson secured, Everton have now spent approximately £140 million on new signings this summer.
While that's extremely exciting for the fans, there is a question that needs to be asked: Would any of their new players get into any of the current top six's starting XI? Perhaps Michael Keane could feature for Liverpool, and Jordan Pickford, too.
Beyond that, though, Everton have at best stood still and at worst gone backwards (without Romelu Lukaku) for a hefty price. They have made some good signings, and everyone they've bought is good (bar Martina), but they haven't got any better.
7. Arsenal
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In: Sead Kolasinac, Alexandre Lacazette.
Out: Yaya Sanogo, Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal's two big summer signings have already made quite the impact, haven't they?
They've both been heavily involved in the first two games, with Sead Kolasinac netting in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium and assisting against Leicester City, and Alexandre Lacazette smacking the post vs. Chelsea and scoring on Friday night.
Getting those deals done early and integrating them into the side has no doubt helped them start quickly. Kolasinac is already a borderline cult hero at the Emirates Stadium.
6. Manchester United
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In: Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic.
Out: Wayne Rooney, Adnan Januzaj.
Two of Manchester United's three pieces of summer business are looking good already.
Sunday's Premier League opener against West Ham United was notable for Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic's spectacular debuts—the former netting twice, and the latter winning the midfield battle single-handedly. It's only Victor Lindelof who is yet to impress for his new team.
It's important not to get too carried away, branding United's transfer work this year an established success after one solitary game, but the pre-season feeling they've nailed it has only been strengthened now.
5. Real Madrid
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In: Theo Hernandez, Dani Ceballos.
Out: Mariano Diaz, Diego Llorente, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao (loan), James Rodriguez (loan), Alvaro Morata, Danilo.
Some Real Madrid fans may still be holding out hope that a player such as Kylian Mbappe is signed this summer, but that might not be the wisest choice. There's no natural slot for him in the first XI, and to stymie his minutes and growth now would be criminal.
Theo and Ceballos are just the right kind of signings: young and improving—but more open to a rotation role and still in need of some coaching. They are players who add short-term depth but will star long-term.
4. Manchester City
8 of 11
In: Bernardo Silva, Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy, Douglas Luiz.
Out: Enes Unal, Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas, Aaron Mooy, Ruben Sobrino, Nolito, Joe Hart (loan), Kelechi Iheanacho, Pablo Maffeo (loan), Douglas Luiz (loan), Marlos Moreno (loan), Fernando, Olivier Ntcham.
On Saturday we saw Manchester City's sparkling new full-backs and newfound confidence on full display.
They taught Brighton & Hove Albion a harsh lesson in Premier League life, dominating possession and attacking relentlessly. The only surprise was that it took so long for them to find the breakthrough.
The relief on Pep Guardiola's face when they finally did was plain to see, and that tells you how much pressure he's under. When you spend so much on a cluster of players, results are required.
3. Bayern Munich
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In: Corentin Tolisso, Niklas Sule, Sebastian Rudy, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, James Rodriguez (loan).
Out: Medhi Benatia, Serge Gnabry (loan), Douglas Costa (loan).
Bayern have been haunted by injuries and late returns all summer, but their squad is big enough to handle it, and they've won both official games played so far despite the absences.
Given they essentially have at least two players for each position, you get the feeling they're done for this summer. Corentin Tolisso, Niklas Sule, Sebastian Rudy and James Rodriguez will all play a reasonable chunk of minutes, while Kingsley Coman will continue to provide that "flex" option wherever required.
2. Paris Saint-Germain
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In: Yuri Berchiche, Dani Alves, Neymar.
Out: Jean-Kevin Augustin, Youssouf Sabaly, Salvatore Sirigu.
Paris Saint-Germain are on the cusp of selling Matuidi to Juventus (for just £18.2 million, according to the Guardian), but that deal won't count in this edition of the rankings as it wasn't concluded in time.
That's the only thing happening for the French side at the moment. Most of the focus has been on Neymar and his wildly successful debut in Guingamp, where he assisted Edinson Cavani and netted one himself a little later.
1. AC Milan
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In: Andre Silva, Franck Kessie, Ricardo Rodriguez, Mateo Musacchio, Hakan Calhanoglu, Fabio Borini (loan), Andrea Conti, Antonio Donnarumma, Lucas Biglia, Leonardo Bonucci.
Out: Keisuke Honda, Diego Lopez, Andrea Poli, Gianluca Lapadula (loan), Juraj Kucka, Mattia De Sciglio, Leonel Vangioni, Rodrigo Ely, Carlos Bacca (loan).
Carlos Bacca has been edging out of AC Milan's door all summer—finally, after months of discussions, he's found an exit route: Villarreal on loan.
Patrick Cutrone's excellent form in the Rossoneri's Europa League qualifiers might have helped expedite matters, with the answer of who should back up Andre Silva this season becoming all the more clear.
Everyone will be watching eagerly this weekend as Serie A kicks off. Can Milan's all-star new squad settle and start strongly?
All statistics via WhoScored.com
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