Analysing 6 of the summer’s biggest transfers so far
The 2021/22 campaign is just around the corner and, despite the Euros and Copa América, teams across Europe have been busy in the transfer market.
Reports earlier in the window claimed a COVID market would see spending reigned in a little, but clubs have parted with record fees to bolster their options.
Here, we take a look at six of the biggest moves and what it might mean for both the player and their new team.
Ibrahima Konaté
Liverpool gambled last summer when they sold Dejan Lovren and didn’t bring in a replacement centre-back. It didn’t pay off.
Injuries derailed their bid to retain the title and they had to settle for a third-placed finish having been forced into using a number of centre-back pairings as the season progressed.
The Reds moved quickly to bring in a defender not long after the 2020/21 campaign came to an end. Ibrahima Konaté swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League, with Liverpool paying his £36million release clause.
Only ten players have cost the Merseysiders more and only one defender is above him in that list, a certain Virgil van Dijk. He was an investment for now and the future.
Per multiple reports, the Frenchman is expected to start the season alongside Joel Matip.
In Konaté, Liverpool have an aerially dominant centre-back who is composed in possession. He’s far from the finished product but he’s still just 22 and his recovery pace gets him out of trouble most of the time.
The below thread gives further insight into Konaté’s profile.
Jadon Sancho
One of the longest transfer sagas of recent memory, after well over a year, Manchester United bagged their man.
Sancho returned to Manchester, though this time around he’ll sport the red of United as opposed to the blue of Manchester City.
The 21-year-old is the definition of an output merchant. Across three full seasons in the Borussia Dortmund first-team, Sancho involved himself in 78 goals – an average of 26 per season in the German top-flight.
He adds another dimension to the United attack and gives Ole Gunnar Solskjær a right-wing option like never before. The former Watford youngster is also a big threat when deployed on the left. In fact, it might be his best position.
As evidenced above though, Sancho can create from anywhere in the final third and he regularly finds himself in high-quality areas. The £75million signing could help United rival their neighbours for the title.
Ben White
It is now a tradition for Arsenal to invest heavily in a centre-back during the summer transfer window.
In 2019, the club spent the best part of £30million on William Saliba. Last summer, they splashed a similar figure on Gabriel Magalhães. However, with the former on loan in France again and David Luiz leaving on a free, Mikel Arteta needed a ball-playing centre-back.
The Gunners struck a deal with Brighton to bring Ben White to London in a deal believed to be worth £50million.
His versatility will likely be one of the reasons Arsenal went big on White. Last season, Arteta used a back three system on a number of occasions and the fact the 23-year-old is comfortable in a three and a four will make the Spanish tactician’s job a little easier. He’ll no longer have to fit square pegs into round holes.
The one-time Leeds United loanee is one of the best ball-playing defenders in the Premier League. In a matter of weeks, he could be one of Arteta’s most important players.
Sign up to our Highlights from Twenty3 monthly newsletter
Donyell Malen
There was a Sancho-shaped void at the Westfalenstadion.
That has now been filled though.
BVB secured the services of former Arsenal youngster Malen for a fee believed to be around the £28million mark.
Over the last two seasons, the Dutch international has been one of the most prolific forwards in Europe involving himself in a goal every 98 minutes in the Eredivisie.
One of the more intriguing subplots heading into the new campaign will be what sort of partnership Malen is able to strike up alongside the dominant Erling Haaland.
The Dutchman was used to being the main man for PSV. It’s unlikely that will be the case with the Norwegian powerhouse leading the line for Marco Rose’s side. So what will that dynamic be like?
We’ll have to wait and see.
Junior Firpo
When Firpo made the move to Barcelona in the summer of 2019, it was considered a coup. Courted by many of Europe’s elite, the belief was that Barça had found the long-term heir to Jordi Alba.
The Spanish full-back didn’t read the memo though and his influence on the team increased. This meant Firpo was used sparingly at Camp Nou, making just 24 appearances in LaLiga across two seasons.
The financial situation at the Catalan club meant the 24-year-old was available for a bargain price this summer. Leeds snapped him up for just £12million and he replaces Ezgjan Alioksi in Marcelo Bielsa’s starting XI at left-back.
Once he’s settled in, he’ll be an upgrade. He could well go on to be one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.
During his Real Betis days, Firpo was a marauding left-back who would often underlap and find himself in central positions.
The Spaniard is composed on the ball and comfortable when pressurised. Under the guidance of Bielsa, he could recapture that form and even improve on it.
Emiliano Buendía
Someone finally bought Buendía.
For a couple of years now, he’s been a firm favourite for those into their data. He regularly posted elite creative numbers and it always felt like a matter of when and not if he’d be snapped up for a big-money fee.
After playing a key role in Norwich’s promotion, Aston Villa outbid Arsenal to land the Argentine maestro in a deal worth £38million.
In the Championship last term, he was a creative menace ranking first for shots assisted, assists and expected assists. He was also in the top ten for shots attempted and goals.
Buendía has already caught the eye for Villa in pre-season, assisting twice in the 4-0 win over Walsall recently.
All the graphics and visualisations in this article use Wyscout data and were produced in the Twenty3 Toolbox.
If you think the Toolbox could help your organisation either in the Media or Pro industry, please don’t hesitate to request a demo here.