My Top 10 Summer Transfer Deals

World's Most Expensive Player, Pogba

The summer transfer activities has ended. Clubs and fans alike are now focused on the main task-build a competitive team. Here is my top ten picks of the transfer activities.

1.      Paul Pogba, Manchester United (£93.25m, from Juventus): we have had our eyes on the movement of Pogba for the past two seasons. His talent and personality is never in doubt. More fitting is that the Pogba was just the exact player the Man United midfield needed. And a world record fee for a player yet to reach his prime with a genuine hunger to be the best amongst his peers is certainly my deal of the summer.

2.      Claudio Bravo, Manchester City (£17m, from Barcelona): when one talks about a tailor made suit, there is no better description than Pep Guardiola and a goalie of Bravo’s credentials. He fits perfectly into Pep’s possession based football philosophy. At a ripe age of 33, it does not look like Bravo is slowing down anytime soon. The two-time Copa America winning captain brings on board an avalanche of experience and leadership qualities. The acquisition of Bravo effectively solves the goalkeeping headache at the Etihad.

3.      Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United (Free, from Paris Saint Germain): many clubs would dream of having Ibra within their ranks, and to have him for free is absolutely unbelievable. It is in this amazing world that Manchester United fans all over the world find themselves. The Special One and Ibracadabra are a match made in heaven. The little said about the morale boost and aura that Ibrahimovic brings to the dressing room and fans, the better. In addition, with Zlatan, goals are a guarantee. As he puts it himself, Ibra gets better with age, just like wine.  

4.      N’golo Kante, Chelsea (£30m, from Leicester City): hardworking, disciplined, strong, talented, simple. Kante’s role in Leicester’s fairy tale triumph last season cannot be overstated. Kante provides the engine for his team to enable the team operate to the optimal level. His credentials has been furthered by his performances during France’s journey to the Euro ’16 finale. Kante is no doubt one of the best midfielders in the game, and to sign him for a “meagre” £30m-with reference to today’s transfer pricing-is a very good deal. Kante will take Chelsea places.

5.      Saido Mane, Liverpool (£30m, from Southampton): Mane has been performing for Southampton at the top level for some time now. He is just what Klopp and Liverpool need. Pace, power, skill, and technique, Mane has got them all. Let us not forget that he is still relatively young, and doesn’t need time to settle in at Liverpool-as evident in his performances thus far- because he is already accustomed to the English Premier League. His devastating performance against Arsenal is a sign of things to come.

6.      Gonzalo Higuain, Juventus (£75m, from Napoli): being the world’s most expensive no 9, one would have thought Higuain should be listed higher in this ranking. His signing is a good one for Juventus. But he doesn’t really make the difference a Luiz Suarez, Robert Lewandoski or Sergio Aguero would make, knowing very well that Juve is pretty much guaranteed the scudetto with or without Higuain.

7.      Kevin Gameiro, Atletico Madrid (£25m + £6m add-ons, from Sevilla): the French international might not have been Diego Simeone’s first choice, Diego Costa was, but he will prove to be a shrewd signing. He is a proven goal scorer who knows the terrain of the la liga very well. And with the quality of Atletico’s team, he will be even more prolific.

8.      Eric Bailly, Manchester United (£30m, Villarreal): he has been a consistent performer for Villarreal for the past seasons. The Ivorian is cast in the mould of a typical Premier League defender. His pace, physique and no-nonsense defending has been evident in his excellent appearances for Man United so far-in which no single Man United player has been voted man of the match more than Bailly. He is set to climb to higher heights under Mourinho.

9.      Samuel Umtiti, Barcelona (£20.9m, from Lyon): in Umtiti, Barca has signed a young defender with great potentials. He is not only for the future, but he looks set to man up whenever he is called upon. I have always thought Barca are not exactly good at signing defenders, but the deal with Umtiti has gotten me thinking twice. I do believe he is the final piece of Barca’s jigsaw. He completes the Barca squad, together with new additions such as Jasper Cillessen, Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne and Pablo Alcacer. He might as well have to battle with the stupendous Javier Mascherano for a starting berth, but he is a top, top acquisition for a team in dire need of one in the particular department

10.  Renato Sanches, Bayern Munich (£29m + £39m add-ons, from Benfica): after his Euro winning performance in France, Sanches is set for the very top. His transfer fee doesn’t really matter because he is just a sportsman who is a victim of a football administration based on business module. His talent is not in doubt. And at a young age of 18, we are yet to see the best of him. Bayern has gotten themselves a midfield dynamo and a boy with superstar potential.