London (AFP) – Premier League clubs splashed out well over £1 billion ($1.2 billion) in the transfer market arms race ahead of the start of the new season on Friday.
The vast majority of that sum was again spent by ‘top six’ powerhouses Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, but some have strengthened wisely, while others still look under prepared for the new season.
Here, AFP Sport looks at how each fared in the transfer window:
Manchester City (2018/19: 1st)
Last season’s domestic treble winners have strengthened an enviably deep squad with the signing of Rodri for a club-record £63 million ($77 million) as the long-term successor to Fernandinho in defensive midfield.
The full-back positions have also been reinforced, with Joao Cancelo competing with Kyle Walker at right-back, while Angelino has been bought back from PSV Eindhoven to offer cover at left-back for Oleksandr Zinchenko and the injury-prone Benjamin Mendy.
However, City have failed to replace former captain Vincent Kompany after he left to take charge of Anderlecht.
Kompany’s leadership will be missed and City could be vulnerable in central defence.
Liverpool (2018/19: 2nd)
The European champions have stepped away from the bidding wars this summer, making just three low-key signings in teenagers Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott and reserve goalkeeper Adrian, none of whom are expected to have much impact on the first team this season.
“You should never do transfers because other clubs are doing transfers. That makes no sense, it’s not about that,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. “If you sit back for a second and have a look at the squad, do we need more players?”
The Reds are banking on the stability of retaining the side that posted a club-record 97 points last season and won a sixth European Cup.
However, the decision not to build from a position of strength will be questioned if Liverpool’s long wait for a league title stretches beyond 30 years come May.
Chelsea (2018/19: 3rd)
The Blues’ ban on registering new players means the focus of preparation for Frank Lampard’s first season in charge has been on returning loanees such as Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, who could finally be given their chance to shine for the Chelsea first team.
Lampard’s job has not been made any easier by the loss of the club’s best player Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and David Luiz’s deadline-day move to Arsenal.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/31sLWmY
No comments:
Post a Comment