The summer transfer window is in full effect. Everyone from your grandmother to your bodega cashier is telling you the latest rumor about the dynamic scorer coming to your team being the difference between a mid-table finish and the Champions League. While the summer is just getting started, many of the biggest names are already off the table. Here are the top transfers so far this summer:
7. Brendan Aaronson – Midfield
FC Salzburg to Leeds United – $29.5m
Aaronson will be following in Christian Pulisic’s footsteps as the shiny new talisman on a Premier League roster. Americans have faced the ire of the British media more than most, but Aaronson’s work ethic will quickly endear himself to the Leeds fans. His tireless motor leads to more goals and assists that more athletic or talented players miss out on. With Patrick Bamford looking to rebound from an injury-plagued season, Aaronson will have a big target to feed with through balls and crosses, as Leeds looks to move up the Premier League table.
6. Sadio Mane – Forward
Liverpool to Bayern Munich – $35m
At Bayern Munich, the goal every year is to win the Champions League, and adding one of the top wingers in the game for only $35m is a great start to the campaign, especially if they may be losing their top scorer. While winning an eleventh straight Bundesliga may not present much of a challenge for the German giants, building depth up top will give them a fantastic chance to compete with the top teams of Europe.
5. Antonio Rudiger – Defender
Chelsea to Real Madrid – Free
Perhaps the best value of any transfer this summer, Antonio Rudiger joining Real Madrid’s stellar defense on a free is the best defensive transfer of the summer. While Alaba and Militao were a stellar center back combo last season, Rudiger will slide right in and be one of, if not, the best defenders in La Liga. Only time will tell how Real’s defense will line up by the end of the season, but Ancelotti will have lots of time to experiment with how to rotate Mendy, Alaba, Rudiger, Militao, Carvajal, and the always reliable, Nacho, this season.
4. Gabriel Jesus – Forward
Manchester City to Arsenal – $54.8m
With Aubameyang and Lacazette moving on in the past year, Arsenal are aiming to get younger with the emergence of Nketiah and the signing of Jesus. Arsenal’s young core finished last season on a roll, earning a Europa League spot. Further European experience will only help Arteta’s team, as they look to get back into the Champions League. The next best way to increase European experience is to add a proven striker with lots of Champions League experience, which is exactly what Gabriel Jesus will do. If he and fellow Brazilian, Gabriel Martinelli, can build chemistry together, Arsenal will be a real threat at returning to the Champions League.
3. Darwin Nunez – Forward
SL Benfica to Liverpool – $78m
Losing a legend (see above), Liverpool will have big shoes to fill in their front three, but they believe they have found their man in the young Uruguayan, Darwin Nunez. The key to Nunez’s success will be his buy-in to Klopp’s pressuring system and building chemistry quickly with wingers, Diaz and Salah. With Firmino fighting him for playing time and the pressure from the Liverpool faithful, Nunez will need to adapt to the physicality and pace of the English game, but with his size and speed, he is built to be a massive headache for Premier League defenders all season long.
2. Aurelien Tchouameni – Midfield
AS Monaco to Real Madrid – $83.7m
The rich get richer…Real Madrid has had the best midfield three for the past decade, and with the signing of Tchouameni, they may have the new best trio for the next decade. Modric, Kroos, and Casemiro will remain stalwarts in the Madrid starting 11, but the likes of Valverde, Camavinga, and Tchouameni will provide young, fresh legs to bolster Real Madrid’s chances at repeating as La Liga and Champions League winners. Playing time will need to be earned, but rumors of switching to a 4-4-2 from 4-3-3 will provide more opportunity for the youngsters looking to make their own names.
1. Erling Haaland – Forward
Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City – $65m
Had Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid, there would be a serious debate about which was the better signing, but since Mbappe stayed, there is no question that Man City stealing Haaland from Dortmund well under value is the best transfer of the summer. Even with other potential big names rumored to leave their clubs, Haaland, the best young true No. 9, joining the Premier League champions whose biggest flaw in the Champions League was a dynamic threat to finish the chances created by the best passers in the game. KDB, Cancelo, Foden, Mahrez and more are salivating at the opportunity that Haaland presents them, and Guardiola’s super team is the preliminary favorite to repeat in the Premier League and finally win the Champions League.
Tyler Banning 