THE FOOTBALL TRANSFER MARKET FOR MAJOR LEAGUES
The football transfer market 2022 is buzzing with activity as clubs aspire to either make new signings to improve their squads or clear players deemed surplus so as to create funds for purchases or save on the wage bill. Almost all clubs participating in both Champions and Europa leagues have shown intent to do business. Major league football has received a much-needed boost by the acquisition of two European veterans, Gareth Bale from Real Madrid and Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus, both on a free.
Some clubs seem to be in a tug of war trying to keep their star players while some have launched super charm offensive campaigns to try and prize off desired players from rival teams. There has been crazy speculation that Roma and Chelsea have serious interest in Manchester United Star, Ronaldo but United are adamant that he is not for sale. Speculation on Ronaldo has also pointed to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon who are said to be offering him a ‘welcome back home’ opportunity
Marquinhos now a gunner. image courtesy of Sky Sports
ARSENAL ON A MISSION OR WHAT!
Arsenal fans are currently the happiest lot with the acquisition of Gabriel Jesus from Man City and an unknown but highly rated Marquinhos from Sao Paulo whom at one time had fans in confusion thinking it was Marquinhos from PSG. Having earlier lost their talisman Pierre Aubemeyang and Lacazette to Barca and Lyon respectively, it was inevitable for the gunners to get busy on the transfer market.
Arsenal also tied down some of their prominent players to new deals, notably Eddie Nketiah. At one time Nketiah looked to have one foot out of Arsenal’s door but a run of eight premier league starts and an improved contract offer was the game changer effectively keeping him out of the transfer market. Arsenal who narrowly missed a spot in the champions league seem to be out on a mission to redeem itself from fans’ wrath and also assure Arteta that he has all the necessary support to challenge for trophies in the new season.
Pogba is back at Turin. Courtesy of Manchester United fan channel
NEYMAR TALKS ONGOING
Chelsea have both Ousmane Dembele and Raheem Sterling in their sights, with the club poised for a summer spending of more than £150million as manager Thomas Tuchel revitalizes his forward line. This follows the successful takeover of Chelsea by new Billionaire owner Todd Boehly, the interim sporting director and go-to man for player representatives, as the American billionaire takes a surprisingly hands-on approach to the club. He recently met Jorge Mendes, agent to Cristiano Ronaldo, in Portugal in his attempt to get info on key players in the European football transfer market.
Ironically, both Chelsea and Juventus are said to be interested in PSG star player Neymar. Newly owned Newcastle United could also afford Neymar but it is said that Neymar would not welcome such a move same with the Juventus deal which would require him to take a massive pay cut as has happened to Frenchman Paul Pogba.
IS MAN UNITED CHARM OFFENSIVE PAYING OFF?
Perhaps the most high-profile ongoing deal is the one pitting Manchester United against a stubborn Barcelona in their quest to prize off their number one transfer target Frenkie de Jong, with a compromise fee of about £69m likely to be reached with Barcelona for the Netherlands midfielder, 25. Barca has been playing hardball with United as usual and looking to get the highest fee possible for the dutch superstar who has been top of the shopping list for new united boss Erik Ten Hag.
Man United will be without fan-favorite Juan Marta who becomes a free agent and Nemanja Matic who has left for Roma on a free as well and also the controversial Paul Pogba who rejoined Juventus yet again on a free. Pogba’s transfer has been seen as a bad turn for the midfielder who will receive a much lower salary at Turin than what United had earlier offered him since it is widely believed that Pogba’s refusal to commit to a new contract at United was money-oriented.
Lewandoski unsettled at Bayern Munich- Courtesy of sporting news.com
BAYERN MUNICH RECEIVING BUT NOT GIVING
In a hilarious turn of events, it is said that Bayern Munich are continuously ignoring phone calls from Barcelona in a desperate bid to keep their star striker Robert Lewandowski, 33 who is eyeing a move to the Catalan club after lengthy service for the Bavarians. Lewandowski seems to have achieved all that there was to offer in the Bundesliga and is looking for a new challenge with Barca being his desired destination though he wouldn’t have a problem getting more suitors. Bayern Munich have at the same time acquired the services of former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane in a high-profile deal while Liverpool have enlisted the services of highly-rated Darwin Nunez from Benfica while at the same time stating that they would be willing to release Moh Salah for the right price.
Real Madrid are looking to off-load Spain forward Marco Asensio, 26, and midfielder Dani Ceballos, 25, at the same time capturing Antonio Rudiger’s sign on a free from Chelsea while Barcelona will also let go of French defender Umtiti who is wanted by a number of Seria A clubs including Girona.
As agents make a kill while transacting for their star clients, fan pressure will be mounting on high-profile clubs to strengthen their squads early in the football transfer market window to avoid last-minute panic acquisitions and overpricing through default bidding or player demand with Manchester United squarely falling in this category.