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Football has already commenced across various parts of Europe, with league football set to begin soon as well.
The financial limitations due to the pandemic have not stopped Premier League clubs from splashing the cash. Real Madrid and Barcelona, on the other hand, are struggling, with Barcelona especially in a very poor financial state.
The transfer window is heating up now, with clubs securing big names post the Euros. While some more interesting moves will still occur, there is a chance that clubs might make some haphazard ones as well.
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Here are the top 10 football teams in the world- football clubs rankings for the month of August.
#10 RB Leipzig
A new era has dawned on RB Leipzig, with Jesse Marsch replacing Julian Nagelsmann as the new manager.
Marsch is regarded highly, having done well with Red Bull Salzburg before moving to Germany. The American will be without two of Europe's most talented young centre-backs in the form of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate, with the two moving to Bayern Munich and Liverpool respectively.
Having said that, RB Leipzig have been extremely active in the transfer window so far. Despite signing Alexander Sorloth last season, the club struggled to replace Timo Werner's output. This summer, they have signed Portuguese striker Andre Silva from Eintracht Frankfurt for nearly £21 million, an excellent fee considering Silva scored 28 league goals last season.
Apart from Silva, RB Leipzig have once again targeted young talented players. Mohamed Simakan and Josko Gvardiol have been signed to replace Upamecano and Konate, while Dominik Szoboszlai will be hoping to showcase his talents having missed the second half of last season due to injury. RB Leipzig appear well-stocked, but could yet lose captain Marcel Sabitzer with Bayern Munich interested.
#9 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have finally sold star winger Jadon Sancho to Manchester United, and have immediately replaced him with Dutch talent Donyell Malen.
Their most important arrival of the summer, however, could be manager Marco Rose. Like Marsch, Rose made his name at Red Bull Salzburg, joining Borussia Monchengladbach in 2019. Borussia Dortmund were sufficiently impressed and moved quickly to appoint him as their manager.
The German will work with the best young striker in the world in Erling Haaland, who looks likely to stay this season. Malen was sensational for PSV Eindhoven last season, although it remains to be seen how quickly he can translate his Eredivisie form to the Bundesliga.
Jude Bellingham enjoyed a good debut season and will be an important cog this time around, while experienced heads like Marco Reus, Mats Hummels and Axel Witsel will provide stability to the group. They won the DFB-Pokal last season and will hope to do win some trophies once again.
#8 Juventus
Juventus have been quiet so far in the transfer market, but have reappointed Massimiliano Allegri as their manager after a poor season under Andrea Pirlo.
Allegri was hugely successful during his first spell with the Old Lady, but now the circumstances are different. While they do have Cristiano Ronaldo, their squad looks imbalanced, with several players linked with a move away from the club.
Midfield reinforcements remain a priority for the club if reports are to be believed. Sassuolo's Manuel Locatelli is the primary target, while a return for Miralem Pjanic has not been ruled out. Locatelli appears keen to join the Serie A giants, although it is not an easy move.
Juventus finished a disappointing 4th last season, 13 points behind champions Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri, however, are selling their best players one by one, and have already let go of manager Antonio Conte. Juventus will be keen to return to winning ways domestically.
#7 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid won La Liga last season and given the state Real Madrid and Barcelona are in, it would not be surprising to see them replicate last season's performances.
Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has arrived from Udinese for £31.5 million after some fine performances at Copa America 2021. De Paul will provide creativity, drive and industry from midfield, values that Simeone rates highly.
Saul could be on his way out, though. He only had a limited impact last season, and the arrival of De Paul further pushes him down the pecking order. It was reported earlier that Barcelona could exchange him for Antoine Griezmann, but those rumors have since subsided.
It will be interesting to see how Joao Felix performs this season. The 21-year old has shown glimpses of his undeniable potential since joining the club from Benfica in 2019 for an eye-watering fee of £114.5 million, but more is expected from the Portugal international.
#6 Liverpool
Liverpool did well to finish 3rd in the Premier League last season, given the various serious injuries to important players.
Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all missed big chunks of the season last time around, and Klopp had to make do with youngsters like Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams at centre-back. Ibrahima Konate's arrival from RB Leipzig is important in that sense.
After a lukewarm first season, there will be immense pressure on midfielder Thiago Alcantara to perform. Portuguese attacker Diogo Jota was good in spells last season for Liverpool, but was another player who was unlucky with injuries.
The club are yet to replace Georginio Wijnaldum. The Dutch midfielder moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after five excellent seasons for Liverpool, and it remains to be seen what Liverpool's plans are regarding Wijnaldum's successor.
#5 Manchester United
Manchester United's progression under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is clear to see, despite last season's Europa League final loss to Villarreal.
The signings of forward Jadon Sancho and centre-back Raphael Varane is evidence of that. Manchester United now have a good squad, even though defensive midfield remains a big concern.
Paul Pogba looks likely to stay. The France international's contract expires next summer and Paris Saint-Germain were rumored to be interested. However, recent reports have suggested the midfielder could sign a new deal with the Old Trafford outfit to extend his stay.
Solskjaer's task this season will be to get his hands on a trophy. Sancho and Varane are excellent signings, and the likes Declan Rice, Eduardo Camavinga and Kieran Trippier have been linked as well. Manchester United might not be the favorites to win the Premier League, but finishing the season without a trophy will not be well received by the fans.
#4 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich said goodbye to treble-winning manager Hansi Flick at the end of last season, with Flick taking over the German national team job.
They have let go of long-serving defender David Alaba on a free transfer, with the Austrian joining Real Madrid. Dayot Upamecano has been signed from RB Leipzig to replace him. Bayern Munich have also secured talented English left-back Omar Richards after the 23-year old's contract with Championship side Reading expired.
Robert Lewandowski is the best striker in world football, and the Poland international guarantees goals. A better season is expected from winger Leroy Sane, who endured a quiet debut season with the Bundesliga giants.
Julian Nagelsmann is one of the best young managers in the world, and the 34-year old has proved his credentials with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig. Known for his versatile tactical setups, Bayern Munich will hope that the young German is the man to take them forward.
Also Read: 5 mega transfer deals that could be completed in the next few days
#3 Chelsea
Chelsea are closing in on signing Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku for a rumored fee of €115 million.
Lukaku has developed into one of the best strikers in the world at Inter Milan, and he will need little time to settle in at Chelsea, having spent some time there as a youngster. The 28-year old is no stranger to the Premier League as well, having scored goals at a prolific rate for West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Manchester United.
Thomas Tuchel has had a transformative effect at the club. Chelsea have one of the best squads in Europe and one of the best managers in the world, and even won the Champions League last season. The arrival of Lukaku will see the Blues target the Premier League title this season.
Midfield and centre-back are areas which could be targeted. Declan Rice continues to be linked with a move away from West Ham United, while Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde was in talks with the club over a move as well.
#2 Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain are enjoying a phenomenal transfer window and they are not finished.
Having missed out on the Ligue 1 title last season, Paris Saint-Germain have moved quickly. Georginio Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma have all joined the club on free transfers, while full-back Achraf Hakimi has signed from Inter Milan for £54 million.
However, all this could soon be overshadowed. Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player to have played the game, is closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after his controversial departure from Barcelona.
With such world-class recruitment, manager Mauricio Pochettino will aim to win the Champions League next season. An attack of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi is frightening, to say the least.
#1 Manchester City
Manchester City have signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for nearly £106 million, marking a good start to their summer transfer window.
Having won the Premier League last season and reached the final of the Champions League, Pep Guardiola's side are not in need of a lot of players. Grealish could soon be joined by Harry Kane, who remains keen to move to Manchester City as well.
If Kane does sign for the club, Manchester City will be comfortable favorites to win the league title once again. It was surprising to see the club give Paris Saint-Germain complete freedom to sign Lionel Messi, having been heavily linked with him last summer.
On the departure front, Guardiola has admitted that Portuguese star Bernardo Silva is looking to leave the club. Silva has been linked with moves to Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona.
Also Read: 5 best ball-playing centre-backs in football right now
