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It is that time of the year again, the summer transfer window, when football clubs look to strengthen their squads and sell the deadwood ahead of the start of a new season.
In a year ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the major domestic football seasons in Europe ended in August. That meant that the summer transfer window, one of two FIFA-designated periods in a season when football clubs can conduct business, commenced only last month.
With clubs' finances getting hit by the pandemic, owing to suspension of the football season for a few months, the 2020-21 summer transfer window has been a highly unusual one.
However, that has not deterred some rich clubs to splash out the cash to bring in reinforcements. Chelsea, for instance, have been the most active during this period, spending over €230 million (as on 8th September 2020) in one of the most extensive squad overhauls in recent football history.
Due to the pandemic, many players are available at more 'cut' or discounted prices than they would have been during an usual season. Chelsea, themselves, have been massive beneficiaries in this regard. On that note, let us take a look at five players who are likely to have massive seasons in 2020-21.
#5 Leroy Sane (Manchester City to Bayern Munich)
Leroy Sane began his professional career with Schalke before moving across the Channel to Manchester City, where he blossomed under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
The player had said that he chose to join City because they were managed by Guardiola.
"One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola. I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career. I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players. I think he can make me a more complete player," said Sane.
The words proved prophetic, indeed. During four seasons at the club, Sane made 139 appearances in all competitions for the English club and scored 39 goals. The winger was at his prolific best in 2017-18, scoring ten goals and notching up 15 assists as Man City produced one of the best-ever seasons in Premier League history.
Sane's transformation wasn't an overnight one. He admitted to being overwhelmed during his early days in the English game before he honed his skills to become one of City's vital cogs, especially making use of his pace to set up blistering counterattacks.
However, in an injury-ravaged 2019-20 season when Sane played only two games all season after tearing his cruciate ligament, City lost their two-year stranglehold on the Premier League and were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals.
City did not want to lose one of their prized assets, but Sane refused to extend his contract at the club by two years, perhaps indicating that he sought a challenge elsewhere. Eventually, the player returned to his homeland as Bayern Munich acquired him on a €45 million transfer.
In a team brimming with talent in various positions, Leroy Sane, could play in the left side of midfield, with Serge Gnabry occupying the other flank and Thomas Muller operating down the middle.
Sane could thrive under Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick's attacking philosophy as his pace upfront could set up scoring opportunities aplenty for himself and for teammates like the perennial Torjagerkanone winner Robert Lewandowski.
#4 Timo Werner (RB Leipzig to Chelsea)
After a career-best season in which he plundered 28 goals in the Bundesliga, where Leipzig finished third, and four more in the Champions League, where the Bundesliga club were eliminated in the semifinals, Timo Werner moved to Premier League club Chelsea.
The London club under Frank Lampard are in the midst of a massive squad overall after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season with a squad consisting of academy graduates.
Werner is known for his acceleration, pace and versatility. He started out as a winger with Schalke before making the centre-forward position his own at Leipzig. With Lampard expected to continue with his preferred 4-3-3 formation with his expensively-assembled squad, Werner could be deployed as the central player in a three-man attack.
The 24-year-old scored a goal once every 100 minutes when he was deployed down the middle by Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann. But the forward also showed his versatility by looking at ease on the few occasions he played on the wings, where he made use of his blistering pace to make use of marauding opposition full-backs and stretched centre-backs.
Werner has also shown his prowess in a No.10 role, which shows that he may be deployed in a bevvy of positions in the attacking-third but would guarantee goals every time.
#3 Achraf Hakimi (Real Madrid to Inter Milan)
After starting his professional career at Real Madrid in the 2017/18 season, Achraf Hakimi made just 17 appearances for the club before he was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund, where he developed into one of the most exciting young players in the world.
During his two-year loan spell with the Bundesliga club, Hakimi scored 12 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions across two seasons, which is a fine return for a full-back.
With his confidence and game soaring as a result of regular football, something that would not have been possible at Madrid, Hakimi blossomed into a complete player.
Under Lucien Favre, Hakimi demonstrated his versatility with aplomb, especially last season, looking at ease as both a right-back or a left-back or while deployed in the wings in a more attacking role.
In an interview with AS, the 20-year-old Moroccan spoke about his new-found versatility and preferred playing position.
“I wouldn't be able to tell you which side I'm more comfortable on. I've learned a lot playing on both flanks and I'm going to keep on doing so. I think it's a real string to my bow: any coach who has a player able to play on both wings, someone versatile, knows that this benefits the team.”
After returning to Madrid, Hakimi, as expected, found himself behind first-choice Dani Carvajal in the team's pecking order. With Real looking to thin their squad, Hakimi was sold to Inter Milan on a €40 million transfer.
The young Moroccan is expected to be one of the first names in Inter's starting XI this season. In Antonio Conte's preferred 3-5-2 formation, Hakimi could likely line up on the right-hand side of a midfield five, operating in his natural right-wing-back role.
Hakimi is not short of big-game experience, as he has played for two of the biggest clubs in Europe, winning the Champions League with Madrid and capped 28 times by Morocco. All signs point to Hakimi hitting the ground running at the San Siro this season.
#2 Victor Osimhen (LOSC Lille to Napoli)
Victor Osimhen made his professional debut with VfL Wolfsburg, but it was Lille where the 21-year-old Nigerian shot to fame this season.
In what turned out to be his lone full-season in Lille, the striker scored 18 goals in 38 appearances throughout the 2019/20 season. Osimhen also impressed with other attacking stats like shots and recoveries in the final-third that caught the attention of clubs across Europe.
In June, he was named Lille's Player of the Season and also found himself in Ligue 1's Team of the Season.
Eventually, SSC Napoli beat off competition from the likes of Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea to acquire the services of the prodigious Nigerian, who scored 10 goals in the U-17 World Cup in 2015 to lay down a marker of his potential.
Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso believes that Osimhen would greatly enhance his side because of his versatility that allows him to be deployed in a bevvy of roles in the attacking-third.
Although, Gattuso has been known to prefer the 4-3-3 formation, he may be open to tweak his system to make best use of the expensive acquisition who can play both as a centre-forward or on the wings.
"Osimhen is a striker who gives us various game alternatives, we have the ability to change our style. He knows how to attack spaces, has physical strength and will certainly give us a big hand. Obviously my staff and I have tactical ideas in our heads. We have quality players and we will analyze how the team will line up,” said Gattuso.
#1 Dani Parejo (Valencia to Villareal)
After making his professional debut with Real Madrid in 2008, it was with Valencia that Dani Parejo made his name.
During a glorious nine-season stint with the La Liga club, the central midfielder scored 64 goals in 384 appearances in various competitions, including churning out successive ten-goal seasons, which is a decent return for someone who is not an out-and-out striker.
Like most clubs whose finances were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Parejo was one of several players who were sold off by Valencia to reduce their wage bill. The midfielder wanted to see out his two years left in his contract, but had to eventually leave against his will as Valencia 'listened' to offers from other clubs before allowing him to join Villareal on a free transfer.
"It's a difficult moment, my children are from Valencia and I've been here nine years. I've felt hurt and sad by the situation for two days. I've always said that my intention was to retire at Valencia. I think I have received a lot of support, Valencia fans are the best. I've never been in a club like it," said Parejo.
Parejo, an aggressive and effective pressing player who is also renowned for his ball-distribution prowess, joins compatriot and Valencia teammate Frances Coquelin at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
The 31-year-old player is expected to take up the playmaking role left vacant by Santi Cazorla, who left to play for Qatari club Al Sadd.
Villareal, who finished a creditable fifth last season to qualify for the Europa League, will immensely benefit from the arrival of Parejo who is an experienced campaigner in the Spanish top-flight. The midfielder himself had good words to say about his new club, which points to a mutually productive partnership.
"Everyone I know that has played here before talked really good about the club, how it cares about the players. I am really excited and happy that the club is making a big effort. They brought in a great coach in Unai Emery who has won a lot of titles," said Parejo after his arrival at Villareal.
Honourable mention: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea)
After a productive four-season spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he scored 46 goals in 150 starts, 20-year-old Kai Havertz arrived at Chelsea as part of the London's club massive squad overhaul.
The German winger was snapped up by Chelsea for €80 million, making the player the most expensive ahead of the new season.
Havertz, a two-footed player with strong aerial ability, has drawn comparisions with illustrious compatriots like Mesut Ozil, Michael Ballack and Toni Kroos. However, he missed out on a mention in our top-five because he may take time to adapt to his new surroundings next season. The Premier League is one of the most physical football leagues in the world after all.
The 20-year-old may not hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge but in due course, could blossom into one of the finest players in the game this season.
