With Europe’s top leagues drawing to a close, the transfer rumour mill is steadily gathering pace and a busy summer of wheeling and dealing is set to be upon us.
Plenty of the game’s biggest clubs have underperformed this season; some have even over-achieved, knowing that a bulging fixture list next season will stretch their squad to the maximum. Both of these eventualities tend to lead to one, rather expensive strategy being deployed – spend, spend, spend.
Which clubs really do need to splash the cash this close season? Who hasn't spent enough in recent times? We look at five clubs set for plenty of incomings in the coming months.
#1 Liverpool
Victory over already-relegated Middlesbrough on Sunday will ensure Liverpool return to the Champions League next season after a three-year absence. Mission accomplished, but they have very much stumbled over the line.
The principal reason for their poor form towards the end of the season has been their limited resources when key personnel have been absent. Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho have all missed much of the run-in through injury, and the results have suffered, as their replacements have not been of the same calibre.
Klopp has regularly reminded fans that resurrecting this sleeping giant was not going to happen overnight, but with such a dearth of options on the bench, and Champions League football to cope with, Klopp knows the squad has to be considerably strengthened this summer.
Also read: EPL 2016/17: 5 players Jurgen Klopp MUST bring to Liverpool next season
Attracting players shouldn’t be a problem, with Europe’s elite to face next season, coupled with the stature of the Merseysiders.
“We are a really interesting project,” Klopp said this week. “The base is still there, still the size and power of this club, and then there's the players' perspective - and that's really changed. We feel this but they have to see it before they [potential signings] make a decision.”
Klopp splurged almost £68m last summer, which compared to several of their main rivals was a drop in the ocean. Now is the time to spend, and spend big.
#2 Inter Milan
A fine mess. Seven years ago they were Champions of Europe, now Inter Milan are very much a peripheral figure in the Italian title race, having not finished in the top four since 2011 – a fact that, for a club of their stature, is frankly embarrassing.
The squad consists of a myriad of good players, but is bereft of real game-changers. With another new manager at the helm, their third of the season, the future does not look bright.
However, their financial backing is nothing to be sniffed at. Their Nanjing-based owners – one of the largest privately owned retailers in China – have not only the financial clout to rival anyone in Europe, but the brashness to suggest they won’t be shy to splash the cash.
“The new Chinese owners could comfortably buy the most famous players in the world, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, but the truth is we can't do that because of Financial Fair Play, which takes into account the development of the club,' director Piero Ausilio proclaimed.
FFP rules will be a hindrance, but plenty of Europe’s top clubs have found ways around it. Inter will be no different.
#3 Deportivo la Coruna
Since becoming the first La Liga champions of the new millennium, Deportivo have been forced to scrap at the other end of the Spanish top flight, not always overly successfully. Yet, there is something about the men from Galicia that many don’t know – one of their backers is the second-richest man in the world!
Amancio Ortega is a Spanish business tycoon, founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories retail shops, but, most importantly, he is a regular at the Riazor.
Worth an estimated $84 billion, spending 30 or 40 million on new players for his beloved Depor would go unnoticed for a man of his wealth.
Sevilla have shown that challenging Clasico rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid can be done without breaking the bank, and in a league where there isn’t much between mid-table sides, Deportivo could easily climb the ladder with a little investment from their mega-rich fan.
#4 Paris Saint-Germain
Monaco’s exhilarating Ligue 1 title success has caught everybody by surprise this season, not least Paris Saint-Germain, who had dominated French football since their Qatari owners marched on the capital.
The goals have flowed, the football has been rip-roaring, and their sheer youthful rawness has captivated Europe, with PSG left to chase Monaco’s lightning-fast shadows.
It seemed that the Parisiens were about to embark on a Champions League title tilt after dismantling Barcelona in February, but the Catalans’ famous turnaround quickly dampened any hopes that PSG could compete with the very best.
The arrival of Unai Emery and several high-profile stars in the summer meant fans were pretty relaxed ahead of this season, and while results haven’t been catastrophic, a French Cup success is the best it will get for Emery’s men this season.
The money is still there, as is Champions League football. Attracting players shouldn’t be too difficult, and a few marquee acquisitions could put them back in the driving seat to regain their title next campaign.
#5 Tottenham Hotspur
What a season it has been for Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs once more. A second-placed finish, completing the campaign with more points than Leicester in their title-winning season last time out, and their new stadium taking shape – there is plenty for the White Hart Lane faithful to be buoyant about right now.
However, resting on laurels should not be on Pochettino’s mind – the time is now to strike and build on this season’s progress.
If there was to be one criticism of Tottenham, it is that their squad lacks much quality in reserve. Vincent Janssen has been mightily disappointing, as has Moussa Sissoko, while George-Kevin Nkoudou is yet to make a significant impact.
Also read: 5 reasons why Tottenham Hotspur are early favourites to win Premier League in 2017/18
"We try to sign players who can improve our squad not only in terms of football quality,” Pochettino said last month. “If they are very good people, it is even better. We are a company. Football is the most important thing but it is not only about football.”
The balance and togetherness of the squad are ostensibly very important to Pochettino, but marquee signings don’t have to disrupt an already excellent side. The arrival of a superstar can give the whole club a lift, and signify to current in-demand personnel that the club means business. With Champions League football once again to contend with, the need to strengthen to continue their progress is even more vital.
