Now that the World Cup is over, football fans this summer can return to the insane yet entertaining activity of transfer speculation. Over the next few months, there will be loads of rumors linking players to clubs, most of which won’t materialize.
There is one aspect of this transfer window that makes it more special than others over the past four years. This is the fact that comes during a World Cup year when performances by players during a tournament can help them command monstrous fees.
Often such transfers are a failure: Denilson, El Hadji Diouf or Kleberson all failed to live up to their World Cup performances. Yet on other occasions, such signings can be successful such as Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Keylor Navas (Real Madrid seem to be particularly good at making post World Cup signings).
So what are some excellent fits for World Cup stars in the Premier League top five? In fact, I tried to avoid obvious choices with teams and players that have been commonly linked.
Manchester City- Harry Maguire
Ever since Harry Maguire delighted the world (especially those in England) with his solid defense, aerial dominance in set-pieces (especially attacking ones) and propensity to be fodder for memes, he has been linked with a big-money move. In fact, Maguire has been most closely linked with Manchester United as the Red Devils in need of a more consistent defender.
Yet, Maguire would fit in best with champions Manchester City. The Citizens were brilliant last season, as their passing football managed to allow them to dominate the Premier League in a manner that very few teams have managed in the past two and a half decades. However, if there is one issue that the team faces, then it is in the air. The team only won 13.8 aerial duels per game, easily the least in the Premier League.
If there is one Premier League defender who can help improve this, then it is Harry Maguire. The Leicester City defender won 5.7 aerials duels per game in the World Cup, 7th in the tournament. Opposing teams will try and target City’s perceived aerial weakness and buying Maguire could help solve that.
Man City already have a paucity of central defenders yet none of them match Maguire’s skillset. Vincent Kompany is at the end of his career while Nicolas Otamendi’s decline is just about to begin. Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are both tall and stout at the back, but neither is aerially dominant. He would also give Guardiola an extra option when the Spanish manager opts for a three-man central defense.
There might be some worries about Maguire’s ability to fit in with City’s passing style. Yet Maguire played in a Guardiola-inspired England side and his passing was brilliant with a pass success percentage of 88.8% and 62.3 successful passes per game. Thus Maguire could fit in perfectly alongside England teammates Stones, Laporte and/or Otamendi.
Manchester United- Kieran Trippier
A player who may be more ideal for Manchester United is Kieran Trippier. The Tottenham right-back was arguably one of the best players at the World Cup as he was resolute defensively and dynamic in attack from right wing-back.
Trippier ranked 1st in key passes (passes that created chances), 1st in a successful cross, 3rd in total tackles and 10th in interceptions. Those statistics are absolutely world-class and Trippier could really provide a different dimension to Manchester United (who created fewer chances per game than any other Premier League Top Six team last season).
While Trippier’s World Cup statistics are far better than his statistics in the Premier League, the right-back was also very influential for his club team over the past season. In fact, Trippier ranked 18th in key passes per game in the 2017-18 season- still more than any Manchester United player apart from Juan Mata.
While fan favorite (and likely club captain) Antonio Valencia is the usual starter at right-back, the Ecuadorian is 32 years old and his physical attributes are only going to decline from this point. Trippier could be the long-term replacement for Valencia at the position and in the short-term, could provide competition.
However, there might be another way of using Trippier. Considering that Trippier creates so many chances (evidenced by the statistics above), there could be an argument about using him as a right winger in Mourinho’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation (almost a Gareth Bale like transformation).
Trippier would be the perfect Mourinho winger- industrious yet hard-working with an ability to track back. This would also allow Mourinho to be more adventurous with his selections on the left-wing, as Nemanja Matic could help out in the knowledge that Trippier can cover on the right.
Moreover, Trippier’s set-pieces could help the likes of Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, and Romelu Lukaku wreak havoc in such situations. In short, the Tottenham right-back would be the perfect transfer signing for Jose Mourinho.
Tottenham Hotspur- Mario Mandzukic
Ever since the emergence of Harry Kane in the 2014-15 Premier League season, Tottenham have looked for a backup striker. Kane is so good that no excellent striker wants to sign for Spurs, knowing that they will not have opportunities to start.
This has meant that manager Mauricio Pochettino and chairman Daniel Levy have resorted to signing washed-up players like Fernando Llorente or mediocre stars like Vincent Janssen. Those two players have scored a combined three goals.
What Tottenham need is a hard-working, goal-scoring striker who fits in well with Pochettino’s pressing. In that sense, Mario Mandzukic may be the perfect signing for Spurs. At the World Cup, Mandzukic was vital for Croatia’s success as he contributed three goals, including one each in the World Cup Semi-Final and the World Cup Final.
More than the goals though, Mandzukic’s hard work and pressing made a major difference for Croatia. Take the semi-final against England, the Three Lions’ excellent defense and goalkeeper were forced into several errors. Considering that Tottenham Hotspur plays a high-pressing system, Mandzukic could fit in perfectly.
The 33-year-old Mandzukic is declining physically and thus will not get many chances at Juventus considering the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, at Tottenham, he could still start regularly on the wing (where has reinvented himself). This would allow Dele Alli to play a central midfield role (similar to what he did for England).
On other occasions, he could fit in as a striker when Kane is not available. Mandzukic’s immense experience and high pressing would be most useful in the Champions League against some of Europe’s top teams. If Tottenham is finally going to break their trophy drought, then Mandzukic would be the perfect signings.
Liverpool- Juan Quintero
Among the Premier League top six, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool probably has the most settled lineup. They have a settled and young defensive quartet of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson while their front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohammed Salah is among the best in the world. Moreover, their midfield has been fixed with the signings of Fabinho and Naby Keita to support Jordan Henderson.
So what Liverpool really need is a few impact substitutes especially in midfield as Xherdan Shaqiri has already been signed as a backup winger. Liverpool’s only backups in the middle of the park are Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana- both excellent players but not ones that can break down defenses.
After all, the Reds struggled to break down deep defenses last season. They averaged 2.4 goals against the five teams spent the most time in their own third compared to 3.0 goals against the other 15 teams.
In Russia, Juan Quintero showed that he is just the type of creative player that would be ideal for Liverpool. Throughout the tournament, Quintero was one of Colombia’s best players, scored two goals and providing two assists.
While his rather ‘lazy’ play doesn’t fit in with Liverpool’s high pressing style, Quintero could make an impact as a substitute when Liverpool are struggled- supplying through balls for the trio of Salah, Firmino, and Mane. If Liverpool can sign Quintero from FC Porto, they will have the type of languid creative midfielder they need.
Chelsea- Hirving Lozano
I’m sorry Chelsea fans, but it seems like Eden Hazard is leaving as the Belgium winger has made it clear that he would like to go to Real Madrid. Yet even on the off chance that Hazard stays, Chelsea need additional dynamism in the attack. The Blues scored the least goals among the Premier League top six last season. That will change with the managerial signing of Maurizio Sarri, whose attacking football lit up Serie A last season.
However, Chelsea will still need additional attacking creativity and one player who showed at the World Cup that he is capable of this is Hirving Lozano. The Mexican winger’s superb performances were the main reason that El Tri was able to shock Germany and then comfortably dispatch South Korea in their first two games. While he faltered, later on, the 22-year-old had clearly displayed his potential as he averaged 1.5 key passes and 3.5 dribbles per game.
Moreover, Lozano’s World Cup performances were not a one-off- he was among the Eredivisie’s best players last season with 17 goals and eight assists. By signing Lozano, Chelsea would give themselves a replacement for Hazard if the Belgian eventually leaves. Even if Hazard were to stay, Lozano could help compete with Willian on the right-wing (the Mexican can play on both wings).
Lozano could fit in perfectly with Maurizio Sarri’s system as he has the ability to counter-press effectively- having averaged 1.8 tackles and one interception per game in the World Cup. To sign Lozano, Chelsea would need to beat out Manchester United and Barcelona for that signing. In 2012, the Blues took a similar gamble on another young enterprising winger. That player was Hazard.
