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The transfer window has been flung open, and this summer could be spectacular for player movement given the number of high profile clubs that have changed managers, or who are coming off perceived down seasons. Over this summer, I will be explaining and analysing the major moves around and giving each one of them a grade.
Edinson Cavani – Napoli to PSG (£55m)
What’s the deal? One of the longest transfer sagas of the summer is finally concluded as after being linked to most major clubs around Europe, he settled on a move to France.
Is the price right? It depends really. Cavani has had a couple of seriously productive seasons in Serie A, a much tougher league defensively than the French league. He’s got every physical talent you’d look for but this makes him the 4th most expensive player of all time. PSG can afford it and apparently treat the financial fair play rules with impunity.
Why sign him? Good question. I think the answer to this is simply; because they can.
Why sell him? Even though Napoli have been spending a bit of money this summer, this is still an extraordinary amount of money to get.
Will it work? He can be a big success at PSG with the creative players they have there. But this won’t work with Zlatan Ibrahimovic if they are both playing as strikers. Ibrahimovic wants to be the main man so won’t take a back seat to Cavani. Does that mean Cavani will be stuck out on the wing? Possibly. But then they have other talented players out there. So, do they sell Ibrahimovic? Chaos is possible from here.
Grade: D Yes, he’s a good player, capable of scoring 30+ goals in France. But Ibrahimovic did that already. So they’ve spent another £55m to get a player they already have?
Emanuele Giaccherini – Juventus to Sunderland (£8m)
What’s the deal? This is bizarre and impressive at the same time. Having basically signed dross, Sunderland go and pluck an Italian international away from Juventus.
Is the price right? This isn’t the ‘bargain’ it’s being reported as in England. It’s right at the top of what represents value for him, and if anything, is a little high. He’s 28, and has only had one season of regular starting in Serie A. After that season, 2010/11, he moved to Juventus and spent two seasons coming on and off the bench. Sunderland have paid this because of where he plays, rather than what he’s done before.
Why sign him? Sunderland do need some genuine width in the team, and he does fill that requirement. Also, he used to play for a famous club.
Why sell him? Giaccherini was on the fringes of the Juventus team, and they probably couldn’t believe they were getting offered only £2m less than they paid for Tevez.
Will it work? It depends on what he’s expected to achieve. If they think they’ve bought someone to score five and make 8/10 goals, then it might be a push , but he’ll work hard and put in good industry. He’s not really a creator which is what they needed than more hard running.
Grade: C+ Too much money for a player with a moderate career record who doesn’t really add anything new. He’s a tidy operator and will bring a good attitude, but he’s not the marquee signing he’s been talked of as.
Nathan Redmond – Birmingham to Norwich (£2.5m)
What’s the deal? Chris Hughton takes the young prodigyhe first blooded at Birmingham to Norwich.
Is the price right? Yes. Paying much more would be a risk because he’s only been on the scene for a couple of years at second tier level. Birmingham are up against the wall financially.
Why sign him? Redmond is one of the more talented young English players and has elite pace and raw dribbling ability. Norwich didn’t have any pace in attack last season, which meant they weren’t effective on the counter attack and struggled for a second pattern of attack.
Why sell him? Couldn’t deny him the chance to play in the Premier League and needed the money.
Will it work? Yes. He’s going back to the manager who first gave him a chance in the first team and has a skill set that should see him get significant first team action.
Grade: A More tidy business from Norwich. Good price, fills a need, potential to improve.
Andrea Poli – Sampdoria to AC Milan (£5m)
What’s the deal? AC Milan add a young destroyer who was once destined for the stars.
Is the price right? It’s probably slightly on the cheap side if anything. Only a couple of years ago, hopes were high in Italy that Poli could become a serious talent. He’s a very good Serie A player but hasn’t kicked on beyond that at Sampdoria.
Why sign him? Milan have lost long time defensive midfielder Ambrosini, so needed to replace him and continue to bring more youth in to the first team. They needed some tenacity alongside the elegance of Montolivo.
Why sell him? As with most Serie A clubs, financial times are hard at Sampdoria. He seems to have got stuck in his development there, so there was little more he could have achieved by staying in Genoa.
Will it work? Yes. He will get first team football, but more importantly, the challenge of playing for a club with Milan’s fanbase and prestige should see him take his game to the next level.
Grade: B+ He fills a need and comes at a solid price.
Josip Ilicic – Palermo to Fiorentina (£6.5m)
What’s the deal? People of Florence, meet your new Stevan Jovetic.
Is the price right? It’s cheap. They could have paid £9m and still been paying the right price, so this is exceptional business by Fiorentina.
Why sign him? Because they need to replace Jovetic who seems to be on his way out, and Ilicic is a very similar type of player. Last season, he managed to score 10 goals from his position behind the striker in a disastrous Palermo team, so it’s fair to expect even more from him in a superior Fiorentina side.
Why sell him? Palermo are in a tailspin and have found themselves in Serie B so he wanted to jump ship.
Will it work? Yes. The role in the team is very clearly defined and he is ready to step straight in and thrive in a team that plays in a league he has already starred in.
Grade: A+ Quality player for a bargain price with a clear plan for how they are going to use him. Perfect.
