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The transfer window has been flung open by Monaco and this summer could be spectacular for player movement given the number of high profile clubs that have changed manager 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.
Radamel Falcao – Atletico Madrid to Monaco (£52m)
What’s the deal? This is the most important transfer of the last few years because it gives Monaco sudden legitimacy that PSG and Man City took years to attain. Monaco are owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev who has started the summer with a spending spree on a scale to match, or even outdo, PSG and Man City of the other recent nouveau riche. Falcao had been linked to the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, but he finds himself joining a Monaco team which has only just won promotion to the French top flight. Obviously, he is on a monumental wage packet, but he also joins his ex-Porto team mates Rodriguez and Moutinho so he isn’t going it alone.
Is the price right? Yep. Someone else would have paid as much.
Why sign him? Because he is, quite simply, one of the best strikers in the world and possibly the best pure finisher in the world. He’s not going to create as much as the likes of Messi and Ronaldo but in terms of pure goal scoring he is as good as it gets. He’s scored 28 goals this year in La Liga, imagine what he can do in France, a league of much lower defensive standards. Plus, his signing makes a massive statement. I would actually say more so than PSG signing Ibrahimovic. The big Swede has been known to club swap and left a selling Milan to join Champions League bound PSG. Falcao is not getting Champions League football, or joining a ‘big’ club.
Why sell him? Atletico are always willing to sell for the right money, see. Aguero, Torres. Also, they are making a £20m profit.
Will it work? Personally he will be a big success. He is world class, playing in a decent league. That could mean 40 goals. However, Monaco need to supply him with enough bullets to fire. Which we will soon see that they are trying to…
Grade: A+ How can you not like this from Monaco’s point of view? They are flexing their muscles and skipping the mid quality player phase PSG and City had to go through. No Adebayor, Lescott or Jeremy Menez for them. Straight to the big fish.
Neymar – Santos to Barcelona(£32m)
What’s the deal? The Brazilian sensation Neymar finally makes his way to Europe and goes straight in at the deep end as Lionel Messi’s second in command. He chose Barcelona over Real Madrid.
Is the price right? They’ve got him at a reduction because his contract expired next summer. If he settles in as he is touted to, it could be a relative bargain.
Why sign him? Barcelona had a good season by any standards but scoring no goals against Bayern Munich in the Champions League evidently grated on them. Never mind that they conceded 7, first things first! Also, so that Real didn’t get him. Oh, and he’s also the most marketable player in the world according to multiple studies.
Why sell him? Santos didn’t really have a choice. He’s won everything there, and they’d lose him for nothing next year.
Will it work? It depends entirely on his relationship with Messi. Neymar fancies himself as the best in the world, and the best way to show that is to upstage the current best in the world right? It could cause problems. If he’s dribbled past four and has Messi to pass to for an open goal, does he do that or try the spectacular? On the other hand, if it does click it will be unstoppable. He can surely only get better with Messi and Iniesta distracting defensive attention where in Brazil he is the only threat.
Grade: B+ Have they got a specific tactical plan for him? His game would suit playing with Ronaldo better but if it does work it will be stupendous.
James Rodriguez – Porto to Monaco (£35m)
What’s the deal? Someone needs to supply the newly acquired Falcao and Rodriguez was the best player in Portugla last season. Part of Monaco’s push for immediate legitimacy.
Is the price right? It’s a seriously hefty amount for someone who has ‘only’ played in Portugal but as we’ve seen with Hulk, Falcao, Carvalho, Deco etc. Porto do not sell cheap. They can clearly afford it, so I guess it’s worthwhile.
Why sign him? He gives pace, directness, scores and makes goals. Everything you need in the modern wide forward.
Why sell him? Money. Porto will sell anyone for an inflated fee, and always replace them at an unbelievably efficient rate. It’s a £30m profit.
Will it work? He’s not reliant on others for success which makes him very dangerous. As with Falcao, he could expose the Ligue Un defences.
Grade: A Yes, it’s expensive, but when is signing from Porto anything but? He will be a massive success domestically which is priority number one.
Mario Götze – Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich (£32m)
What’s the deal? The transfer the blew up the European football press. Götze is a boyhood Dortmund fan, and a fan idol. Yet, when Bayern activated his release clause he was straight off. Let’s hope it’s not because he knows a firesale is imminent.
Is the price right? £32m for a 19 year old is incredible but about right. You could even say that his importance to Dortmund would value him higher although they must have agreed to the release clause thinking that it wouldn’t get activated for a few years.
Why sign him? Why not? You take your only domestic rival’s main threat away from them? He can only get better and gives them something they don’t really have. He could be Bayern’s Iniesta.
Why sell him? They didn’t have a choice.
Will it work? Can he force his way in to the Champions League winners first team? It seems Guardiola is expected to completely reorganise Bayern’s style and approach and he is needed for that. Robben and possibly even Ribery are less of a fit for Guardiola.
Grade: A+ An amazing piece of brinkmanship from Bayern. A shame for neutrals but it’s a move to be admired.
Joao Moutinho – Porto to Monaco (£20m)
What’s the deal? Someone needs to pull the strings for Monaco. They’ve learned from PSG’s success with Marco Verratti and followed suit. Somewhere, Andre Villas-Boas is kicking something.
Is the price right? It’s too much under normal circumstances, but can Monaco be judged in those terms? He’s a tempo setter and ball mover, an important position and role but not something to pay this much for.
Why sign him? There’s no point having Rodriguez and Falcao if you can’t get them the ball.
Why sell him? It’s too good an offer to turn down. A near £15m profit for a position which can be replaced fairly cheaply and relatively easily.
Will it work? Yes. Portugal to France isn’t a huge step up and he’s done well in international competition and European competition.
Grade: B- He’s a very good player that they are paying as if he’s world class.
