With the summer transfer window over, it’s time to make a roundup of the European football clubs that had the best signings, and which saw their squad improve the most.
Squad building is one of the most important aspects of the world of football. It allows not only for the top teams to remain competing for titles but also to engage with fans by bringing stars with whom to feel motivated and buy the club’s shirt with their name on the back.
The following teams have made important financial efforts to improve their squads and have managed to turn the odds in their favor by acquiring performing footballers. The impact on the odds of clubs by their new signings can be seen on betting websites that cover football leagues around Europe. These platforms allow fans to access bookmakers on which to bet on the outcome of matches and select the ones that offer the best odds for every team.
Teams like Arsenal Football Club have seen their odds of finishing in the top 4 improve by big margins after the performances of their new signings and in the following article, we will explain why.
FC Barcelona
The Catalan club has had one of the most occupied transfer markets in its history. And not only because of the volume of money spent but rather because of the many financial obstacles that they had to resort to comply with LaLiga’s regulations and be able to register new arrivals.
But the success of Barcelona’s scouting department this summer resides in the quality of players they’ve managed to acquire for the minimum possible transfer fees.
Franck Kessié, Andreas Christensen, Hector Bellerin, and Marcos Alonso all came on free transfers and have already been playing an important role in the team. Kessie already scored in the Champions League, Christensen has been the first-choice central defender and Marcos Alonso has started the last game against Bayern Munich.
But the biggest transfer success has been Robert Lewandowski. Bayern Munich’s former star has been stellar in Barcelona, scoring 6 and assisting 2 goals in only 5 games in Spain’s top division. And you can also expect former Leeds winger Raphinha to have a preponderant role in this season.
Arsenal FC
The North Londoners’ main objective this summer was to capitalize on the transfer of an attacking forward that would help them fight for the top 4 in the Premier League after the exits of Aubameyang and Lacazette.
Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City was the player chosen. And while there were many doubters, mainly for the price tag of 50 million euros, the player has already shut many critics with his performances so far. 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games, and a whole lot of running and pressing to regain possession and offer Mikel Arteta’s team a solid place at the top of the league.
The remaining signings include Oleksander Zinchenko, who has already claimed a starting place in the squad, Fabio Vieira, 22-year-old Portuguese who impressed last year in Porto, and Marquinhos, a 19-year-old Brazilian winger who has already scored in Arsenal’s debut on the Europa League.
Manchester United
The most popular team in the Premier League was desperate to make an impression on the transfer market to keep the fans’ hopes of reaching the top 4 alive. Even more necessary after bagging two defeats in the first two games of the Premier League.
Incoming manager, Erik Ten Hag, was under heavy pressure already, and this is when the big signings finally arrive for Manchester United.
The most promising is Brazilian winger Antony, who arrived with a price tag of 100 million according to Transfermarkt euros from Ajax, where he made a name under Ten Hag precisely. He already left his mark by scoring a goal against Arsenal FC on his first start, helping his team inflict a first defeat to the league leaders.
But Ten Hag also brought another familiar face in Lisandro Martinez, who’s becoming a fan favorite because of his fighting spirit and the quality shown on the pitch.
And finally, Casemiro is another one to keep his eye on this season. A 5 times Champions League winner with Real Madrid, he’s expected to bring much of the experience needed to win titles.
Tyrell Malacia, Martin Dubravka, and Christian Eriksen have also joined the ranks of the Red Devils.
