These are my favorite deals of the summer window (except for England as I wrote about them here before) considering the fee, the team needs, the immediate impact, and the future prospects of the transfer.
All fee numbers are according to transfermarkt.com
André Onana (from Ajax to Inter for free)
A great shotstopper who is also comfortable on the ball. A needed replacement for Handanovic. And, he comes for free. Was a no-brainer to put in this list.
Will improve Inter’s defense quite a bit without diminishing their buildup. Great get for the Nerazzurri.
Nico Schlotterbeck (from Freiburg to Dortmund for €20.00m)
A very underrated player Nico is. Probably the best defender in Bundesliga last year. Mainly a cb who can also play as a lb.
Schlotterbeck has absurd numbers across the board. Ranks very high in progressive passes and carries. Though these stats get exaggerated because he plays wide in a back three, his on ball abilities are definitely a big plus.
He is also great in the air. And, his physical profiles helps him a ton while defending. Strong, quick, and agile for his size. He is a defender that can be exploited anywhere on the pitch. 20m will definitely prove to be a bargain.
David Carmo (from Braga to Porto for €20.00m)
Another 20m cb on the list David Carmo. He was linked with many elite clubs like Liverpool and Man United last summer but got an unfortunate injury. Now moved to Porto, where he won’t stay for too long. I’d be very surprised if Porto don’t double, if not triple, their money on Carmo in the next summer window.
Absolutely dominant in duels, ground or air, and has a great recovery pace. On top of his absurd defensive upside, he is quite comfortable on the ball. Loves to play diagonals to both wings.
Charles De Ketelaere (from Club Brugge to AC Milan for €32.00m)
This might be my favorite of the bunch. I very much have been a big fan of Cdk since I’ve first seen him in the CL this season. He is an unusual player. Has been deployed on the wings, as a 10, and as a cf.
CdK stands very tall at 6′ 3″ but if you saw his agility and turning radius, you wouldn’t guess it. He isn’t the fastest but he has shown some good burst to gain an advantage. His technical ability at his size is also a very rare sight. He has one of the softest touches I’ve seen from young cf’s and his playmaking ability is quite absurd as well. Has the vision to see final balls and the technique to actually pull them off.
Another very impressive side of his game is his intelligence. He finds space like no other. Between the lines, in wide areas, running in behind. You basically never need to worry about him being in the right place.
I love him most as cf that has the freedom to roam all over the pitch. His rare skillset can be best utilized when he is allowed the freedom to drop deep to help the buildup, to drift wide to create wide overloads, run in behind to stretch the opposition.
Leao and CdK is one of the best young forward duos in the world, and I can’t wait watch them together.
Isaak Touré (from Le Havre to Marseille for €5.50m)
Isaak Toure is 6′ 8″, and he is 19 years old, and he is fast, and he is strong, and he is comfortable on the ball, AND he is a lefty.
I don’t know what else to tell you. He is raw. Sometimes too rash, sometimes too laid back. Sometimes too adventurous. But, the upside with this guy is Ibrahima Konate on PEDs and Konate bullies PL players weekly.
All that upside for 5.5m is absurd. It is a risk, but it’s a risk wellll worth to take.
Randal Kolo Muani (from Nantes to Frankfurt for free)
Kolo Muani can play across the frontline. Can use both feet very well. He is 6'1 and he can carry the ball with great efficiency. He has great quality as an outlet and is very dangerous in transitions as well.
Very much an all round cf who have produced 17 G/A in both his last two seasons with Nantes in Ligue Un. He will be a main piece for Frankfurt next year. Excited to see where his career goes.
Kim Min-Jae (from Fenerbahce to Napoli for €18.05m)
Another cb with a sensation physical profile. 6′ 2″, quick, strong, and very agile for his size.
He doesn’t leave much improvement in terms of duel domination as well, sweeps everything either on the ground or in the air. Very active defender who loves to push out but also has self-control.
His on ball abilities are very reliable as well. Might not wow you often with passes to tight windows, or incredibly long diagonals but he is ever so reliable with great ball retention and pass selection. He breaks the lines regularly too, opens up space for himself with his ability to manipulate the opponent with small touches.
Koulibaly isn’t easy to replace but Napoli have done very well here.
Enzo Fernández (from River Plate to Benfica for €10.00m)
Enzo Fernandez is a midfielder whose best attribute is his ballstriking. Normally this puts me off. But, Enzo’s ballstriking isn’t found very easily. Capable of screamers with his both feet so the upside is there. But, he also uses both feet consistently to his advantage during the buildup or in tight spaces too.
With great agility, and quick burst too, I really can’t see Enzo not being a great success for Benfica. Most likely to make a lot of money on him down the line when he inevitably gets his top 5 league move.
Adam Hlozek (from Sparta Prague to Bayer Leverkusen for €13.00m)
He just turned 20. Has been playing first tier football in the Czech League for 4 years now. Has 76 G/A in 132 games with Prague.
Can play across the front line. 6’1″, powerful runner, can change his speed very well. Should get stronger and he’ll most likely will. Has room to fill in his frame.
His weak foot is a weakness as of now. But, his ballstriking on his left foot is great. Crossing, final passes, vision, first touch are all strengths in his game.
He separates himself the most with his intelligent movement though. Always lovely to see a youngster gain advantage with his mental side.
He also chose his next club very well here with Leverkusen. A (mostly) dominant team in Bundesliga is a great next step for him. Easiest league for him to flourish in.
Kristjan Asllani (from Empoli to Inter for €14m)
Ball retention, ball retention, and ball retention. He is only 20 but he is mature beyond his years. Positional intelligence in and out of possession, composure under pressure. Great understanding of game state.
Asllani will bring stability to Inter’s midfield. Will pair with Brozovic and Barella to form the best midfield in Serie A. A very underrated signing that will be a massive boost for Inter in their quest for the Scudetto.
