With the summer transfer market in full flow, the 2022/23 European season is bound to spring up surprises like very few seasons in recent memory. Clubs from the top five leagues are making exciting moves in a bid to establish themselves at the top of the game, both on the domestic and continental fronts. The UEFA Champions League is undoubtedly the most prized possession the European elite are after. Real Madrid’s continental triumph last season arrived against all established odds, as they dismantled Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester City on enroute to their 14th UCL accolade.
However, according to the best sports betting sites, Los Blancos are fifth in line – behind the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, PSG, and Bayern Munich to win for the second straight season. The aforementioned site is a fantastic first-time resource for aspiring players in order to learn what to expect before signing up, with parameters such as country restrictions, user experience, and market strength all taken into account. Players, whether old or new, can also benefit from a plethora of rewards and bonuses such as free bets, instant payouts, cashbacks, accumulator schemes, and loyalty points.
Clubs are on the lookout to improve their squad strength ahead of the new season. While free agents – such as Paulo Dybala – are the most sought-after, here we look at the top five transfers involving money to look out for:
- Robert Lewandowski (€50m – Bayern Munich to Barcelona)
A tour de force in every sense, Lewandowski’s finishing prowess is matched by very few other strikers at the elite level. He is arguably the biggest name to arrive in the Catalonian colors since the departure of the all-time great Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain, only adding more spice to the Blaugrana’s upcoming campaign. The former Dortmund man will spearhead Xavi Hernandez’s attack, as Barca seeks to revive lost glory at Camp Nou. The 33-year-old Polish marksman leaves Bayern Munich having scored a remarkable 344 goals in 375 appearances.
- Kalidou Koulibaly (€40m – Napoli to Chelsea)
Widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs currently in world football, the Koulibaly transfer saga came to a close after he accepted Chelsea’s four-year bumper deal that will see him earn more than twice of what he did in Naples. The Senegal stopper rejected Juventus’ advances due to his eight-year long allegiance with the Partenopei, pushing the Blues to jump at the chance of onboarding him. His presence will undoubtedly add to Thomas Tuchel’s defensive strengths.
- Erling Haaland (€60m – Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City)
The 21-year-old has been on the minds of fans ever since his goalscoring exploits first at RB Salzburg and then Dortmund. As an extremely physical striker, it almost goes without saying how perfect of a fit the Premier League might turn to be. He arrives at the Etihad Stadium as a direct successor to the legendary Sergio Aguero, who parted ways at the start of last season. Astonishingly, 2021/22 belonged to City (except in Europe) despite not having a true number 9. So, one can only imagine how Haaland’s presence might influence Pep Guardiola’s side.
- Aurelien Tchouameni (€80m – Monaco to Real Madrid)
This excellent piece of business by Monaco has all the makings to become a fantastic investment by Real Madrid on the footballing front. Tchouameni is one of the world’s most exciting young stars, and aged just 22, he has almost a decade-worth of experience to digest. The central midfielder has long been likened to returning Juventus star Paul Pogba due to their similar physical characteristics and style of play. He arrived in Madrid to join fellow French teenager Eduardo Camavinga, fitting perfectly into club’s plan for life after Kroos-Modric-Casemiro.
- Romelu Lukaku (€12m loan deal – Chelsea to Inter Milan)
Not exactly a direct transfer, but it goes without saying what a brilliant piece of business Inter executed by bringing the Chelsea outcast back to Milan, less than a year after selling him for a whopping sum of €115m. Lukaku has already proved himself in Serie A, scoring 64 goals in 95 caps for the Nerazzurri and leading them to a decade-first Scudetto two seasons ago. If he can channel his previous form, he will soon win back the hearts of the Curva Nord, who gave him the cold shoulder upon his return.
- Sadio Mane (€32m – Liverpool to Bayern Munich)
Yet another world-class forward on the list, Sadio Mane is an excellent transfer for Bayern, who lose Lewandowski’s accuracy and tenaciousness in the final third. The African will add a different dimension to the Bavarians’ attack next season, prompting coach Nagelsmann to opt for a more flexible offensive system, different from the one that was heavily reliant on the Pole marksman for goals.
Clubs across Europe have been alerted to the presence of numerous free agents, but the aforementioned five certainly hold the cards to change any game. It goes without saying that these players possess all the makings of becoming icons at their respective new clubs. However, only time will tell how things pan out in the ever-twisty world of football.
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