The signing of players in the summer transfer market often comes with a two-edged sword that can be likened to either a good or bad investment.
While nothing is ever guaranteed when players move from one club to another, we’ve seen some players progress well in their new home while some fail to do well.
While the Spanish giant wasn’t able to get a last-minute move to secure the services of Kylian Mbappe over the line. The signing of Messi without a transfer fee has to feature, despite his wage.
Similarly, the Ronaldo deal (around €20 million) is a no-brainer. Ramos and Donnarumma as free agents are sweet deals for PSG. Varane’s signing for under €40 million is a bargain for Manchester United.
It is jarring to call them the worst or bad. But, there is no doubt that Manchester City overpaid for Grealish, his market value would be no more than €70 million. This deal is especially surprising since City did not lack depth in his role.
There was an impressive mix of £100m moves and savvy free summer transfers to keep things ticking. In fact, it’s been one of the most exciting windows for years.
The good and bad of the 2021 summer transfer
The Bad
- Tiemoue Bakayoko
When Bakayoko left Monaco for Chelsea many thought the move would turn around his career since he’s moving to a bigger club and the most lucrative league in the world, but unfortunately, his career had been full of ups and downs.
Now with Milan, the Frenchman is expected to show the kind of form that got Chelsea snapped him from Monaco, but things haven’t worked out for him playing only 13 times between Serie A and the Champions League accumulating 333 minutes.
- Jadon Sancho
Sancho’s arrival at Old Trafford was perhaps the summer’s most exciting move alongside Ronaldo, but he’s not been able to deliver the kind of performance he had with Dortmund at Manchester United.
So far this season he’s only had just 715 Premier League minutes and scored twice, but with Ragnick at the helm of affairs, United fans would hope to see him pick up swiftly in delivering consistent performance for the Red Devils.
- Moise Kean
Kean is a young player with a lot of potentials but things just haven’t gone his way in recent years, even when he moved to Everton from Juventus before also going to Paris Saint Germain on loan.
After two games for the Toffees this season he returned to Juventus, where he has gone on to score four times in 18 appearances.
Even at Juventus, he’s still not a regular but should he get consistent playing time under Allegri he looks more like a player that has something tangible to offer for Italy and Juventus.
- Bryan Gil
Gil decision to ditch Sevilla for Tottenham in the summer is perhaps the worth decision the Spaniard has ever taken since he started playing football professionally.
His move to Tottenham generated a lot of excitement, but since joining the Lillywhite he’s not been able to light up the Premier League.
Gil has only had 71 Premier League minutes to his name, playing most of his football in the Europa Conference League which shows he’s not had the kind of playing time he would like to have.
- Saul Niguez
A good form they say is temporary while class is permanent, as such that’s exactly the case of Saul who joined Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid having failed to pin down a regular starting shirt under Simeone.
The Spaniard has struggled to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s team, managing 731 minutes across 14 appearances this season for the Blues.
With his confidence not up to the standard Tuchel expected when given the chance to play, it seems his days at Stamford Bridge are numbered once his loan deal expires.
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The Good
- Emmanuel Dennis
The Premier League has been the richest league in the world, spending big in the transfer market is often not a problem for the clubs when it comes to attracting the best legs in the world of football.
Nigeria international Emmanuel Dennis moves to Watford from Club Brugge in the summer transfer market, following the Hornets promotion to the topflight and he has since been proving to be one of Europe’s best bargains scoring eight goals and assisting five in 15 appearances.
Dennis with the kind of form he is now, he’s averaging 0.92 goal involvements per game at the moment for the Hornets and that has earned him an invitation to play for Super Eagles in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations billed for Cameroon.
- Mike Maignan
Stepping into the shoes of arguably the best goalkeeper in world football would definitely be a great challenge for Maignan. The former Lille goalie has done a brilliant job for AC Milan since joining them in the summer transfer.
Maignan didn’t only become a perfect replacement for Donnarumma, he also make sure his commendable performances in between the stick makes the Rossoneri fans forget their brilliant goalkeeper who moved to Paris Saint Germain.
The Frenchman obviously deserves his place on this list, but when he picked up an injury in November, Milan fans were skeptical about his form but he’s been able to turn things around with his brilliant form.
- Martin Odegaard
Leaving Real Madrid for Arsenal in the summer is arguably the best decision the Norwegian ever took after completing his permanent switch to the Emirate Stadium following his loan deal.
Though he started slowly in Arsenal, he now has four goals and two assists to his name in his last seven outings for the Gunners.
With him, Thomas Partey, and Granit Xhaka in the Gunners midfield, Mikel Arteta would sit on the dugout confidently that his boys would deliver the necessary results against their opponent.
- Edin Dzeko
When Lukaku was leaving for Chelsea, it seems the Nerazzurri would struggle with the absence of their top striker but surprisingly the old warhorse signed from AS Roma Dzeko stepped in pretty well with a breathtaking performance.
When he moves to Inter, there is doubt that he doesn’t have the ability to replace the Belgian at the age of 35. Dzeko has since proved himself to be a valuable asset scoring eleven goals and assisted five in 25 games for Inter Milan.
Playing under a new manager also makes him look like a reborn player, playing the best football of his career for the Nerazzurri.
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- Teun Koopmeiners
Not every signing in the summer transfer market works out perfectly for clubs, but in Koopmeiners’ case, the Dutchman is no doubt one of the best summer transfer signing for the Bergamo outfit.
Though the Dutchman isn’t a regular starter for Atalanta, however when called upon to step in for either Marten De Roon or Remo Freuler he often churns out brilliant performance.
Gasparini must be so pleased to have signed a player in the summer that he could rely on when he needed him to deliver both in Serie A and Europe.
- Aaron Ramsdale
Before Arsenal signed Ramsdale, a lot of fans were skeptical about his form and his antecedent having relegated with Sheffield United.
However, the Gunners kept faith in him and shell out huge amounts of money to sign him from Sheffield United and he has since silenced all who doubted his ability.
So far this season, he has kept nine clean sheets in the Premier League for the Gunners, and with his consistent performance, we can boldly say Arsenal signed a goalkeeper who is gradually developing into a world-class player.
Not So Good & Bad
- Ronaldo
- Messi
- Lukaku
- Grealish
- Varane
