Title race will seeclubsspend, spend, spend
THE world’s richest league is ready to flex its financial muscles in the transfer window again.
Last summer Premier League clubs spent almost £1.2 billion – a world record. However, even megarich clubs find it much harder to deal in mid-season.
The League’s January record spend is £225m in 2011. Last year, “only” £175m was spent, and most of that was by clubs battling relegation.
This month, however, that could change with the six biggest clubs battling for the title, and two of them set to miss out on Champions League places.
Although they lead at the halfway stage, Chelsea may be the market’s biggest customers.
Antonio Conte has the £60m banked from selling Oscar to Shanghai SIPG and wants to add two new players, most likely a defender and a midfielder.
Leonardo Bonucci’s decision to extend his Juventus contract has left Conte examining alternatives, including Roma’s Antonio Rudiger, Simon Kjaer of Fenerbahce and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
Another possible arrival is Atalanta’s Ivorian midfielder, Franck Kessie – dubbed the next Yaya Toure – at around £25m.
Manchester United have gone cool on Benfica centre-back, Victor Lindelof, because Jose Mourinho has been impressed with the form of Phil Jones and Marcus Rojo.
He may therefore switch his attention to the Swede’s club-mate, right-back Nelson Semedo, who’d cost around £35m.
According to Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool won’t be big players in this window, despite issues in defence and with their goalkeeper.
But a couple of younger strikers, Paris St Germain’s Spain Under-21 star Jese Rodriguez and Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt, are possibles.
Manchester City were the biggest spenders of 2016 (£174m) and despite central defensive weaknesses Pep Guardiola insists he’s happy with what he’s got.
Forward Gabriel Jesus, acquired last summer for £27m, finally becomes a City player today.
At Arsenal, talk has been more about keeping Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil than adding to the squad.
The Gunners are traditionally reluctant January spenders, but young Porto striker Andre Silva and 18-year-old French defender Dayot Upamecano of Red Bull Salzburg interest Arsene Wenger.
Tottenham have been tying existing stars to longterm contracts and boss Mauricio Pochettino has ruled out any “crazy” January deals.
He’ll leave the crazy spending to others.