Football: Transfer Predictions, Barca, ManU and Arsenal

It’s been a top football season but what happens next? Here are Felix Magazine’s summer predictions about some of the top clubs.

This summer will prove one of the toughest for the big clubs to sign players. With surprising outcomes in the Champions League (Monaco) and other competitions like Serie A (Atalanta) it seems likely that smaller clubs won’t be as desperate to sell their key assets as they have been in recent times. That means the pressure will now be on the big clubs to pay more to secure deals.

Barcelona

Barcelona’s embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Juventus and its inconsistent form in La Liga leads me to believe there will be a huge overhaul at the Camp Nou.

Luis Enrique is due to step down as manager, Andres Iniesta has admitted he is feeling more fatigued than in previous seasons and the fans have turned on recent signings. Unlike previous seasons the Catalans have become increasingly dependent on the magic of Lionel Messi, who has often delivered but at times looks like a man with too much to do.

I assume Barcelona will sign at least five players including Philippe Coutinho and will appoint a new manager, who might be Mauricio Pochettino.

Arsenal

I expect some changes at Arsenal but I don’t think Arsene Wenger will be going anywhere any time soon, which will lead to a host of key players leaving the club. Hector Bellerin seems lost on the pitch and off it with his hairstyles.

Barcelona is on the search for a new right-back, and as an attacking right-back who can’t defend Bellerin looks a perfect fit for the Camp Nou. Alexis Sanchez’s exit seems more inevitable with each game. The Chilean throws more punches in the air than he does passes to his teammates, and with Juventus coming calling it would make sense for the 28-year-old to move to Italy. It probably won’t stop there, although I expect Mesut Ozil to stay.

I can see Arsenal bringing in a director of football to help the club make wiser transfer decisions in the future.

Manchester United

It would be crazy to assume that Jose Mourinho won’t be going all out to sign as many world-class players as possible. After all, the Portuguese manager doesn’t know how to nurture his own talent and is not embarrassed to buy success. David De Gea is expected to leave and with £45 million already in the bank from exits in January, Mourinho could find himself with up to £200 million to spend. Without even mentioning further exits such as Luke Shaw and Marouane Fellaini, I expect United to spend at least £90 million on Antoine Griezmann and whatever is required to sign a new centre-back, possibly in the shape of Lazio defender Stefan De Vrij.

As every summer transfer window passes by there is less last-minute drama as more clubs look to get business done early. I believe this window will be more chaotic than usual due to the shortage of players on the market and several teams targeting players in similar positions.

Don’t expect too many signings but do expect extortionate prices for some quite ordinary players.

 

by Nubaid Haroon  YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA  Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi

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