Charlie Christie: Big bucks spent down south in transfer window
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With just over six weeks remaining until the UK summer transfer window closes, several clubs north and south of the border have already shown their intentions by getting their business done early.
In England, the experts are predicting that the total spend for this summer could exceed the £815 million spent in the recent January transfer window.
It makes you wonder if these incredulous figures will end any time soon.
To date, the two biggest signings south of the border have been that of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount with Havertz ending his time at Chelsea to move across London to join Arsenal and Mount also departing the Stamford Bridge side to join Manchester United.
At times during their Chelsea careers, both players have had question marks raised over their contributions and their goal scoring statistics are not great with each averaging around a goal in every five games – something that they will need to improve upon at their new clubs to justify their transfer values: both more than £60 million.
West Ham’s Declan Rice is on the verge of joining Havertz at Arsenal for a reputed fee of £105 million and Harry Kane’s discussions with Bayern Munich on-going.
It’s an interesting move by Arsenal with Rice and perhaps an indication how crucial top quality central defensive midfielders are regarded these days.
With a meagre 15 goals in 250 games, it has obviously been his athleticism, tackling and ball carrying abilities that has attracted ‘Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta to the 24-year-old England international.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has reportedly been setting out his plans to Kane to persuade him that his future lies in north London. With his unrivalled goal scoring exploits for Spurs and England, he will prove a massive void to fill for Postecoglou if he departs and will make the Australian’s rebuild at the club even more challenging.
Rangers manager Michael Beale has been busy as he tries to close the gap on rivals Celtic with his recruitment so far focussing on his frontmen. With the loss of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and the rumoured departure of Antonio Colak, it is understandable that Beale sees the need for new blood, and he will be desperate for Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima to make an immediate impression.
Meanwhile Celtic will look to recover from the double body blow of losing manager Ange Postecoglou and fans favourite Jota. But the quick re-appointment of Brendan Rodgers along with the addition of Norwegian Odin Thiago Holm and Australian Marco Tillio has eased the discomfort at Parkhead.
