The Premier League season may be over, but the football news doesn’t stop and, if anything, only intensifies over the peak summer months. Speculation season is here, with the latest transfer rumours dominating the football news headlines and providing food for thought for punters assessing the best betting sites UK players can sign up to.
Whilst many deals remain “in the pipeline”, others are now firmly in the books. Deals have been struck, and the “Welcome to” photos and videos have been released, as fans line up to get the name of the new man in town emblazoned on their 2023/24 shirts.
It is, of course, still early days, with two months of frenzied activity still to come, but here we look at five of the biggest deals to come early in the window.
Kai Havertz
Chelsea to Arsenal
Fee: £65m
The 24-year-old Germany international certainly had his moments during his three-year stay at Stamford Bridge – most notably scoring the winning goal in the 2012 Champions League Final – but, overall, his time at Stamford Bridge can be filed in the “underwhelming category. Often deployed up front on his own, which clearly doesn’t play to his strengths, it will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta plans to slot him into an Arsenal side firmly on the rise.
Christopher Nkunku
RB Leipzig to Chelsea
Fee: £52m
Out goes Havertz, and in comes French international Christopher Nkunku. Whilst only becoming official in recent weeks, this deal has been all but signed, sealed, and delivered for some time now. Unable to nail down a starting spot at PSG – just 55 appearances in four years – it was with RB Leipzig that the 25-year-old began to deliver on his immense potential. A return of 47 goals in 119 appearances for the German club represents a solid output for a player comfortable up front and in the No 10 role.
James Maddison
Leicester City to Tottenham Hotspur
Fee: £40m
Following Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League, star man James Maddison was always going to be on the move this summer. Newcastle United was deemed by many to be his most likely destination, with the North East club having two bids turned down in the January window. However, in the end, it seems that the lure of London proved too much for the England man. Reportedly the number one target of new boss Ange Postecoglou, the prospect of Maddison providing the ammunition for Harry Kane already has Spurs fans excited.
Alexis Mac Allister
Brighton & Hove Albion to Liverpool
Fee: £35m
Liverpool’s strong finish to the season did little to gloss over the fact that a midfield overhaul was the order of the day at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp has wasted little time acting on that view to bring in one of the standout performers from the season just gone. Bringing bite and creativity, and chipping in with his share of goals, the addition of World Cup winner Mac Callister ought to represent an instant upgrade to the centre of the park.
Nicolas Jackson
Villarreal to Chelsea
Fee: £30.1m
Five months after failing his medical when on the verge of signing for Bournemouth, Senegal international Nicolas Jackson does get his big move to the Premier League. Like seemingly every other transfer these days, Chelsea is the destination, as the 22-year-old adds to the burgeoning options available to the new man in the hot seat Mauricio Pochettino. Blisteringly quick and direct, Jackson is still a little raw around the edges but improved massively for Villarreal at the back end of last season and looks ready for this next step.