Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
With the transfer window now firmly wide open the movement of players seems to be picking up at quite a pace, especially in the past week when a number of big transfers have taken place at home and abroad. Here is a quick recap of what has happened in the past week.
Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton – Liverpool
Liverpool’s fully extensive European scouting network has once again come up trumps with another signing from Southampton, the 4th in 12 months. The England Right Back will now join former team mates Lovren, Lallana and Lambert (surprised he didn’t have to change to Llyne just to continue the connection) at the club and will fill and arguably improve the vacant slot left by Glen Johnson departing the club at the end of his contract. With Clyne joining the club it is Liverpool’s 5th major signing this Summer, this would indicate that Rodgers is certainly being backed in the transfer market but with that the pressure is certainly on him to deliver, a slow start to the season will mean the vultures will be circling over Anfield and a certain Jurgen Klopp could be waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces come November time.
Carlos Bacca, Sevilla – AC Milan
A bit of a surprise this one to be honest as Sevilla have qualified for the Champions League and AC Milan didn’t even qualify for Europe but it seems the lure of a “big club” like Milan has proved too much for Bacca that and his £21m release clause was met.
Luiz Adriano, Shakhtar – AC Milan
Joining Bacca at the San Siro will be Brazilian Luiz Adriano who is the second player to depart Shakhtar in a week after compatriot Douglas Costa moved to Bayern Munich. Adriano who got 9 goals in the Champions League last season, a goal tally only beaten by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (Admittedly most of these were against BATE Borisov) will be tasked with revitalising an attack line which relied on Jeremy Menez far too much last season.
Yehven Konoplyanka, Dnipro – Sevilla
Someone joining Sevilla after they have already lost a couple of players in this transfer window is Yehven Konoplyanka. Much to the disappointment of Tottenham and Stoke fans the Ukrainian International has left Dnipro on a free transfer and joined the club which beat Dnipro in May’s Europa League Final.
Radamel Falcaco, Monaco – Chelsea (Loan)
The Colombian who only got 4 goals at Old Trafford last season has now ended up at Stamford Bridge. Can Jose Mourinho reignite this striker who has never quite be the same since the serious curtailed his 2013/14 season and ruled him out of the World Cup in Brazil or will he be a another in the long list of Chelsea Number 9’s that have ended up on the scrap heap in what seems to almost be a cursed shirt (Kezman, Crespo, Torres to name just a few)
