Every summer transfer window, we have become accustomed to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United picking up not only the best players available, but also the best prospects for the future.
Even Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have chipped in with some impressive dealing over the past five years, with the Toffees’ partnership with Sports Interactive and Football Manager really coming to the fore.
That leaves, for want of another phrase, “the dregs” for everyone else to fight over, and fans have steadily settled into a state of acceptance that the best prospects will go to the best teams.
2013, however, has signalled seismic change in the way clubs are operating, and all for the better too.
Chelsea may secured Marco van Ginkel, a dynamic, energetic and technically astute midfield prospect out of Vitesse Arnhem, but he cost a princely £8 million.
Liverpool took Luis Alberto for £7 million, all of City’s signings are established professionals while United and Arsenal have secured just one signing apiece.
The lack of activity—particularly at Old Trafford and the Emirates—is haunting fans all the more due to the fact they can see clubs below them striking excellent deals.
The closest reasonable competitor to the European league spots is Michael Laudrup’s Swansea, who have yet again enjoyed a wonderful summer of business.
Alejandro Pozuelo, at £500,000, could be one of the best-value deals we see all season, with the Spaniard’s busy, all-action style from the advanced midfield line set to become a valuable asset at the Liberty Stadium this year.
Jonjo Shelvey provides a similar outlook, and you just wonder if Laudrup was searching for that “second gear”—Swansea played slow, possession football last season, but now he’s given himself the option to up the tempo significantly.
Jose Canas on a free transfer, followed by the brilliant Jordi Amat for just £2.5 million, proves Laudrup is still confident he can build a side out of raising financially-stricken La Liga clubs.
Norwich, too, have impressed many floating voters with their willingness to move quickly for the targets they wish to acquire.
Chris Hughton’s side survived relegation last season thanks to a burly, uncompromising defensive line led by Sebastian Bassong, but the lack of goals up top was a concern.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel is the man they’ve pinned their hopes on to solve it, and for good measure Leroy Fer was brought in to forge a Dutch connection. Fer has been playing in the No. 10 role at times this preseason, and it seems the Canaries are relying on him to drip-feed “The Wolf” chances.
Another side looking to improve upon last season’s scraping clear of relegation is Aston Villa, and Paul Lambert managed to secure six signings before the window had even officially opened.
For a total outlay of just £11 million, the Scot secured the signatures of Jores Okore, Antonio Luna, Leandro Bacuna, Jed Steer, Aleksandar Tonev and Nicklas Helenius.
They’re unknowns to many, but each and every one represent big potential, low wages and extreme value in an inflated market.
Luna and Okore are expected to step in and immediately improve the first XI’s defence, and for just £4.5 million (the combined value of both) Lambert may have fixed last season’s biggest problem.
It’s deals like the Okore one, in particular, that have other clubs feeling a little jealous.
The Danish centre-back excelled for Nordsjaelland on the UEFA Champions League stage last season as he took on Shakhtar Donetsk, Chelsea and Juventus, while he also turned down a move to the Blues in January due to concerns over a lack of playing time.
For Villa he’s a coup—perhaps the coup of the summer—and represents the sort of target fans feel Arsene Wenger should have been looking at given the club’s need to recruit in central defence.
Many top-six clubs could have done with Fer, as at just 21 years of age he boasts the ability to dominate opponents both technically and physically, while Crystal Palace’s Jose Campagna (£1.5 million) could be a revelation signing.
It speaks volumes for the modern methods and aggressive stance in the market midtable managers are taking, and it’s no coincidence that the majority of those impressing are young and susceptible to new ideas and methods.
For once this summer, fans of the big clubs are looking at the deals being made around them and feeling a small tinge of jealousy.
