🚨⚪️⚪️ Dominic Solanke to Tottenham, here we go! Deal agreed for £65m package add-ons included, record fee.
Solanke set to travel for medical after contract until June 2030 agreed days ago.
Exclusive story from last week, confirmed. ✍🏻🏻 pic.twitter.com/TegCCkbLmZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 9, 2024
Football is richer than it ever has been. This is reflected by the amount of money clubs are allocating to acquire new players, with huge sums of cash being spent once again this summer. In fact, Premier League clubs spent a staggering £2.08bn on new signings during the summer window.
The league looks even stronger
As a result of the Premier League’s undoubted spending power compared to other major competitions in the world, the league appears to be even stronger. For example, sides like Manchester City and Arsenal have recruited well, making it tough to predict a clear winner this campaign. Of course, Guardiola’s City side is the team to beat, but Premier League winner odds of 2/1 highlight just how close Arsenal are to City, a side aiming to win a record fifth title in a row.
Likewise, even teams who are likely to be scrapping away down at the bottom of the table have added some notable quality. For instance, while relegation odds Premier League suggest Ipswich are likely to go down given odds of 4/5, the Tractor Boys have conducted some shrewd business in the shape of Dara O’Shea, Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene, Kalvin Phillips, and a number of other important additions. Money has certainly been spent and sides like Ipswich are clearly banking on a fruitful campaign.
So, with that in mind, below is a brief lowdown on some of the biggest transfers this summer. Make no mistake about it, the Premier League is still the richest competition around.
Following his goalscoring exploits last season, it probably came as no surprise to see Dominic Solanke depart Bournemouth for Tottenham. The former Liverpool striker scored 19 Premier League goals last season and Spurs will be hoping for a similar return, particularly given their evident need for a striker to deliver alongside Son Heung-min. Given the £55 million plus add-ons that Ange Postecoglou’s side have paid for Solanke’s services, Spurs’ hierarchy clearly believe they’ve got their man.
Arguably the closest player they have to former midfield general Granit Xhaka, Arsenal appear to have finally replaced the Switzerland captain after securing the signing of Mikel Merino. The Spaniard won the Euros with Spain and joins Arsenal at arguably the peak of his powers. Merino completed a £31.6m move to the Gunners from Real Sociedad, and he could be a key cog in their wheel this season alongside the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard in a crucial area of the pitch.
Although Chelsea’s scattergun approach to transfers has left many Blues fans wondering what direction the club is heading in, it’s impossible to ignore some of the quality they’ve snapped up. One notable acquisition is Leicester’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, an academy graduate who carried the Foxes to promotion last season. A player Enzo Maresca evidently trusts, the £30 million paid for his services could prove to be a bargain should Dewsbury-Hall continue to develop at Stamford Bridge.
These days, finding a striker who is guaranteed to score goals is tough. It’s a position most clubs are desperate to fill, resulting in a highly competitive market in the process. Crystal Palace have therefore done remarkably well to convince Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah to join Oliver Glasner’s Eagles. The 25-year-old is hungry and has a point to prove, making the £30 million deal to bring him to Selhurst Park an incredibly shrewd move.