The collapse of Los Blancos - What has happened to Zidane's European Champions?

If in June last year you'd have told anyone that Real Madrid would be sat in fourth place in La Liga. 19 points off of the top; And running a serious risk of not qualifying for the Champions League at this point in the season, you'd have been laughed at. But that is the reality in which we currently live. The back to back European champions are having a disaster of a season, and Zinedine Zidane is facing the biggest test of his young managerial career.

From the 10 trophies available to Madrid during the previous 22 months, they've won 8 of them. An incredible feat, which underlines their dramatic fall from grace. Played off the park, in their own back yard, by Barcelona before Christmas shows just how far off the pace the Spanish champions are.

What is the reason that Madrid are falling so far behind the pack?

Real Madrid, over the past few years, have simply blown teams away. With their incredible arsenal of attacking power, the goals just haven't stopped. Until now. Starting from the back, Los Blancos have a history of attacking and goal scoring full backs, and this current generation is no different. Marcelo and Dani Carvajal were directly involved in 16 league goals last season. This time around however, they've been involved in two at the mid point of the campaign. This is a huge part of Zidane's fire power that simply isn't firing, and this isn't a problem focused solely on the full backs.

During the 2016/2017 season four Madrid players his double figures in the league, Cristiano Ronaldo unsurprisingly top scoring with 25 league goals. However, remarkably, not a single player has scored more then four goals in the league after 18 games. More incredibly however, should this trend continue, Madrid will end their season without a single player hitting double figures in the league. During their title winning season last time around they averaged 2.8 goals per game, this season however that stat has fallen to 1.9 goals per game.

Garath Bale's injury problems have been a huge loss for Zidane, as the Welshman does seem to be firing more often then not. In his last 13 games in all competitions, Bale has been involved in 11 goals. But due to injuries the winger has not been able to maintain a place in the team.

Even the seemingly invincible Cristiano Ronaldo is feeling the strain. Well, domestically he is. In the Champions League the Portuguese star set a new competition record, with nine goals scored in six group stage games. But that tally is more then double what he's managed on Spanish shores this season so far. With the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in midfield, the chances have been there, but the usually reliable forward has been off the mark. According to Opta Stats, Ronaldo has had 17 clear cut goal scoring opportunities this campaign, and he has only managed to convert four of them. A conversion rate of 2.5% is perhaps the most damming stat for the current Ballon D'or winner.

The players can feel that something simply isn't right within the club. Madrid veteran and fan favourite Marcelo spoke out this week, saying how things simply 'having been happening' for Real Madrid. Following another poor result at the weekend, a 1-0 loss to Villarreal, the Brazilian full back said it felt as if they were sinking.

"It's one of the worst situations I've experienced here." Marcelo said, the full back signed for Real Madrid over 10 years ago, and has played over 300 times for the club.

"It's how it looks from the outside - we're sad, we're angry and we feel like we're sinking."

The man at the helm Zidane has also been coming under fire, and was at a loss for words following the defeat at the weekend.

"We don't deserve this, we think we played the ball well but the balls just didn't want to go in for us. I can't explain why." The Frenchman said, after originally describing the situation as 'fu**** up'.

Could Zidane be to blame for Real's slump? The legendary midfielder has been handed a legendary managerial career on a silver platter. Gifted one of the best squads of a generation and one of the best players on all time in Cristiano to lead the line. Madrid's former number five has seemingly allowed his talented group of players to play with freedom so far, and while the stars have fired leading up to now, his inexperience as a manager is now being shown for the world to see.

A lack of, or a failure to implement, a plan B for his side has seen Zidane's men look washed out of ideas on the pitch of late. And it is becoming increasingly likely that should PSG topple Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 (which is looking more likely as the days go by) Zinadine will have over seen his final games in charge of his Madrid side.

The pressure is one. For the players and for the manager. The Spanish giants have registered their worst start to a season in over a decade, and the results simply just aren't coming in. Reports over the last couple of days are suggesting that for the first time since his initial world record signing, Madrid are open to the idea of selling Cristiano Ronaldo. If that doesn't show the size of the problem within the Spanish capital I don't know what does.

How on earth do you spend £147 million?

So... Barcelona finally got their man. £147 million is what it took for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to finally let go of their number 10. The 'little magician' Philipe Coutinho. Now the Merseyside club find themselves with a huge transfer kitty but without their best player.


However, the month is still young. With 24 days left until the transfer window slams shut, Liverpool have to act fast. But simply, how do you spend £147 million in just over three weeks?


Step one - Thomas Lemar.


Despite a deceivingly average first half of the season, the French midfielder has bags of ability. And he contains plenty of the same traits as the man he would be replacing. Excellent on the ball, with a technical prowess unmatched by his team mates at Monaco, it's easy to see why Klopp has been so keen to get him in. A brilliant eye for a pass, as well as a keen ability to shot from range, Lemar is Coutinho if the Brazilian was French. One more plus point is the Frenchman's ability from dead ball situations, a trait of Coutinho's that will perhaps be missed the most. So the addition of Monaco's number 27 could go a long way to filling the hole at Anfield.

Reports are coming out now saying that the club WON'T try to sign Lemar in January. This appears to be down to Monaco's insistence that they will not sell. However, that doesn't rule out a pre contract agreement. £70 million and a sell on clause could persuade Monaco to let him sign for Liverpool on July 1st.


 Persistence is key in this market to get the man you want. Much like Barcelona's constant attempts to sign Coutinho, Liverpool should employ similar tactics to bring in Lemar.


 £147 million - £70 million = £77 million remaining.


 Step two - A NEW number one.


 Simon Miglonet and Loris Karius. Both keeper had shown signs of greatness before signing for LFC. And both keepers appear to have lost it almost instantly. It's time for change between the sticks and  anyone involved with the club can clearly see, if there is one position Liverpool can't compete with the other top 6 teams in. It's in goal.


 So where, and more accurately, who is the money invested in next?

 Roma's Alisson and Atleti's Oblack both are rumoured to be targets. Now if LFC stuck the whole £77 million left from the sale of Coutinho on Oblack, it MIGHT be enough for Atleti to sell. I haven't seen enough of Alisson to compare him to Oblack, but he looks far and away better then what Klopp currently has at his disposal. And much like Ederson to city, could be a wise investment. Around 30 million seems like a sensible price as that is the current record signing fee for a goal keeper (Ederson from Benfica to Man City in the sumer of 2017.)


 Also reports that Mignolet could be used as part of a swap? The addition of the Belgian keeper to the deal would see the asking price fall and get a big wage bill off of the books. Let's say then the club pay £25 million + Mignolet for Alisson.


 £77 million - £25 million (And Mignolet) = £52 million remaining.


 Step three - Van Dijk's centre back partner.


 With £52 million left after the signings of Lemar and Alisson, you could argue the remaining money could be invested in two or three players to help boost the squad. And to this point I say. Liverpool need another centre back. VVD looked completely comfortable and at ease during his debut against Everton in the FA Cup. But, frighteningly better then his partner, Joel Matip. Now the likes of Matip, Klavan or Lovren would make for suitable rotation players, but no more then that. If Klopp is to take his team to the places he sees, Van Dijk needs a partner up to his standards.

Now this is tricky, as over the last six months the only defender talked about joining Liverpool was VVD, with other names and rumours being turned aside almost instantly. Klopp set on getting his man and refusing a plan b. However one name sticks on the head. Koulibaly.


 Napoli (in the summer) were reportedly looking to offload the defender, for a fee of around £57 million. Now while they challenge for the title in Italy, I imagine they would not be looking to sell Mane's international team mate. And i'm sure, with January very much being a sellers market, Napoli would be in no rush to change their minds again. However though. Much like Mignolet being part of the deal to bring Alisson to the club, maybe Klopp could persuade Napoli with a name. Dejan Lovren. Dejan. With the signing of a new centre back, in the eyes of most at least, would fall to AT LEAST fifth choice centre back. Behind the likes of VVD, Matip, Klavan and of course the new addition, in this case, Koulibaly. And this is without taking into consideration the rapid improvement of youngster Joe Gomez, which, by the summer, could see Lovren as Klopp's sixth choice.


 An offer of £45 - £50 million for Koulibaly, with Lovren added for good measure, could be enough to tempt Napoli into selling.


 £52 million - £50 million (And Lovren) = £2 million remaining.


 That does actually leaves £2 million, which we'll just say FSG can keep. So for the £147 million the club will make for Coutinho, Klopp gets: his first choice replacement in Lamar; a potentially world class keeper in Alisson; and solid partner for VVD in Koulibaly.


As well as two big wages bills off of the books in Mignolet and Dejan and FSG still turn a profit. Then January ends, February begins and the club push on. Right now, Liverpool are in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League next season, a competition they are still in this time around, facing FC Porto in the round of 16. Klopp's side are also still within a shot of winning the FA Cup, Liverpool being one of the favourites at this stage.


 And then, just like that, the season ends. The world cup happens over the summer, and then it all starts over again. But in this scenario, Klopp has HIS team, a side he has built, and a side he will mould to go on and do great things.


 (Or they'll just blow the whole £147 million on Southampton players like Liverpool did with the Suarez money!)

Simone Zaza: The West Ham flop flourishing for Los Che.

After failing to impress during his loan spell with West Ham United last season, Simone Zaza is on fire. A blistering start to the season for new club Valencia, the Italian swept up La Liga’s Player of the Month award for September – beating Lionel Messi to the honour.

The former Juventus man was a laughing stock before even arriving in London, after his penalty miss during Euro 2016 went viral. During his time at the London Stadium, Zaza only managed eight appearances, scoring a total of nil-pwa goals – then to cap it off his loan spell was cancelled in January after a torrid time in England.

But everything now seems to have changed for the frontman; seven goals in his first eight games for Valencia, Zaza has led Los Murciélagos to second in the table – behind only Barcelona. From an individual standpoint, Zaza also sits second in the scoring charts – behind Lionel Messi and his tally of 11.

A physically excellent frontman, Zaza is blessed with plenty of the gifts needed to succeed in England: strength, speed and an eye for goal. Something was missing at West Ham that has clicked in Spain since his arrival.

Since his loan was cancelled at West Ham, Simone Zaza has stated his failures were down to an inability to adjust to life in England.

Quickly I didn’t feel great in many ways. Environment, culture, nutrition, training.

I do not blame anyone. 99% of it was my fault, I was not able to adapt.

– Simeone Zaza

Effortless, however, would be the word to describe how he was settled in at Valencia. Left out in the cold by both parent club Juventus and temporary home West Ham, Zaza’s first choice was Valencia.

Valencia was always the team I wanted most. Everyone told me it was a wonderful place. And it’s true. It is similar to Italy. And then to be by the sea and the sun, makes me happy, I do not need anything else.

These words from the Italian show how much surrounding himself with a comfortable environment means to him. The hustle and bustle of London never suited Zaza, and it showed on the pitch. Penning a €16million deal for Zaza showed the confidence Valencia had in the man. After failing drastically in England, it was a huge risk for Los Che.

Confidence is essential for any striker to succeed, a confidence Zaza has suddenly got in abundance. Being positioned as the main attacking outlet for Valencia, their No.9 knows the side rely on him for goals. With strike partner Rodrigo preferring to drop into an almost No.10 role, and wide men such as Goncalo Guedes providing supply from out wide, the supply line is there for the striker.

Familiarity with your team-mates allows for an almost telekinetic communication to be formed. And that is what is happening for Zaza; Rodrigo, Zaza and Guedes have all been almost ever present this campaign so far, as has been skipper Dani Perejo. Pulling the strings from the heart of midfield, the Spaniard has a range of passing that can compete with any in Spain.

The thinking from manager Marcelino is one of attacking intent, with the focus being to get floods of players into attacking positions as much as possible. Attacking full-backs on either side constantly overlapping, balls are being fired low into the box as often as possible.

For a No.9 like Zaza, this is ideal and his movement and quick thinking allows this system to flourish. Sitting between the two centre-backs and gambling on any ball played into the danger zone, this attacking thinking is made for Zaza. Zaza has scored seven goals in either league games this campaign – only one of which was scored from outside of the box.

Simone Zaza is surrounded by attacking quality at Valencia, he knows any ball played into him will be one of quality. The options are always surrounding the man on the ball, with a minimum of three options on at all times. Whether it’s a period of sustained pressure, or a lung busting counter attack – the options are plenty for Valencia and Zaza right now.

The way Marcelino lines up is to go and take the game to any opponent, at no point do they slow down. This mindset breeds confidence into your attacking outlets, and Zaza is the perfect example. The Italian front man not only benefits from Marcelino’s confidence in his ability, but the man himself demonstrates huge confidence in the ability of his team mates. As he arrives in the perfect position at the perfect time, knowing the ball played to him will be perfect. Five out of Zaza’s seven league goals so far this season have came from first time finishes or headers.

Zaza’s team around him make up a foundation that was lacking during his time at West Ham. The London club had a horrible start to last season, moving into a new stadium, and with the manager seemingly not knowing his best team. The side was in turmoil, and this had a negative effect on the players.

The Valencia fans know all too well about a club in turmoil. After years in the wilderness, Los Che are on a path to return to the glory days of Rafa Benitez’s time in charge at the Mestalla. Harmony between all parts of the club, from the players to the board room. Boss Marcelino has been given control over all things football related, and it is translating onto success on the pitch.

This form of harmony within a club would do wonders for any player, and Zaza is at the forefront of that. With the machine behind him and his team-mates, the Italian is rolling and shows no sign of slowing down.

The Future of Football - Paulo Dybala vs Marco Asensio.

For the last 10 years the top table of world football has been dominated by two men. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Never before have we seen the title of world player of the year been so predictable as to who will be competing come January. But what will happen when these two icons of the world game take a step back? What will happen when the Argentine forward Messi steps back into a deeper laying number 10 role, allowing for someone else to steal all the headlines? What will happen when the goals dry up for Cristiano? When the lung busting runs and climbing headers become a rarity and not just another Sunday for the Portuguese national captain. Well here are two names you will have heard before, Paulo Dybala and Marco Asensio. Dybala being compared to his fellow Argentine international Lionel Messi, and Asension to his fellow galactico Cristiano Ronaldo. The next big rivalry in world football is ready and waiting, lets take a closer look.

So first of all, with Paulo Dybala. The Juventus number 10 has openly stated on several occasions that be has no interest in becoming the 'Next Lionel Messi' that he would rather be the 'First Paulo Dybala' and that is a highly commendable attitude from the 23 year old. Many young players have taken the praise heaped upon then and ran themselves into a wall with it, the names Mario Balotelli and Ricardo Quaresma instantly come to mind, however Dybala seems to be handling it perfectly, getting his head down and playing football. Despite Paulo's insistence NOT to be compared to Messi, it is clear to see where to comparisons have been drawn from. Dybala is one of the most naturally talented players in world football today, his ability on the ball and technique very closely resembles that of a young Lionel Messi. The speed at which Dybala can dribble with the ball is a defenders worst nightmare, and to cap it all off his average of a goal every other game in his Juve career so far demonstrates the eye for goal the forward possess. The attributes have earned Dybala the nickname 'La Joya' translated from Spanish meaning ' the jewel'. During his first professional season at the age of 17, Dybala went on to break four long standing Argentine football records. Firstly, scoring his first goal for boyhood club Instituto, making him the youngest goal scorer in the leagues history, he followed this up scoring in 6 consecutive league games, beating the previous record by 2. And to cap off the season, he became the first player to score two hat-tricks in the league, as well as the first to compete in 38 consecutive league matches in the country. So a young Argentine footballer breaking records left right and centre. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Only one year later Dybala was on his way to Europe, to Italian side Palmero where he continued to grow and shine. In his third season in Italy we saw the first examples of the player Dybala has grown into today, scoring 13 league goals and providing 10 assists, making his one of the most influential players in the league that season. Much like his time with Instituo, this breakthrough season saw the youngster moving on to bigger things, namely a £32 million move to Juventus, where he was given the famous 21 jersey. Playing as Juve's main attacking threat Dybala ended his first season as the clubs top scorer, registering 23 goals. Only Italian great Roberto Bagio held a greater goals/games ratio in his debut season, as the Argentinian fired his new club to the Scudetto. The success just kept coming for Dybala, in his second season with Juventus he knocked in another 19 goals, even more impressive when you consider he was now playing the position of a second striker behind new signing Higuain. As well as winning his second Italian league title, Dybala helped the Old Lady to the Champions League final against Real Madrid, where they came up short. That brings us to the current campaign, and what else do I need to say other then 10 league goals in 6 games, and two hat- tricks already. The pressure was heavily on the Italian champions this time around after their failure in the Champions League final and Dybala has taken that pressure and dealt with it with match winning performances. ON the day of writing this the news is filled with a rumoured £155 million offer being weighed up by Manchester United for the Argentinian star. Whether these rumours are factual or not is yet to be seen, but how little surprise this news has earned from the footballing world shows just how big a deal the man is. I don't think I'm being over dramatic when I say I can see Dybala being named the worlds best player sooner rather then later, his talent is just undeniable and if he continues this season the way he has began it I think it could be even sooner then we could ever have imagined. I am however going to end this with another cheap comparison to Lionel Messi. Paulo was sent off in his FIRST EVER start for Argentina. As I'm sure you're aware Messi saw red in his first ever game for his country, another cheap comparison as I said but it takes great strength to come back from such a knock down and to go on and flourish. Lio has undoubtedly gone way above all expectations, and after the start to his career has been so fruitful, I think it's safe to say we can expect the same from Juventus' new number 10.

Now onto a newer sensation, the Spanish midfielder who is being treated as the answer to the question, what will Real Madrid do without Cristiano Ronaldo? Marco Asensio. Now unlike Dybala, we don't have a handful of seasons at the highest level to go off of, with Asensio we simply have ability. In Asensio's first 37 league games in the top flight of Spanish football the midfielder only managed 4 league goals, which is by no means an impressive feat. But by just looking at the stats you're missing the point with this player. While still at youth level, both Barcelona and Real Madrid wanted to get their hands on Asensio, but the Spaniard spent his first professional season with Mallorca. As the season drew to a close Asensio truly found his form, scoring all 4 of  the league goals he managed in his first season within the same month, ending the campaign as the hottest property in Spanish football. And in November of 2014 Real Madrid got their man, before loaning him back to his boyhood club for the remainder of the season. During this same time frame Madrid's newest signing was representing Spain at under 18's level, scoring 8 goals in 12 games, showing just how big of a talent he could be! Before the end of the 2014-2015 season Asensio was called up to the under 21 squad, continuing to shine, and currently Marco has 8 goals in 17 games at that level. In the following summer Asensio was loaned to Espanyol, Catalan rivals of Barcelona, where he continued to improve, ending the campaign with 12 assists as the Real Madrid man looked to bet set for a number 10 role. At this point however the Spanish midfielder was growing frustrated by his career with Real Madrid, almost two years after signing he was yet to make his professional debut and rumours of a move away from the Spanish capital saw the managers hand forced and Asensio was in the side, which could turn out to be the best decision Zidane has made in his time in charge of Los Blancos.

The brightest star in Spanish football couldn't have started his Real Madrid career any better, scoring on his competitive debut for the club. A quite brilliant 25 yard strike against Sevilla in the Spanish super cup, a game that went all the way to penalties. And just 12 days later Asensio made his first league start for the club, and again found himself on the score sheet. After his fast starts however Asensio's appearances were limited to substitute appearances, which again drew frustration from the midfielder, reports came from the Madrid camp that Marco's representatives had informed management that if they did not intend to play Asensio then he would be forced to play his football elsewhere. The Champions League however is where the teenager was able to really show his class, scoring four goals during Real Madrid's campaign, including the fourth in the final, securing Madrid's 12th European Cup. As the 2017/2018 season got under way the indication was that whenever Cristiano Ronaldo did not play, Asensio would slot into his position out wide, with Ronaldo growing older and his game time appearing to be on the decline, this new role was seen as a great opportunity for the midfidler, a new role for the Spaniard but one he settled into almost instantly. During the Spanish super cup first leg against Barcelona, Asensio fired in a bullet of a strike from the wide left position, and just four days later he did it again. In the second leg, in the first game of the season in the Bernabeau, a quite remarkable strike cutting in from the right this time left Barcelona's Ter Stagen stranded as Asensio filled in for the suspended Ronaldo. Also in the summer just gone, whilst representing the Spanish under 21's Asensio scoring a hat-trick on match day one, leading his side to the final where they were eventually beaten by Germany, but another showing on the world stage for the youngster who's stock has been growing and growing. It's really been since the 2017 Champions League final where the world has stood back and realised just how much potential this man has. Good on both feet, technically brilliant, able to produce that one bit of magic to change the game. With an eye for goal and a role playing as the Madrista's number 7's understudy, Asensio really is learning from the best.

Right here what we have is, I feel, the next generation of Balon D'or winners. Much Like Ronaldo was making headlines before Messi, I feel like it could only be a matter of time before Dybala is seen as an elite level, top five in the world footballer. But as soon as that happens, expect Asensio to show that he belongs at that top table, and just like that a battle is on to be the worlds best. Now of course these aren't the two only names who could replace Messi and Ronaldo at the top, the likes of Neymar, Garath Bale, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe and many many others all have a claim to the throne. But right here, like I said, I feel is the next generation. Much like we've seen two men dominate the top table of football for the last decade, I expect these two to do it for the next. Paulo Dybala and Marco Asensio. Watch this space.

The calm before the storm - The day before deadline day.

August 31st is a strange day for football, the summer transfer deadline day! Over 100 days for clubs to do their business and over the years so many have left it right until the last minute to bring in the players they want for the upcoming season. This summer has been one of, if not the most, crazy transfer periods in football history. We have already seen the first two £100 million + players this summer, and could very possibly have a third and a fourth by 11pm tomorrow. So many clubs spending way over the odds for players in a market so overran with TV money, that no clubs REALLY need to sell. Some of Europe's giants have floundered, not willing to put their hand into their pockets, while others have spent fortunes. So much can happen between now and the window closing, and I am going to go into what could be making the back pages when August becomes September.

Coutinho to Barcelona - Okay, so lets start with the big one, the longest running story of the summer so far! I have written an entire article on the Coutinho saga already, so in summary. Barcelona want Coutinho, Liverpool don't want to sell Coutinho, Coutinho hands in and sees his transfer request rejected, Coutinho has a 'back injury' (back injuries are notoriously used when a player wants out of his contract as it's close to impossible to tell if the player involved is lying) and hasn't played or trained for Liverpool while the saga has gone on. However what has changed in the past 48 hours is that, Coutinho has been training for Brazil, and has been cleared fully fit by the national teams doctors. This all but proves his injury was entirely fabricated by either Coutinho or his representatives. Also this week it was reported that the Brazilian has asked NOT to be in the Champions League squad for Liverpool, this is because if he was to play for Liverpool in the competition and then sign for Barcelona in January, he would be cup tied and unable to play for the Catalan club in said competition. With all of this going on, Barcelona's final offer of £148 million is still on the table, and within the last hour Coutinho has reportedly sent a message to Klopp saying if he is not allowed to join Barcelona, there is no going back. Stating that things will never go back to normal, from both a performance and relationship stand point. It is being reported that Liverpool and FSG are close to caving to Coutinho's demands and representatives of the club are on their way to Barcelona to finalise the deal. If the deal is completed the Brazilian will become the second most expensive player of all time, over taking Barcelona's newest signing Dembele from Dortmund for a reported total of £138 million. For the first time in weeks this deal looks like it is going to happen, but where does that leave Liverpool? Well...

Liverpool (Van Dijk, Lemar and Oxlade-Chamberlain) - ... I right now can say with confidence, Liverpool don't really need Coutinho. Now before I am attacked by thousands of Coutinho fans, of which I am one, I am not saying it wouldn't be a huge loss for the reds to lose their number 10. From a technical standpoint he is in a class of one, and throughout the summer I have been firmly behind Klopp's stance to insist he stays. But not only have Liverpool looked sublime going forward early in the season, knocking in 14 goals in 5 games so far. The huge injection of funds could lead to the few deals currently in the pipeline being pushed over the line. At the time of writing this Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is scheduled for a medical with the club, transfer fee and contract negotiations have both been finalised and the deal is all but done. Naby Keita FINALLY completed his move to Liverpool earlier this week, however will not join the club until the summer of 2018 but this is still a massive step going forward for the club. The question marks are around two players who could both break Liverpool's transfer record, Thomas Lemar and Virgil Van Dijk. Starting with the French wide man Lemar, this deal looks certain to be completed if Coutinho does leave. Liverpool have offered a reported £60 million so far and Monaco have demanded £70 million, that extra 10 million will feel like pocket change to FSG should Barcelona get their man. The French international is one of the brightest young stars in football today and has been linked with a move to Arsenal all summer, however over the last couple of days it appears his has his eyes on a move to Anfield. He will offer a very similar ' it factor '  to Liverpool's side that will be lost with Coutinho, and should the move be over the line by 11pm tomorrow it could be huge for Jurgen Klopp and his side. Reports are also coming from France that, despite an offer not yet being agreed, Monaco has given Lemar permission to undertake his Liverpool medial TONIGHT.

And then of course, we get to the only saga more messy then Coutinho to Barcelona this summer... Virgil Van Dijk. The player was on his way to Liverpool months ago, however Southampton reported Liverpool for tapping up and the deal was dead in the water. However over the last two days it appears Liverpool are making one final swing at it. No offer has been made official yet but it is suggested that a £75 million offer will be made, and there is massively contrasting reports going around suggesting how likely the deal is to be completed. Now I am fairly confident a bid will be placed tomorrow, the problem lays with how committed Southampton are to sticking to their guns to 'sell to anyone apart from Liverpool'. If Van Dijk was to sign I feel like Liverpool could place a claim for the best transfer window out of any Premier League side. It will be a case of better late then never, but the Dutch centre back is exactly what Klopp needs in the heart of his defence, and the Southampton captain is improving every day. Without a transfer Van Dijk will be left, it appears, to rot in the reserves for the remainder of the season and maybe beyond and with no other buyers coming in as of yet, Liverpool seem to be back in the drivers seat. It could all of course be a case of wishful thinking on the part of the reporters, Southampton have given off no indication what so ever that they will sell Van Dijk, and until an offer if officially made there is no confirmation that Liverpool are even going in for him. However I can see this deal in particular being VERY active over the next 24 hours.

Alexis to Manchester City - Alexis Sanchez played his first game back for Arsenal at the weekend in a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. A picture really can tell a thousand words. It has been clear all summer the Chilean has no intention of staying at Arsenal, and he has been linked with many clubs in the process. However only one has came in for the man, and that club is Manchester City. On Monday, City came in with a £50 million offer, which was instantly shot down by Arsenal. It has been clear since day one that Arsenal do not want to sell, and Wenger would rather Alexis ran down his contract then left for money this window. So £50 million, in today's market, does seem a little low for a player of Sanchez's ability. It is however being reported that Arsenal would be willing to consider a money plus player offer, with Raheem Sterling being used to account for the rest. City favour a straight money deal (of course they are the richest club in the world) but it has been reported that Sterling would be open to the idea, as the signing of Sanchez would see him fall down the pecking order at the Etihad, this despite his impressive start to the season. Manchester City are reportedly coming back in with an improved offer, whether or not that will include Sterling is another matter. I feel like this is a move that has been dragged out so much longer then it should have been, Manchester City have made their approach so late they risk not getting their man at all. And Arsenal have held onto him, expecting their number 7 to still be the same player he was for them last season, but against Liverpool he looked like a shadow of his former self, he simply doesn't care. For the sake of the player, both clubs involved, and the fans who want to see a world class footballer play some world class football, I do hope and expect this deal to be finalised by the deadline.

Mbappe to PSG - A deal that has flown relatively under the radar with everything else that has been going on, and it is perhaps the most interesting! Teenage Kylian Mbappe fired himself into the limelight in last season's Champions League and the world has't stopped talking about him since. When it became apparent that he wanted out of Monaco, the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid have been rumoured to be coming in for the Frenchman. However it looks as if he will be staying in France, just moving to the capital and Paris Saint Germain. That's right, PSG are set to spend close to £200 million for the second time this summer, but much like the Neymar signing, the details of the transfer are really quite strange. Mbappe is to sign for a reported £166 million... next summer... after a season long loan at PSG. This is purely to give the French club more time 'balance the books' to ensure they stay within the guidelines of financial fair play. The signing of Neymar would make this impossible if the permanent switch was made this summer, and what is even more strange is Monaco agreeing to this. The current champions of France could get £100 million + for Mbappe from several clubs around the world, but they're willing to not only sell to their main rivals, but in such a way that PSG are likely to avoid reciprocation for violating FFP. Now although the deal is yet to be agreed to by all parties, Monaco have jumped the gun and announced the signing of Stevan Jovetic, and the forward was given Mbappe's number 10 to wear for the season. Mbappe will potentially become one of four players to be signed for north of £100 million this summer, and this is even more incredible when you consider Mbappe is 18 years old. If this deal comes off and Mbappe can help PSG push for the Champions League this season, and he continues to grow then it is great for all parties, what is essential however is that the teenager does not let the huge figures get to his head. It was however reported earlier this month that, when in contact with Real Madrid, Mbappe demanded a wage so high that the Madrid representatives simply responded with 'good luck in Paris'. A wage demand so high that even Real Madrid won't pay it, hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come and we have a new Thiery Henry on our hands and not another Mario Balotelli.

And the rest (Renato, Aurier, Barkley, Drinkwater, Sakho) - I'm just going to run through the 5 Premier League deals that, although won't end up going around the world, could have huge impacts for the future. Renato Sanches, Euro 2016 winner, 2016 Golden Boy winner, £30 million move to Bayern Munich, on loan to Swansea City. Pick the odd one out. Swansea manager Paul Clement worked as Carlo Ancelotti's number two at Bayern before taking the job in Wales, and this incredible deal you can imagine is down to the managers contacts within Bayern Munich. Spurs are FINALLY spending some money, Serge Aurier of PSG has been granted his work permit and with negotiations progressing at a very fast pace, Pochettino could finally have his Kyle Walker replacement. Ross Barkley was told if he did not sign the contract offered to him in May that he would have no future at Everton, yet the club have rejected an offer from Chelsea for the Englishman? A £25 million offer was turned down by the Toffee's, the champions however are ready to come back with an improved offer! This isn't the last you will hear of this. Another English midfielder who could be on his way to Chelsea is Danny Drinkwater. The Leicester man has handed in his transfer request, and a £40 million move is on the table. No official approach has been made by Chelsea, this is all just a rumour at this point, but reportedly both parties are very keen on the deal being completed, and with Chelsea in need of more squad players, Drinkwater could fit that bill. Liverpool and mainly Jurgen Klopp have been trying to push Sakho out of the door for over a year now, however when Liverpool finally received an offer for the French centre back, an offer of £25 million from Crystal Palace, it was rejected. Liverpool are holding out for £30 million for the defender, but Palace are confident they can get the deal done before the deadline. Much like Southampton with Van Dijk, there is really no point Liverpool keeping Sakho for him to rot in the reserves.

No matter how many potential deals you cover in the build up to the final day, there simply is no way to predict deadline day. In a summer where we have seen records broken and history made, it would not be at all surprising to see this years deadline day be the busiest ever.

Standout team of the year - Who will make the 2017/2018 season, their season?

Season after season we see a new group of players stepping up and taking the games their involved in by the scruff of the neck, season after season we see a new group of players announcing themselves to the world as truly stand out talents, season after season we have breakout stars. We don't just have players coming from no where and showing what they can do to the world, we have the already established names stepping up a level and becoming world class. It's those kind of players I'm going to focus on now, the players who are already known to the fans, but the players who I can see changing up a gear and running their respective divisions over the next 12 months.

Goal Keeper - Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

The Italian shot stopped right now might not even be the best Gianluigi in the Italy national team (Then again there is no shame being second to the greatest of all time) but Donnarumma is destined for great things. In 2016, at the age of 17 years and 189 days, he became the youngest player to represent the Azzurri in history, just under a year prior, at the age of 16 years and 242 days, he became the second youngest player to even play in the Seria 'A'. At this moment in time he is the number one for his boyhood club AC Milan, and has just signed a new 5 year contract, despite controversy over whether or not he wanted to leave. It's easy to forget that he is just 18 years old and has potentially over 20 years of a professional career ahead of him, he truly could grow to become the greatest keeper of all time. But why is next season such a big deal? Well because of Milan's transfer activity so far in the window. They have spent over £100 million so far, which includes £35 million on Donnarumma's Italy team mate Leonardo Bonucci, arguably the best centre back on the planet! As well as Ricardo Rodriguez from Wolfsburg for £17 million and Mateo Musacchio from Villarreal for £15 million. Milan have built almost an entirely new defence, and supporting the back line will be Gianluigi. With the new foundation to their side we could see the 7 time European champions beck in the big time very soon, so for the Italian keeper to start making his way up the ladder, the time is now.

Defender - Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

£50 million. That's how much Manchester City spent on the English full back, making him the most expensive defender of all time and the most expensive Englishman of all time. During his time in the limelight so far Kyle has came under fire for his attacking mindset, saying he spends far too much time high up the field and not enough time actually being a defender. But that is where people are going wrong, Walker's primary focus isn't defending, it's attacking. He's a wing back, and this is why the huge price tag makes perfect sense. Pep Guardiola has a reputation for loving attacking wing backs, and during his time at Manchester City so far he has tried to force a 5 at the back system without the players to make it work, the English full back slots perfectly into that system. And when you look at the £50 million that was spent on Walker, and you look at the context of the deal, it isn't as shocking as it appears. This summer has seen £75 million spent on Lukaku, £30 million spent on Jordan Pickford, £53 million spent on Alexandre Lacazette, right now you have to pay to get the players you want, and if the signing will help your team going forward in a big way, the cost of the player is almost irrelevant. You could say the best right back over the last decade is former Barcelona star Dani Alves, a player mentored and moulded by Pep, if the Spaniard can have a similar effect on Walker, this season could really see the Englishman moving into up in the world. 

Defender - Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) 

Rudiger has flown relatively under the radar over the past couple of seasons. Anchoring the second best side in Italy, the German has came on leaps and bounds to earn his big money move to English champions Chelsea. Antonio has spent this summer so far winning the Confederations Cup with Germany, staring in the final against Chile and marking Alexis Sanchez out of the game on the way to a clean sheet and the winners medal. When the signing of Rudiger was completed, Bonucci was still available, the Italian centre back was a favourite of Conte's for the national side and the former Juventus centre back has been heavily linked with Chelsea since Conte arrived last summer. So going for Rudiger over Bonucci shows the faith the Italian manager has in his new centre back, and by joining the best defence in the country Antonio is only going to improve. Last season we saw David Luiz go from a heavily criticised, some would say 'laughing stock', of a defender have an outstanding season under the coaching of Antonio Conte and if we see that same improvement undergone by Rudiger, a player who is already forcing himself into the most heavily stacked defence in the world, the German national team, the sky is the limit! 

Defender - Danielle Rugani (Juventus)

At 22 years of age, the young Italian centre back now has the opportunity of his life to reach his incredible potential. Playing in the Juventus back line is the perfect place for any defender to grow and develop their game, the Italian champions have perhaps the best defence in the world, but that defence is in a period of change right now. Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci have both already left, with Alex Sandro reported to be close to sealing a move to Chelsea, now is the biggest chance Rugani has ever had to break into the side. The Italian only featured in 15 league games last season, as he struggled to push his way into the defence, strong armed by Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli. However with Bonucci's departure that leaves a stop open, and with Juve's history of complete Italian hearts of defence, Rugani has to be the favourite to take his place. Also, with Chiellini and Barzagli both north of thirty years of age, Rugani could be the youthful injection into the defence that it needs to keep going. Also there aren't many better pairings in the world to learn from, then Barzagli and Chiellini. Both men are closing in on 100 caps for the national team and have a winning mentality ingrained into them by now. Rugani has been tipped for greatness since breaking into the first team, but his first team opportunities have been limited, now is his chance, and there isn't a better place for him to show the world how good he is then Juventus. Now is his chance, if he takes it, he can be world class!

Midfielder - Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

When you're a primary target of Barcelona you know you must be doing something right! Verratti is the latest in a long line of talented Italian midfielders, with his style being viewed very similar to that of Andre Pirlo. With an eyes for a pass and the ability to unlock the defence it is no surprise PSG are trying their hardest to hold onto the 24 year old. His creative footballing brain would be a perfect fit in Catalonia, and the opportunity to learn from the great Andres Iniesta is one which could see Veratti take the next step. One was he differs from the comparisons is his incredible work ethic. Marco covers huge amounts of ground during a game and he knows when to put in a tackle, he is a very well rounded and almost perfect midfielder. The only downside to his game is his tendency to let his aggression take control. Despite his short stature the Italian isn't one to back down from anyone, a quality many see as desirable, not one which has seen him pick up 9 yellow cards this season as well as one red card. Now picking up cards is all part of playing in the midfield, and don't let that distract you from just how good a player Veratti can be! Unlike most of the players in this side, I don't expect Veratti to reach his potential in the next 12 months, all he needs to do is continue to improve. Once again, the comparisons to Andrea Pirlo comes into play, the dynamic style the PSG star plays is great, but his stand out attributes are, and always will be his technical abilities. On the ball there are few better in world football, and once he drops into a more Italian style of midfielder I can see him reaching, and perhaps surpassing the levels Pirlo reached. To hit this heights however I feel he shouldn't spend too much more time at PSG, and the move to Barcelona should be one he jumps at! I say again the chance to learn from Iniesta could see Veratti fine turn his game in the style he needs to become a decade defining midfielder, a level I, and the world know he is capable of reaching. 

Midfielder - Phillipe Coutinho (Liverpool) 

Last season Coutinho continued to do what he has been doing for a few seasons, showing the world how big of a bargain Liverpool got when the brought him in from Inter Milan for just £8 million. Coutinho scored 13 league goals and provided 7 assists during the 2016/17 season, which becomes even more impressive when you consider he was playing out of position for the majority of his games last season. The Brazilian has always been a tricky, creative number 10, playing just behind the striker and finding those key passes to create goals, as well as chipping in with a fair few himself. However with the lack of a left sided midfielder, and Klopp's insistence to play a three up top system, Coutinho moved into a left side role, a role which he took to incredibly easily. The Brazilian continued to win games for Liverpool, providing a moment of magic whenever it was needed, however it still didn't feel right. That was until the final two games of the season, where due to an injury for Sadio Mane, Klopp adjusted his line up and moved Coutinho back into the number 10 role, where he scored three goals and provided an assist in two games, securing Liverpool Champions League football. Recently PSG enquired into how much is would cost to buy Phillipe, and Liverpool responded with an £88 million price tag, showing just how much the club value their number 10 at. With the signing of Mo Salah it looks certain that we will see Coutinho permanently moving back into the attacking midfield role, just behind Roberto Firmino, with Sadio Mane and Salah out wide. The fire power up top for the five time European Champions truly is a sight to behold, and with the Brazilian pulling the strings it is a frightening possibility for any opposing defence. And you can always bank on the Brazilian to pick the ball up, 25 to 30 yards from goal, on his right foot, and find the top corner with extreme accuracy! Now Coutinho is on the verge of being one of the world best, injuries and a paper thin Liverpool squad have hampered him so far, but if he manages to make it through the entirety of the upcoming season, the potential next legendary Brazilian number 10 could could end the campaign and go into the 2018 World Cup in Russia as just that.

Midfielder - James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich - On loan from Real Madrid) 

What else is there to say about the Colombian that hasn't been said already? he's been tipped form greatness and truly announced himself at the 2014 World Cup, before earning a huge move to Real Madrid. However since then it hasn't all gone James' way. He was been forced out of Zidane's team, watching from the sidelines and he's wasn't getting the game time he needs to develop. Now however, Rodriguez is with the German champions, Bayern Munich, and the fan fare around his signing was huge! Now it is a loan deal, for two years, with an option to buy for £35 million, with is a steal for a player the quality of Rodriguez. Bayern may be walking to the Bundesliga title season after season, but their side isn't getting any younger, and the 26 year old has plenty of years ahead of him as he reaches his prime. He can strike a ball, moving or dead, as clean and as crisp as anyone in world football, and his ability to pull the strings could be exactly what help Bayern Munich hack to the top of European football. James Rodriguez, my word this boy is a star. I keep going back to that line because it perfectly captured the ability of one of football's greatest prospects. There has been a bump in the road, but I see this move to Bayern Munich becoming the biggest master stroke of the decade. It is now that James shows just how good he is, it is now that he will become world class, truly on another level. 

Midfielder - Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur)

Victor Wanyama last season had a very similar campaign to that of N'golo Kante in the season prior. He was the clubs signing of the summer, held the midfield and played an integral part of a season which went above and beyond expectations, and despite this he was over shadowed by two star attackers. For Kante at Leicester it was Mahrez and Vardy, for Wanyama at Spurs it was Ali and Kane. Victor Wanyama's role in the Spurs midfielder can not be over estimated, the Kenyan holding midfielder played 36 league games last season, only Dele Ali played more, and game after game he ran the midfield, picking up loose balls, throwing in solid tackles and giving the likes of Dele Ali and Christen Eriksen freedom to roam. He is the heart of the midfield and was instrumental in Spurs' incredible final season at White Hart Lane. Despite this he went drastically under the radar, but like Kante last season, I can see Wanyama truly being recognised as the class act he is in the coming campaign. For Spurs to reach the heights they want to, they need to compete on all fronts, and having a player the likes of Wanyama to fall back on, game after game, knowing exactly what they're going to get, will go a long way in Spurs ending their run on no silverware. With the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City, an extra £50 million has just been made available to spend, and if Pochettino can strengthen his side in the areas he needs to, I can see Tottenham carrying on from where they left off last season, challenging for the title. And if they can reach those heights again, I'm certain that Wanyama will be at the fore front, and will get the recognition he deserves. 

Attacker - Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) 

At the time of writing this, 16th July 2017, Chelsea have just made an approach for the Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco. Reportedly Carrasco has been offered a 5 year deal and upwards to double his current wages if he is to join Chelsea. No official response has been put forward by Atletico so far but if the deal is pulled off, Chelsea will have once again, gotten a hold of one of the brightest young stars in European football. Since arriving from Monaco for a reported 20 million euros, Yannick Carrasco has turned heads, and earned many plaudits for his performances. He fired in 10 league goals last season, 14 in all competitions, only being topped by Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gemeiro. As well as racking up four assists in the previous campaign, he also scored the equaliser in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in the 2015/16 season. He has also broken into the national team, scoring four goals in his first 19 caps for the red devils of international football, it is no surprise that Chelsea want him at Stanford Bridge. Carrasco is said to be intrigued by the possibility of playing in England, and it is now down to Simeone to convince him to stay. Carrasco is an incredibly skillful winger, with an eye for goal and a brilliant final ball. He is incredibly unpredictable, with the defenders never knowing what he will do, and that is what sets him apart from the rest. He makes it all look so simple, and if he does make the move to Chelsea, I'm certain he will fit right in. But even if he stays at Atletico, he really has the chance to make the world stand back and watch. He will be entering his third season in the Spanish capital, and now he has planted himself firmly in the first team for both club and country, it's time to push on. Despite staying around for now, the possibility of Griezmann leaving Atletico in the near future is still very large, and I can see Carrasco being his lined up replacement headliner. In the history of Atletico Madrid, they never let a top star go without someone ready to step into their boots. With Torres is was Aguero, with Aguero is was Forlan, with Forlan it was Falcao, with Falcao is was Costa, with Costa it was Griezmann, and with Griezmann I think it will be Yannick Carrasco. If the Belgian can continue to improve, and handle the responsibility of being made the star of the show, international team mate Eden Hazard may have some competition as the most talented member of their squad. 

Attacker - Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) 

Klose, retired. Gomez, inconsistent. Muller, adopting a midfield role. Timo Werner? The RB Leipzig striker is coming off of a breakout season in Germany, scoring 21 league goals and impressing the world with his pace, his eye for goal, and such incredible composure at such a young age. At just 21 years old Werner just helped lead German to the Confederations Cup, winning it for the first time in their history, he started in the final and created the only goal of the game. This is before being awarded the golden boot with three goals in the competition as well as two assists. Despite this, as of right now, no big clubs are coming in for the young German which is great for Germany, and it's great for Werner. With Leipzig qualifying for the Champions League next season, Werner will have his first glimpse of top level European club football, and he will have all the opportunities to develop. Should he continue to improve at the rate he is, next on his radar will be the 2018 World Cup, with Werner heavily fancied to be the latest German number 9. At such a young age Timo has the chance to become world class, and he has shown signs of it already in his very young career. With all of the supply in the world, Werner could make staring for the national team a regular thing, he has averaged a goal every other game for the first team, a very impressive strike rate at International level. And last season in his first for Leipzig he scored 21 league goals in 31 league games, again a very impressive strike rate. He has proven he has the talent, he has the ability to make it, the next test is if he has the endurance to go for a full season. Coming off of the Confederations Cup he will have the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League all to compete in, with Leipzig looking to challenge and replying on Werner to be their star man. And then of course to cap it off we will have the World Cup, with Werner, if he continues to bang in the goals, potentially leading the line for the world champions. That is a massive responsibility, and if he can live up to it, he could be a future world beater. 

Attacker - Douglas Costa (Juventus - On loan from Bayern Munich) 

Being one of a host of talented Brazilians at Shakhtar Donetsk, the world has been watching Douglas Costa for several years year. And after a 30 million euro move to Bayern Munich in 2015, everyone got to see what he could do up close and personal. The speed he runs with the ball at is frightening, full backs never know what he's going to do next, and with the ability to beat anyone who challenges him, Costa truly is the perfect modern day winger. The only thing missing from his game is goals, he only managed 8 league goals across his two seasons with Bayern Munich, before he penned a loan deal to Juventus, for two years, with the option of a permanent move valued at 40 million euro at the end. Costa has already played 21 times for Brazil, and will be hoping this season he can earn his spot on the plane to Russia. Now with the raw pace and skill Costa possess, he can make it work in any team, in any league, what he needs to do is add more goals to his game! This is why the move to Juventus could be massive for the winger's career. The old lady are currently champions of Italy, and have won six Scudettos in a row, a record for the Seria 'A', this means Costa is all but guaranteed the chance to improve his game in front of goal. Juventus tend to dominate possession in their games, and have Dybala and Higuain leading the line and finding the net, what they don't have, is a player like Costa, a player who can beat a man and get into the box with relitive ease. Juventus played an almost flawless season last year, with Real Madrid in the Champions League final their one slip up. They got found out in that game, but that is where Douglas comes in. Much like Mane at Liverpool, like Reus at Dortmund, like Mbappe at Monaco, Costa has a unique ability unlike anyone else in his team, no matter how the game is going, if he has the chance to run at an opponent, you know he will create a chance. His raw ability is right up there with the very best, there are just a few points of his game that need fine tuning to truly reach his potential. But when he reaches it, he could be seen on par with Neymar. 

There we go, there are some of my predictions for the stand out players of the upcoming season! And i'm sure some of these players won't quite meet expectations because on football, you can't predict anything, you can just sit back and watch. But if any of what I have just said turns out to be true, there could be a hand full of future world stars in this article, and even potential future Balon D'or winners. We'll just have to wait and see. 

Summer 2017 - Highlights so far of the craziest transfer window in history.

This years summer transfer window has seen an incredible amount of money spent so far. In the Premier League alone over half a billion pounds has been spent by the time of writing this, with last summers total finishing at £1.165 billion on 31st August 2016, it is looking incredibly likely we will have a new record for a transfer window in terms of spending. Now with the likes of Jordan Pickford signing for Everton for £30 million and Kyle Walker signing for Manchester City for upwards of £50 million it is easy to see how the figure has grown to such a large amount. But what are the highlights? We've seen some questionable spending so far, as well as some head turning deals including Dani Alves snubbing Manchester City in favour of a move to PSG. I'm now going to look into the main talking points from the summer transfer window 2017 so far.

James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich. (2 year loan with an option to buy.)

Perhaps a bit controversially I'm starting this piece on the summer transfer window with a loan move. However it isn't your typical loan, this isn't the young English striker going to the Championship to get some game time, this is the young man who won the 2014 World Cup golden boot despite being knocked out in the Quarter finals. The winner of the FIFA Puskas award from the same year. The man who Real Madrid paid approximately 80 million Euros to bring in. James Rodriguez. Now, the Columbia captain has been in and out of the Real Madrid side for the past couple of seasons, and has slipped behind Isco in the pecking order of the European champions. James only started 13 league games last season, coming off of the bench on 9 occasions. Despite this he managed to be involve in 14 league goals, scoring 8 goals and providing 6 assists, an example of the impact he can have when given the time. What makes this deal so ludicrous is the fact, that after paying a 5 million euro loan fee, Bayern have the option to sign Rodriguez for just £35 million. Less then half what was paid for him by Madrid just three years ago. And despite falling from the first team in the Spanish capital the Colombian attacking midfielder still has bags of potential. At just 26, he is coming into his prime, and under the coaching of Carlo Ancelotti I can see James proving to be the player we all know he can be. He was tipped as a future Balon D'or winner three years ago, the man is world class and a steal for Bayern Munich! Bayern already walk to the German title every year but where they want and need to be is competing for the title of champions of Europe. Since winning the Champions League in 2013, they have been unsuccessful at the Semi-Final stage every year since. Rodriguez has now been a part of two Champions League winning campaigns with parent club Real Madrid and that winning pedigree in Europe could be what Bayern need to prove that they are the best club side on the planet. Bayern's new number eleven is a truly world class player and I say with 100% certainty that he is going to set the world alight in Germany, Go back and watch his volley from the 2014 World Cup against Uruguay and remember the commentary. My word this boy's a star.

Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United. (£75 million + add ons)

From a deal which has cost virtually nothing to one which is the fifth largest in football history. The Belgian striker's move from Everton was pretty much a certainty when the Premier League season ended, but not many people would have predicted Lukaku returning to former manager Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese man was in charge of Chelsea during Lukaku's spell at the club, and it was Jose himself that saw him as surplus to requirements. However after impressing for the blue half of Merseyside during his time there, the big Belgian is Manchester United's newest number 9. With reported add ons and Wayne Rooney moving in the other direction also being part of the deal, the total transfer cost reaches an incredible £100million, and as it looks unlikely any club will spend more on one player this summer, for the second year in a row Jose will have out spent the rest of his challengers. However £75million on any player would always come under scrutiny, and with a lot of people claiming that the Belgian forward is not the finished article yet, maybe you have to question the decision making. When put one on one with any keeper, Lukaku is always the clear favourite and with his incredible strength and speed he is a constant threat. However his big criticism for years has been his first touch, and his ability to hold up the play. In a recent piece with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, the Englishman said that if he was to defend against Lukaku, he'd just give him a yard of space, banking on a loose touch from the attacker and then clear. This rings remarkably true with Romelu who was guilty on plenty of occasions last season of giving the ball away cheaply. His ability, or lack of, to hold up the play rarely effected situations at Everton last season. In the league he scored 20 more goals then his side's second top scorer, he was the constant and only real outlet. But United have the likes of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, all of which who will be expecting Lukaku to use his size to hold up the ball and to bring them into the game, in a similar vain to how Zlatan did last season. Is it right to spend so much money on a player who may limit your style of play? Only time will tell how this deal will work out, Lukaku has been tipped for greatness from a very young age, everyone knows just how good he can be, and very importantly so does he. The Belgian knows he belongs in a top side, and being in Europe with Manchester United is a real opportunity to show the world what he can really do.

Leonardo Bonucci to AC Milan. (£35 million)

Now this one caught me, you and the entire footballing world off guard. The Italian defender is arguably the best in world football. Playing in arguably the best defence in world football at Italian champions Juventus and is being heavily tipped for a move to English champions Chelsea and former Italian National team coach Antonio Conte. So where on earth did this come from? Bonucci has officially signed for AC Milan, a side which isn't even featuring in Europe's top competition for the upcoming season. Now it is known that Bonucci and Juventus manager Allegri had a major falling out last season, which saw the Italian being dropped for a league game against Palmero, so it is understandable as to why he would leave. But to AC Milan? The 7 time European champions have been on an incredible decline for much of this decade and I'm sure would not even be considered by many of the worlds top players at this point in time. However, with the signing of Bonucci, Milan have taken their summer spending over the £100million mark, with the likes of Ricardo Rodriguez and Hakan Calhanoglu both coming in from Germany. The contract will keep Leonardo at the Milan club for 5 years, and alongside the other new recruits coming to the San Siro, maybe we could see the resurrection of AC Milan in the coming years. Not much more is known about the deal as it all came out of no where, but one thing is for sure, what a move by AC Milan. He is set to have his medical over the coming weekend but it all seems like a formality now. Coming from a Liverpool fan, a club with a big history involving AC Milan it would be a welcomed return to the top table of world football for the club, who last won the Champions League in 2007 and are still the second most successful side in the history of top level European competition.

Mohamed Salah to Liverpool. (£36 million)

The Egyptian Mo Salah is getting his second opportunity to show the Premier League what he can do after a poor showing during his all too brief time at Chelsea. However since becoming Liverpool's record signing, the potential of things to come is getting the fans excited. His stats from last season speak for themselves, the winger scored 15 and created 11 in 31 league games while playing in Italy's Calcio 'A' for Roma, beating massively hyped Argentine and Juventus youngster Paulo Dybala on both counts while he played for champions Juventus. His lighting pace and play style is very similar to that of Sadio Mane, the Senegalese winger proved to be an incredible signing for the red's last season and I'm sure they're hoping for more of the same from their newest addition. However, bringing Salah into the team is only half the story, the other being how it will effect the rest of the side. Salah has been given the number 11 shirt, with it's former owner Roberto Firmino made Liverpool's newest number 9, making it more clear that he will be the number one striker for the club in the coming season. Firmino impressed massively last season but only managed 11 league goals, a fact which was made more telling whenever either Mane or Philippe Coutinho didn't play, both of whom out scored the Brazilian, with 13 league goals each. The pressure was on Firmino to be an out and out striker which he simply isn't, he is no slouch in front of goal but will never be a 20 goal a season centre forward. This is where Salah comes into play. What Firmino does better then any other striker in the league in my opinion is the 'dirty work', closing down defenders, forcing mistakes and creating opportunities for his team mates. Liverpool looked unplayable with Mane, Coutinho and Firmino all playing, and with Salah in there as another outlet it takes more pressure off of Firmino to be the star striker, and he can focus on the main plus points of his game. Roberto will still score goals, but his running, chances created and assists will be where his quality is shown next season. Also with the addition of Salah into the side, Jurgen Klopp no longer has to restrict Coutinho to a wide position and he can instead play the Brazilian midfielder in his preferred number 10 role, one he plays as good as anyone in the world. In the last two games of the previous season the little magician returned to the position and put in a man of the match performances in both, scoring three goals. Inside he is given more space to roam, and more of the pitch to work with. Also with the additional movement coming from Salah, he can fully utilise his incredible range of passing. And finally just imagine the look of fear on a defenders face when they're closing down a loose ball against either Sadio Mane or Mo Salah. The pace of both men is frightening and Liverpool will have it coming from both flanks, the options going forward for the club is endless. If they play the rest of this window smart, improve at the back and add much needed squad depth, we could see potential title challengers.

Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal (£52 million + add ons)

Much like Bonucci this is a signing I didn't see coming, not because I didn't think the Frenchman would leave Lyon, but because of his choice of clubs. Lacazette fired in 28 league goals in 28 league games last season, and he almost single handedly got Lyon to the Europa League Semi-Finals. Before Atletico Madrid were handed a transfer ban at the start of the summer it looked as if the striker was on his way to Spain, however that deal obviously never came to be, but why Arsenal? The London club aren't even in the Champions League next season, and you'd think as Alexandre is one of Europe's top strikers he'd want to play amongst Europe's best sides and I'm sure very few teams would have turned him down. Lacazette has however said on record how long he's relished the idea of playing in England for, and living in London may have played a big part in his decision making as it does with many other players. What is also very big about this deal is it shows intent from Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. With star Alexis Sanchez reportedly on his way out as he is unhappy with the direction of the club, maybe this move might persuade him, and team mate Mesut Ozil, to stay for a while longer. On the flip side however, where does this move leave Alexis? Over the last twelve months the Chilean attacker has been moving in and out of the centre forward position, a position he claims to prefer. Lacazette will have been brought in to add goals to Arsenal and to fire them back into the Champions League, meaning Sanchez is likely to be back playing out wide, will he be happy about that? Especially after 'carrying' the side through a lot of last season. It is however no doubt a brilliant bit of business by Arsenal, bringing in a world class striker, something the fans have been crying out for, for years! It shows intent to not only the fans and the players, but also to the other Premier League sides, Lacazette is a big threat, and much like Liverpool, if the rest of the window goes in their favour, Arsenal could be in a very strong position for next season.

Antonio Rudiger to Chelsea (£34 million)

Shocking announcement video aside (Look it up, it really is that bad! So bad I'm asking you to go and watch it before reading on!) Rudiger signing could be the best 'under the radar' deal we will see in the Premier League this summer. Antonio Conte's Chelsea won the title last season based on a solid defence, and the adjective solid is perfect to describe his new German centre back. The now former Roma defender featured in 4 of Germany's 5 Confederation cup games, including the 1-0 win in the final, a game in which he kept Alexis Sanchez very quiet. After Chelsea had been linked with Bonucci for such a long time, the deal to bring in Rudiger came sort of out of no where, but one that makes perfect sense. The German played in 41 games in all competitions last season for Roma and Germany, demonstrating his incredible resilience, and throughout those games he stared as he played a key part in 14 league clean sheets. With Chelsea back in the Champions League next season the games are going to be coming thick and fast, and having a player like Rudiger who you can rely on to play each and every game you need him to play without signing signs of fatigue is invaluable. Possibly the least exciting of the signings I have mentioned so far today but also possibly the most effective. Just when you thought Chelsea's incredible defence couldn't get any stronger, they go an sign one of the best young defenders in Europe. At just 24 years old he has so much more room to grow, and under the guidance of his name sake Antonio Conte I feel the German centre back will prove his transfer fee to be pennies!

With over a month and a half of the transfer window yet to take place, there are a lot more potentially big deals to happen, including the rumoured signing of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig to Liverpool for an incredible £70 million. Juventus potentially losing another incredible defender in the form of Alex Sandro to Chelsea, and with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang's future still very much up in the air, there is still a lot of news to be made and a lot of money to be spent. It's getting to the point where money in football is meaningless, with every transfer a bit more crazy then the last, it should make for a pretty incredible upcoming season and I for one can't wait!