The first agitators of a transfer market in crisis

The competitions are ending, although a few months ago it seemed practically impossible. And although the Champions League and the Europa League are still on the horizon, the teams are already preparing the templates for next season. Planning that will be more complicated than usual due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus, who has turned off the tap for various sources of income (such as ticket office, stadium operation, drop in marketing, etc.) and The manna that money from televisions supposes has staggered. Despite this situation, the transfer market continues to have movements, albeit on a smaller scale. And the main agitators are the clubs governed by great fortunes, but making sure that the money that comes out is covered by some transfer of similar figures.

The team that is moving the most in this window of the transfer market is Chelsea. The London club has already spent 93 million euros, although it should be noted that 40 refer to the signing of Ziyech, from Ajax, and it closed in mid-February, when the pandemic was beginning in Europe and was not expected of such magnitude. Investment in Timo Werner (from Leipzig) if it was already carried out in a pandemic and it was last June. Total paid 53 million euros by the forward though are cushioned by the income of 56 million that Atlético de Madrid has made for Morata (The payment of the transfer of the Spanish was effective on July 1, until then it was on loan). But the club, whose owner is tycoon Abramovich, keep combing the market looking for more additions. In the face of the unsettled crisis in the goal and the substitutions of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the blues have been interested in Jan Oblak, Atlético goalkeeper, whose clause is at 120 million euros. But he is not the only footballer they want, also in Havertz, from Leverkusen, and whose signing also would be around a hundred million euros, amounts that are common in recent years but now have to be thought about several times in the face of reduced income. And, even, he has been linked to Chelsea with Cucurella, a Getafe player, for whom they would have offered 30 million euros.

Another of the agitators in this market is being Manchester City, although not for spending large amounts, rather the opposite in a large transfer. In the absence of officiality, Guardiola's team has tied Ferran Torres, one of the most promising Spanish footballers, for only 25 million fixed and 12 in variables. That is to say, maximum will pay 37. A very low figure, when in past summers they have been seen to exceed the hundred by players who were promises and were not consolidated. He will pay more for Nthan Aké, Bournemouth defender and who also wanted United. According to the BBC, the transfer has been closed at 45 million. A figure very much in line with City in terms of defenses (he already paid 57 for Mendy, 55 for Stones, 51 for Walker, 30 for Danilo …)

Inter have also scratched their pockets. He did it for Real Madrid player Achraf, who shone this season on his loan in the Bundesliga. The Whites have received $ 40 million for the defender, although he can also play more early. The payment of this transfer is already offset in the Italian income statement, since Inter sold Icardi to PSG, in full pandemic and aware of the effect it would have on their income, which are covered by being a club-State.

These transfers they are a perfect photograph of the kind of movement that is taking place in the market. Many clubs act on the money entered by another transfer made: of Icardi's 50 million, Inter took Achraf; Of the 45 million that Bayern has paid to City for Mané, those of Guardiola will pay for the arrival of Ferran Torres (25 + 12) and part of Aké (45). Chelsea, who received on July 1 the payment of 56 million for Morata, has paid Leipzig for Werner (53). With some exceptions and higher or lower investment margin, they are movements of the money that enters through the one that leaves.

Although there are more options, as is the change of cards. A resource that Barcelona has carried out. Bartomeu has secured the signing of Pjanic (60 million) for the sale of Arthur (72). A full-fledged barter with Juventus. But the azulgrana, in addition, they will have to face other payments, since before the pandemic explosion and knowing its economic effects on the soccer industry, it had already closed the transfers of Trincao (from Braga for 31 million) and Matheus Fernandes (7) in January, to which should be added the Pedri (5) signed last September. An expense that would skyrocket above 100 million and whose income would be around 93 (To Arthur's sale we must add that of Cucurella and Carles Pérez). Juventus, on the other hand, could still make a greater disbursement than that made by Arthur, since it would be close to closing the incorporation of Raúl Jiménez for 80 million.