The 2021/2022 transfer window will go down as one of the craziest in recent history, from Leo Messi finally leaving Barcelona and joining with what seems like the new age “galacticos” at PSG right through to Cristiano Ronaldo’s emotional return to Manchester United. If we were to look at all the top transfers, it would take a long time, so Bet Central narrowed it down to the top 5 deadline day signings from each of the top 5 leagues.
Saul Niguez – Chelsea
The champions of Europe completed a successful transfer window on deadline day with the signing of Spanish international Saul Niguez on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid. This follows the re-signing of sharpshooter Romelu Lukaku to give a Chelsea team that is developing into a force a much-needed presence up top.
Saul, 26, is a player who boasts both defensive and offensive qualities to suit Chelsea’s double pivot midfield tactics. He is quick, skilful and progressive on attack, his defensive reading is also impressive – he can slot into a deeper role and do the defensive work often and his experience at left wingback could come in handy in the system Thomas Tuchel employs. Saul is a good signing for Chelsea.
Nuno Mendes – PSG
Along with Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich, the last of PSG’s plethora of signings this window is probably the best young left-back in the game. 19-year-old Nuno Mendes was another loan-to-buy singing on deadline day moving from Sporting CP to Ligue 1.
It would not be ludicrous to see Mendes making a Gareth Bale type of transition from left-back to left winger in the future such as his attacking talent, pacy and highly skilled with the ball at his feet – he has ball control that belies his age. He is signed as a left-back and his defensive capabilities are as good as you would expect from a player his age. Excellent addition for Mauricio Pochettino’s team.
Eduardo Camavinga – Real Madrid
He has a clumsy running style that would have you think he is about to lose control of the ball, his body swerves from side to side as he glides past defenders and he has the wild hair that would suggest you are watching someone you have watched before. It is hard to compare Ronaldinho to anyone such was his unique ability, but in Eduardo Camavinga there is a semblance to the Brazilian footballing great.
His role is not as forward as Ronaldinho used to be and as such, he seems to have better defensive acumen, his timing on the tackle and intercept ability are very good. His feet are simply magical and his signing could be the shot in the arm Real Madrid desperately need after dropping off since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Carlo Ancelotti should be excited about the prospect of working with this young man.
Andre-Frank Zamba Anguissa – Napoli
Stood out like a sore thumb in a Fulham side that struggled for the entire Premier League campaign last season, it was a bit of a surprise that no Premier League side made any real efforts to sign the 25-year-old powerhouse midfielder, but Napoli quickly identified him as a player who could strengthen their team.
The Cameroonian international is like the hybrid of fellow African, Yaya Toure and another former Fulham midfield maestro, Mousa Dembele. He has the poise and skill of a Toure while he has strength on his feet and power that reminds one of the Belgian, Dembele. This combination of skills should excite the Napoli faithful along with Luciano Spalletti.
Ilaix Moriba – RB Leipzig
Another in La Masia’s long line of products who looks set to take the footballing world by storm, his breakout season was marred by a chaotic Barcelona season that saw their greatest player depart and the club in a world of financial trouble. There is no doubt though that Iliax Moriba is a terrific prospect who will elevate RB Leipzig who have lost a lot of talent in the last window.
The Guinean midfielder arrives at a club that has developed a number of rough diamonds into the world class operator and everything suggest that they will do the same with the talented Moriba. His swiftness on the turn proved a problem for the opposition in the latter stages of the last La Liga campaign and it is likely to be the same in Germany. Jesse Marsch has talent on his hands.