It has been another week of major manager changes across Europe’s elite clubs. Real Madrid confirmed Carlos Ancelotti as their new manager with Laurent Blanc replacing him at Paris Saint-Germain. Ancelotti is a long-term admirer of AC Milan’s young striker El Shaarawy and the Italian guru has already made it clear to Madrid’s chairman Florentino Pérez he intends to sign his compatriot. In Munich, the long awaited Pep Guardiola was officially presented to the press where has the huge task of matching Bayern’s remarkable 2012/13 achievements. Predictably, with such massive changes at so many of the top clubs, this will certainly be a busy summer with plenty of major transfers around Europe.
Pep Guardiola finally arrives in Munich!
One deal that is almost done is Edinson Cavani’s transfer from Napoli to Chelsea. According to Radio Marte, a Napoli radio station, their new manager Rafa Benitez has given the all clear. The former Blues manager was willing to seal the deal at £49.3 million for the top goal scorer in Serie A last season – a slight discount on the buy-out clause in the Uruguayan’s contract.
Manchester City lost the battle for Cavani but have switched their attention quickly to Liverpool’s Luis Suárez. It is reported that City was ready to make a £35m bid to test the Reds’ determination to keep the Uruguayan. The Blue Moons also look likely to lose the signature of Málaga midfielder Isco to Real Madrid with the Spaniard preferring to stay in Spain.
Will Luis Suárez be the answer for Pellegrini?
Arsenal is determined to keep their word and invest heavily during this transfer window. The possible deal for £22 million Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain represents a major shift in the club’s transfer policy, as he will become the first £20 million-plus player in their history. Andrey Arshavin holds the current transfer record at just £15 million. In fact, Higuain may not be the only £20 million-plus addition to the club – Arsène Wenger has his eyes firmly set on Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who has a £22 million buy-out clause.
So far, Manchester City is the only top Premier League club yet to make a major signing, with clubs such as Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur making promising progress in the transfer market.
