Fansided

The 10 best signings of the summer transfer window

By Andrew Beasley

TOPSHOT - Brazilian superstar Neymar poses with a ball during his official presentation at the Parc des Princes stadium on August 4, 2017 in Paris after agreeing a five-year contract following his world record 222 million euro ($260 million) transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain's (PSG).Paris Saint-Germain have signed Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record transfer fee of 222 million euros (around $264 million), more than doubling the previous record. Neymar said he came to Paris Saint-Germain for a 'bigger challenge' in his first public comments since arriving in the French capital. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Brazilian superstar Neymar poses with a ball during his official presentation at the Parc des Princes stadium on August 4, 2017 in Paris after agreeing a five-year contract following his world record 222 million euro ($260 million) transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain's (PSG).Paris Saint-Germain have signed Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record transfer fee of 222 million euros (around $264 million), more than doubling the previous record. Neymar said he came to Paris Saint-Germain for a 'bigger challenge' in his first public comments since arriving in the French capital. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 10
Next
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 30: Kylian Mbappe of France during France training session on the eve of the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between France and The Netherlands at Stade de France on August 30, 2017 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 30: Kylian Mbappe of France during France training session on the eve of the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between France and The Netherlands at Stade de France on August 30, 2017 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

3. Kylian Mbappe, PSG

Loan from Monaco

Kylian Mbappe had a phenomenal breakout season in 2016-17. He scored 15 goals in Ligue 1, and the next most by a teenager in one of Europe’s top five leagues was five. Monaco may have won the league and shaken up the established Champions League order a little, but the young Frenchman was always destined for a bigger club.

Screenwriter William Goldman once said “Nobody knows anything,” and with transfers that often seems to be the case. It’s always difficult to know which reports to believe. Manchester United reportedly bid £72 million for Mbappe’s services in May. True or not, in the current financial climate that always looked short of the mark for such a highly rated player.

Real Madrid reportedly weighed in with a far more realistic 180 million Euros. The Spanish champions were supposedly the player’s preferred destination. And yet, nothing happened.

https://twitter.com/AS_Monaco/status/903308912098766848

Instead, Mbappe has remained in France and joined PSG on loan. In truth, while it is a loan for now, they have agreed to pay £167 million next summer for a permanent transfer. However much money you have, when you’ve splashed out around £200 million on Neymar, you have to spread your commitments out a bit.

Is this a good move for the player? He’ll likely win the league this season, but then he’s already done that. The French title is hardly Europe’s most coveted title either. It’s obviously in Europe where he will hope to flourish. With Mbappe lined up alongside Neymar, PSG certainly can’t be ruled out of the running. Their group stage matches with Bayern Munich will be an early test of their prowess this season.

Home/Soccer