Jul
Man City’s rivals play catch-up with summer midfield rebuilds
The dominance of Manchester City in English and European football has led to a shift in transfer strategies among their major rivals. After witnessing the success of Pep Guardiola’s team, who built their triumphs on a strong midfield, other clubs are now prioritizing the signing of midfielders.
In the Premier League, midfielders have been involved in seven out of the 10 biggest transfers this summer. Arsenal will soon make it eight with their record-breaking £100 million move for West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Liverpool has strengthened their midfield by acquiring Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. Manchester United has added Chelsea’s Mason Mount to their squad, while Tottenham Hotspur secured James Maddison from Leicester City and Newcastle United completed a club-record £55 million transfer for AC Milan’s Sandro Tonali as they prepare for their return to the UEFA Champions League.
This focus on midfield recruitment is not limited to the Premier League. Real Madrid’s £88 million signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, potentially rising to £114 million with add-ons, demonstrates the Spanish club’s determination to challenge City as European champions.
Last year, the emphasis was on forwards in the transfer market. City secured the signature of Erling Haaland from Dortmund, and other clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Spurs, and Newcastle made significant investments in attacking players. However, City’s success was built upon a formidable midfield. Their dominance was evident in matches against Arsenal and Real Madrid, where they controlled the middle of the pitch.
With the strength and depth in City’s midfield, it’s no surprise they ended the season as treble winners. The importance of a strong midfield has been a hallmark of great teams throughout history, from Manchester United’s treble-winning side in 1999 to Arsenal’s “Invincibles” in 2004 and Guardiola’s Barcelona team with Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets.
The departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona will weaken City, regardless of the qualities of his replacement, Mateo Kovacic. This could potentially make the Premier League title race closer next season.
Liverpool and Arsenal have made efforts to strengthen their midfield departments. Liverpool, having faced difficulties last year, have now addressed the need to rejuvenate their midfield with the additions of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. Arsenal, with the inclusion of Rice alongside Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, and Thomas Partey, aims to avoid being outmatched in midfield against City.
Manchester United, Spurs, and Newcastle have also made significant midfield signings in the form of Mount, Maddison, and Tonali, respectively. These additions will undoubtedly raise the standards of their teams.
Chelsea is an intriguing case, as they have allowed some midfielders to depart but have also made strategic signings to plan for the future.
Man City’s rivals play catch-up with summer midfield rebuilds
While City remains the team to beat, their rivals have recognized the areas where they fell short and have taken steps to address those weaknesses. If City had secured the signings of Bellingham or Rice, they would have become even stronger. However, Real Madrid and Arsenal managed to secure those deals, giving hope to the chasing pack. As was the case last season, the team with the most consistent midfield performance will likely claim the major trophies.
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