10 reasons why the 2016-17 summer transfer window was the best ever
The opening of the transfer window in July heralds anxious times for supporters across the footballing spectrum. Fans wait with baited breath to hear news of signings made by the clubs to bolster their squad and make up the deficiencies that saw them fall short of the mark last season.
Transfer windows have undergone a remarkable transformation over the ages. While it was a low key affair earlier, transfer windows now are periods of protracted negotiations and, media hype and frenzy.
The transfer window has seen a steady rise in the exorbitant money spent over the years, and clubs are not shy in dipping deep into their pockets to bolster their squads.
This transfer window is perhaps the best transfer window in recent times. Let’s recap on the 10 moments that made it so
#1 Glamour returns to Man Utd
Manchester United spending big in the transfer market is nothing new nowadays. Over the past few summers, United spent big on some of the top players in world football. The likes of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Memphis Depay, and Luke Shaw represented significant outlays which saw United smash their own transfer spending records on a regular basis.
This season is no different. Louis Van Gaal’s fate was sealed when United failed to achieve Champions League football for the second time in three seasons, which is nothing less than a disaster for a club like United. In stepped the United hierarchy, and brought in Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho.
While United supporters were sceptical about the appointment of Mourinho, the manager is a proven winner who can bring the glory days to Old Trafford very soon, something which the Old Trafford hierarchy wants desperately.
Mourinho’s arrival ushered in a wave of changes, and United brought out the cheque book to sign ace Swedish hitman Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and Eric Bailly from Villareal.
The arrival of Zlatan was seen as a major signal of intent as the Swede, despite being 34 years of age, is still in prime goalscoring form and will add much-needed firepower up front.
The summer’s longest transfer saga came to an end when United finally managed to lure Paul Pogba away from Juventus for a world record fee of £89 million. Whether he merits such a fee is definitely questionable, but he is the marquee signing of the Mourinho era; the man who can potentially be the pivot around which everything falls into place.
It will be an intriguing season for the United faithful, and the new signings will no doubt make them hopeful for good things to come.