Transfer Grades: Cavani, Giaccherini, Redmond, Poli and Ilicic

The transfer window has been flung open, and this summer could be spectacular for player movement given the number of high profile clubs that have changed managers, or who are coming off perceived down seasons. Over this summer, I will be explaining and analysing the major moves around and giving each one of them a grade.

Edinson Cavani – Napoli to PSG (£55m)

What’s the deal? One of the longest transfer sagas of the summer is finally concluded as after being linked to most major clubs around Europe, he settled on a move to France.

Is the price right? It depends really. Cavani has had a couple of seriously productive seasons in Serie A, a much tougher league defensively than the French league. He’s got every physical talent you’d look for but this makes him the 4th most expensive player of all time. PSG can afford it and apparently treat the financial fair play rules with impunity.

Why sign him? Good question. I think the answer to this is simply; because they can.

Why sell him? Even though Napoli have been spending a bit of money this summer, this is still an extraordinary amount of money to get.

Will it work? He can be a big success at PSG with the creative players they have there. But this won’t work with Zlatan Ibrahimovic if they are both playing as strikers. Ibrahimovic wants to be the main man so won’t take a back seat to Cavani. Does that mean Cavani will be stuck out on the wing? Possibly. But then they have other talented players out there. So, do they sell Ibrahimovic? Chaos is possible from here.

Grade: D Yes, he’s a good player, capable of scoring 30+ goals in France. But Ibrahimovic did that already. So they’ve spent another £55m to get a player they already have?