Transfer-Window-1 (1).jpg

**The transfer window** - one of the most exciting times for football fans and the online betting community - is hours away from being shut. Fans are glued to their phones, eagerly awaiting that iconic 'here we go' from Fabrizio Romano, while others furiously type away on social media about their dream signings. 

To be honest, this summer's transfer window hasn't been as crazy as previous years, especially in England. Teams are being more cautious, trying to stay in line with the league's profit and sustainability rules, but we've still seen some big deals go down, and nothing beats the excitement of deadline day. 

**Deadline Day: Winners & Losers**

The final day of the transfer window always brings excitement and surprises and this year's deadline day was all about Victor Osimhen. The reigning CAF Player of the Year will stay at Napoli after talks with Chelsea broke down. Osimhen rejected a massive offer from Al Ahli to prioritise the Blues, who refused to meet his salary demands, and now is expected to be exiled from Napoli's first team. 

Elsewhere, Arsenal boosted their title chances by signing Raheem Sterling from Chelsea, who in turn, secured Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United with an obligation to buy. (Don’t ask what I think about that one). 

However, their failure to sign Osimhen means they missed out on their top target, and will continue with Nicolas Jackson in attack. 

Deadline day can be a mixed bag. Remember when Arsenal snapped up Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid with less than an hour left in the window?

A transfer that sent shockwaves around Europe. There is Cole Palmer’s move to Chelsea for £40m, a fee that now looks like a bargain after his outstanding season.

But there are also cautionary tales like Fernando Torres' disappointing £50m move from Liverpool to Chelsea, where he scored just 45 goals in 172 outings, including going scoreless in his first 12 games. And who can forget Antony's underwhelming £90m transfer to Manchester United? 

This year's deadline day had its share of twists and turns. Sterling's last-minute move to Arsenal allowed Eddie Nketiah to join Crystal Palace for £25m. It will be interesting to see how Sterling fits in at the Emirates. The drama may be over for now, but the consequences of these transfers will play out on the pitch. 

**The Transfer Window Report Card: 2024-25**

In recent years, 'winning' the transfer window has become an unofficial competition among clubs. Chelsea fans have grown accustomed to making waves in the market, without actually winning much on the pitch. 

This summer's window has been no different and we assess which teams have done the best business so far, and which teams have been underwhelming. 

**Winners**

**Manchester City**

The champions have had a pretty quiet transfer window by their high standards, but it is fair to note that improving a near-perfect team is always a tough challenge. Pep Guardiola prefers working with small squads, and he's made it clear that if players aren't getting enough game time, they're free to leave. Julian Alvarez is the latest example. 

The Argentine believed his path to becoming the club’s first-choice striker was blocked by Erling Haaland and decided an exit was the best step. 

Despite making 54 appearances, scoring 19 goals, and contributing 13 assists last season, Alvarez often found himself deployed out of position or relegated to the bench in critical matches.  

Atletico Madrid capitalized on this situation, signing the World Cup winner for a mouth-watering £81 million - a significant profit for Manchester City after they paid £14 million for him two years ago.

Meanwhile, City have Improved their squad with the talented winger Savinho and former captain Ilkay Gundogan, who arrived from Barcelona on a free transfer. A solid, if unspectacular, transfer window. 

**Our rating – 8/10**

BetKing has the best odds for City to end the season victorious. 

● Bet on Man City to win the Champions League 

[**READ ALSO: 5 Reasons Manchester City Will Make It 5 EPL Titles In A Row**](https://m.betking.com/blog/betting-tips/5-reasons-manchester-city-will-make-it-5-epl-title-in-a-row/)

**Real Madrid**

Signing Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer? That's like hitting the jackpot! We're talking about arguably the best footballer on the planet, and definitely one of the top three. 

It's like the Boston Celtics landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in free agency or Michael Jordan teaming up with Kobe Bryant in his prime - it's a game-changer. Real Madrid, fresh from an incredible season where they won La Liga and the Champions League, just got even scarier.  

Mbappe joins forces with Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo to form a fearsome attacking quartet. Sure, they lost the legendary Toni Kroos to retirement, but extending Luka Modric's contract for another year ensures they still have leadership and experience in the dressing room. 

**Our rating – 8/10**

If your bet prediction is for Mbappe to lead Real to another Champions League trophy, then we have the best odds for you.  

● Bet on Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League 

**Arsenal:**

The Gunners have battled Manchester City for two seasons, and as the saying goes, third time's the charm. Mikel Arteta looks well-prepared for another title push, having addressed two key weaknesses in his squad: left side of defence and defensive midfield.  

Riccardo Calafiori, who was one of the best defenders in Serie A last season, arrived from Bologna and is expected to develop into one of the world's top defenders.

He'll challenge Gabriel for a starting spot alongside William Saliba and his versatility may see him utilized primarily as a left-back. Mikel Merino's £30m arrival from Real Sociedad is also crucial, given Thomas Partey's fitness concerns and Jorginho's declining athleticism. 

Meanwhile, the Gunners are close to selling Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace for £30m, excellent return for a player with no chance of becoming a starter under Arteta.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus will compete to lead the attack and with the new faces and experience, Arsenal should pose an even bigger threat to Manchester City's dominance.  

**Our rating – 8/10**

Take advantage of our bet of the day and back Arsenal to wrestle the title from Pep Guardiola’s City. 

Bet on Arsenal to win the Premier League 

**Losers:**

**Napoli**

Gli Azzurri’s catastrophic title defense, finishing 10th after winning the league, demanded a major overhaul. However, the club's transfer window has been underwhelming, failing to bring in the quality needed to return to the summit of Serie A.

The expectation was that star player Victor Osimhen would be sold to fund new signings, but club president Aurelio De Laurentiis's stubbornness over his £120m release clause has muddied the waters for new boss Antonio Conte. 

The team remains short on top-level quality, and the signings of Scott McTominay from Manchester United and 31-year-old Romelu Lukaku hardly constitute the makeover fans expected. 

Osimhen's move away is still uncertain, with Al Ahli reportedly offering £80m, but he favors a Premier League switch, albeit with Chelsea unwilling to pay a high fee. Napoli's season has started ominously, losing 3-0 to Verona, and it could be a long campaign for Conte and his men.  

**Our rating - 4/10**

Conte is a master tactician with a proven track record of success. If anyone can navigate Napoli's challenges and lead them back into the Champions League spots, it's him. 

Backing the former Chelsea boss to work his magic could be a smart bet prediction. 

● Bet on Napoli to finish in the top 4 

**Chelsea**

Enzo Maresca's first transfer window as Chelsea boss has been a rollercoaster, with 10 new faces arriving at Stamford Bridge. Despite this influx of talent, it's hard to say with any certainty that the current squad is an improvement over last season's side that finished fifth. 

The Blues now boast the largest first-team squad in the league, with 40 players available - most of whom arrived under the Todd Boehly-led Clearlake ownership.  

Maresca is adamant that Chelsea is adopting a targeted approach to recruitment, only adding players where necessary. _"If we sign for the sake of signing, it's better that we don't sign any more because we don't need to sign players just for the sake of it."_

Despite his stance, the continued pursuit of Victor Osimhen suggests there is a lack of confidence in their striking options. Nicolas Jackson's industry and effort must be applauded, but his limitations as a center-forward were exposed last season, making Chelsea's lack of a proper center-forward even more baffling.  

**Our rating - 5/10**

The Chelsea fans in our online betting community may disagree with my assessment of their recruitment. If you believe Maresca has what it takes, then book a bet and back the Blues to finish in the top four. 

● Bet on Chelsea to finish in the Premier League top 4 

**Barcelona**

Hansi Flick is a brave man for taking the Barcelona job. The club has been in disarray for years, and this summer was no exception. 

Despite President Joan Laporta's boasts about making big signings, the reality was far different. They had to offload several players just to register their only signing, Dani Olmo, who cost a whopping €60 million. 

The problem is, Olmo wasn't even a priority signing as the team desperately needed a defensive midfielder and a left-sided attacker. 

To make matters worse, they got rid of Ilkay Gundogan, last season's standout player, to cut costs. And Vitor Roque, who joined last year for €35 million, was shipped off to Betis, leaving Flick with a 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski as his only recognized striker.

Barcelona's season is once again being placed in the hands of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, kudos to all involved. 
 
**Our rating 3/10**

**3 most expensive deals of the 2024-25 transfer window**

Here are the three biggest transfers of the window so far 

**Julian Alvarez (Manchester City to Atletico Madrid) - £81m** 

Atletico Madrid secured the services of World Cup winner Julian Alvarez from Manchester City for an eyewatering sum. 

The Spanish giants met City's valuation, paying an initial £64m plus add-ons rising to £81m. Alvarez's desire for a new challenge was clear, and Atletico seized the opportunity to bolster their attacking options. 

**Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth to Tottenham) - £65m** 

Tottenham Hotspur made a statement signing in Dominic Solanke, prizing the prolific striker away from Bournemouth for £65m. Solanke's impressive tally of 19 Premier League goals made him a candidate for a big move and the 26-year-old will hope to fill the void left by last summer’s departure of Harry Kane. 

**Leny Yoro (Lille to Manchester United) - £60m**

Manchester United pulled off a coup by landing coveted teenager Leny Yoro from Lille for £52m plus add-ons rising to £60. 

The Red Devils had to fend off stiff competition from Real Madrid to secure the services of one of the world's most promising young centre-backs. 

Yoro's arrival marks a significant statement of intent from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to restore United to the top.  

We have the three most expensive deals but how about the best deals of the window so far? 

**Best deals of the window**

**Kylian Mbappe (PSG to Real Madrid) Free**

Talk about a great deal. Los Blancos have landed one of the world’s best players without paying a transfer fee. At just 25, Mbappe has already achieved incredible success, and now he joins a club with a storied history of winning the biggest prizes.

With 16 Champions League titles to their name, Real Madrid is the perfect destination for Mbappe to chase the one trophy missing from his cabinet. 

**Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona to Manchester City) - Free**

This is arguably the best deal of the window. Manchester City were presented a glorious opportunity to be reunited with their former captain and both parties jumped at it. 

Gundogan captained the champions to the treble and his experience in the biggest moments is invaluable. 

**Federico Chiesa (Juventus to Liverpool) £12m** 

Federico Chiesa was widely regarded as one of the most exciting wingers in Europe before his injury. He starred as Italy won Euro 2020, earning a spot in the team of the tournament.

However, his injury record over the past two seasons is concerning. Despite this, he struck 9 times last season, helping Juventus qualify for the Champions League.

He may not be a starter under Arne Slot, but he will be an excellent backup and could provide directness and goals across all three positions. 

So, who will be crowned champions of the transfer window? Let us know in the comments and remember you can turn your bet predictions to big wins on the best betting site in Nigeria. 


[Join us](https://m.betking.com/account/registration?redirect=/) today to get value for money. Try out the [best betting app](https://m.betking.com/l/mobile-app/) in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.

News

The 2024-25 Transfer Window Preview: Biggest deals, Winners, Losers + More

● Bet on Man City to win the Champions League

● Bet on Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League

Bet on Arsenal to win the Premier League

● Bet on Napoli to finish in the top 4

● Bet on Chelsea to finish in the Premier League top 4