The 2023 summer transfer window has already seen a ton of moves completed, many of which suggest some clubs have more money than sense.
That has undoubtedly been the case over the past week, with most of the ‘top transfers’ falling into the ‘hugely questionable’ category.
With that in mind, we have scoured the transfer dealings from the last seven days to identify the standout moves. Buckle up folks – it’s not pretty.
Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United to Al-Hilal – £30m
It would be churlish not to admit that Allan Saint-Maximin can be fun to watch. However, that comes with the inevitable caveat of ‘on his day’.
A tally of 13 goals and 21 assists in 124 appearances for Newcastle United is a poor return for a player who should be capable of more.
The winger will now have the opportunity to run down blind alleys and pick up injuries in the calmer waters of the Saudi Pro League. Good riddance.
Calvin Bassey – Ajax to Fulham – £19.3m
Ajax raised plenty of eyebrows when they paid Rangers almost £20 million to secure Calvin Bassey’s services last summer.
The defender looked completely out of his depth in the Eredivisie, coming in for widespread criticism during a thoroughly underwhelming season.
Quite why Fulham think Bassey will be able to cope in the Premier League is one of life’s great mysteries. This move will not end well.
Anthony Elanga – Manchester United to Nottingham Forest – £15m
While there is still time for Anthony Elanga to develop into a solid Premier League performer, he is unlikely ever to become a world-beater.
However, it is hard to be overly critical of someone who generally tries his best. Ultimately, he’s not good enough to be a Manchester United regular. Not many players are.
The move to Nottingham Forest gives him a chance to show he can perform in the Premier League, albeit for a bottom-half club.
Wilfried Zaha – Crystal Palace to Galatasaray – Free
Less than a week later, he signed for Galatasaray. The last time we looked, they were not one of Europe’s powerhouses or a top-six Premier League club.
Zaha’s ego has long been much larger than his actual talent. As underachievers go, this fella is right up there. Good riddance x 10.
Samuel Chukwueze – Villarreal to AC Milan – £19m
In the spirit of needing to find some positivity among the recent transfer dealings, Samuel Chukwueze’s move to AC Milan shines like a beacon.
The winger has been a livewire for Villarreal, helping them win the Europa League in 2021 and claim fifth spot in La Liga last season.
A £19m fee represents a bargain in a market that values Saint-Maximin at £30m – Chukwueze will be a big hit in Serie A.
Jordan Henderson – Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq – £12m
Where to start with this one? Al-Ettifaq – a club that thinks Steven Gerrard is worth appointing as manager – have splashed the cash to sign Jordan Henderson.
In the latest example of Saudi Pro League clubs having more money than sense, the midfielder has been handed a whopping contract to play in the Middle East.
This transfer is so mind-bogglingly ridiculous we could not resist offering a more in-depth view here. Good riddance x 100.
