Premier League and the 'off-the-shelf' craze

Wirtz joined Liverpool with a huge transfer fee.

As soon as the market opens, the big clubs immediately rush into a whirlwind of buying and selling, where each deal is hyped as a “piece of destiny” that will help shape the new season. But in reality, this is still a period of fantasy stories - where every scenario sparkles before being crushed by harsh reality.

Just like in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup draw, one can dream of perfect matches, unspoiled by injuries, poor form or dressing room prize fights.

The illusion of “formulaic” contracts

Today, fans and the media often view football through a very mechanical lens. Club A needs a left winger who cuts inside, scores 6-8 goals a season and opens up space for full-backs – and so player B, who fits the description, is assumed to “fit” the system.

But football doesn’t work that simply. A team is a complex entity where even a small shift in movement or coordination can have a devastating domino effect.

Players are not inanimate objects. They need time to integrate, need to feel trust, need the right environment to develop.

Any deal – no matter how expensive – carries risk. Yet the modern Premier League has become mired in a cycle where “winning the transfer window” is seen as a virtual trophy, no less than silverware.

Liverpool’s motto of “buying from a position of power” has been applied thoroughly. With 165 million pounds, they quickly closed Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz. The two new full-backs come as logical replacements for Trent Alexander-Arnold (departed) and Andy Robertson (31 years old). That also shows that the attacking full-back philosophy is still the guiding principle of “The Kop”.

Florian Wirtz is expensive, but is it worth it?

Florian Wirtz is another story, versatile and requiring tactical restructuring. He can play as a “false 9” or out wide, but will probably be preferred as a central attacking midfielder in a versatile 4-2-3-1 formation. Dominik Szoboszlai would then have to either drop deep or reduce his minutes to make room for creativity.

The doubts over Darwin Núñez have also forced Arne Slot to look for a new centre-forward. Alexander Isak was once the first choice, but Liverpool are now focusing on Hugo Ekitike - a striker with pace and good movement when given space, although his ability to maneuver in tight spaces remains a question mark.

Despite Bayern’s interest in Luis Díaz, Liverpool’s financial situation and PSR regulations remain very stable, allowing them to not need to sell key players. With Salah, Gakpo, Elliott, Wirtz, Díaz and Ekitike rotating, Liverpool’s attack promises to be more diverse and sharper than last season.

Arsenal - if not now, then when?

Three consecutive runners-up finishes put Arsenal under immense pressure heading into the new season. Christian Nørgaard is not a flashy signing, but he brings defensive depth. Martín Zubimendi, if he settles in quickly, will be a smart “shield” to allow Declan Rice to move forward. Meanwhile, £48.5 million for Noni Madueke is considered a reasonable investment to ease the load on the wings Saka - Martinelli.

The problem lies at centre-forward. Benjamin Sesko - a young and long-term option - has been overlooked in favour of Viktor Gyökeres, who is 26 but has doubts over his ability in tight spaces.

Arsenal could be willing to sacrifice the stability of their attack to save £10-15m. If they continue to struggle this season, this decision will certainly be scrutinised.

Defending champions Man City are still working hard to rebuild. After four new signings since January, they have added Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Aït-Nouri. Although a 3-4 defeat to Al-Hilal in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has many worried, the tournament may not be an accurate reflection of Man City's strength.

Man City hope Rayan Cherki can replace Kevin de Bruyne.

Chelsea, on the other hand, remain a hotbed of chaos. Despite finishing fourth in the Premier League and having just beaten PSG in the Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca’s side have yet to show any signs of stability.

João Pedro is expected to replace Nicolas Jackson as a centre-forward, with Jamie Gittens a potential winger. But Chelsea’s approach to the transfer market has been a mad “trolley dash” – loading up the shopping cart without necessarily finding a winning formula.

The biggest problem with the transfer market today is the over-commercialization. Clubs seem less interested in training or refining systems, and instead hunt for “packaged solutions” like industrial products.

No one is sure whether this season's signings will be effective, but the current atmosphere reminds people of the summer of 2016, when Leicester won the championship, Southampton and West Ham entered the top 7, forcing the big clubs to rush into a "crazy shopping" to reaffirm their position.

Ultimately, football is not a money game. Any “transfer market victory” will be meaningless if it is not proven on the pitch. History has proven time and again that billion-dollar contracts do not guarantee titles.

And in the fierce Premier League race, only teams that know how to combine smart shopping with stable playing style will really have the advantage.

Source: https://znews.vn/premier-league-va-con-sot-mua-hang-ke-san-post1570240.html