By Andrew Warshaw
July 13 – The end of Euro 2016 means only one thing: the annual summer spending spree in Europe being stepped up, particularly in the Premier League where clubs are already splashing the cash to boost resources ahead of the most lucrative season on record in terms of television revenue.
But one much-sought-after player has instead headed east, adding his name to the burgeoning Chinese market rather than remain in the European shop window.
Italian international striker Graziano Pelle, who had such a big impact at the Euros, has decided to swop Southampton, where he scored 30 goals in 81 appearances, for Shandong Lunengin a £13 million deal.
Last week, the World Football Forum conference in France focussed on the New Geography of Football with China right at the forefront of debate, as it has been for several months.
Pelle has yet to kick a ball for his new club but no sooner had he arrived than he was mobbed by Shandong Luneng supporters as he made his way through the airport in Jinan – the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China.
Reports say Pelle, who turns 31 on Friday, will earn £260,000 per week in China, making him the joint-fifth highest paid player in the world and a clear indication of why he opted to go east. Pelle moved to Southampton from Feyenoord in the summer of 2014 and helped the club achieve back-to-back record-breaking seasons.
Back in the Premier League itself, Southampton, having also lost Victor Wanyama to Tottenham (who have picked up a second acquisition in last season’s leading scorer in Holland, Vincent Janssen, for £17 million) have re-invested some of the money in midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Bayern Munich on a five-year contract . Hojbjerg has already been capped 17 times by Denmark, and made his debut for Bayern as a 17-year-old in April 2013.
With the season just over a month away, over 30 new signings have already been amassed with Manchester United being especially busy. Jose Mourinho, anxious to plug gaps where United were left wanting under Louis van Gaal and build his own team, has brought in not only Zlatan Ibrahimovic but also Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal for £30 million, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund. United are also reported to be negotiating a deal for French international midfielder Paul Pogba for what is certain to be a whopping fee.
Across town, lkay Gundogan has become Pep Guardiola’s first Manchester City signing, in a £21 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, while Arsenal hope their desperate need for a quality midfield player who can tackle hard but also create has been solved by purchasing Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka for around £35 million.
Liverpool surprised many by splashing out £34 million for Southampton striker Sadio Mane and have also brought in a new goalkeeper in Loris Karius while determined not to be left out, Chelsea have forked out a reported £33 million on French international Michy Batshuayi.
With pre-season tours about to get into full swing, even more big-name signings are sure to be added to rosters in the coming weeks as the spending spree reaches eye-watering proportions before the new season kicks off in mid-August.
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