Early Movers: Football Clubs Already Making Noise Ahead of the New Season
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Early Movers: Football Clubs Already Making Noise Ahead of the New Season

Early Movers: Football Clubs Already Making Noise Ahead of the New Season

With the summer transfer window now well underway, clubs will be looking to secure signings ahead of the upcoming season. However the likes of Liverpool, MK Dons and York City have been busy, with a plethora of signings already made at this stage of the window. So what are the chances of winning the league or getting promoted for these early movers?

Liverpool

The Premier League champions have got business done early this window, and don’t look like stopping anytime soon. The Merseyside outfit have completed five summer signings, with three very high-profile names.

The first of which is Jeremie Frimpong, who signed for Liverpool at the end of May for £29.5m. The Dutch international has joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen and has signed a five-year contract with the Reds. The news came hours after Trent Alexander-Arnold departed the club to join Spanish giants Real Madrid, showing how the Premier League champions aren’t messing around with replacements. Frimpong played an essential role within Leverkusen’s title winning side in the 2023/24 campaign, often striking the perfect balance between defending and attacking.

To find out more about Jeremie Frimpong, make sure to read our article to get a breakdown of former Bayer Leverkusen player and how he will fit into Slot’s system.

Next up is Florian Wirtz, who signed for Liverpool midway through June for £116m. The deal structure means there is a £100m fixed fee and £16m in potential add-ons. The German international has signed a five-year contract, in a move which could surpass the British transfer record if all add-ons are met. The former Bayer Leverkusen man is one of the best players in the world in his position, with the stats backing that up. Last season he recorded 23 goal contributions in 31 Bundesliga games, with 10 goals and 13 assists. On top of that he scored six goals in nine Champions League matches, showing that not only can he do it in the Bundesliga, but also on the biggest stage in Europe.

Florian Wirtz is Liverpool’s club record signing, and to see the other 19 Premier League teams biggest signings check out our article for a detailed analysis.

Milos Kerkez followed suit a couple days later, as he joined from Bournemouth for £40m. The 21-year-old impressed massively last season and comes in at a time where Andy Robertson enters the final year of his contract. The standout attributes of the Hungarian international are his work ethic and relentless stamina, which combine to make a powerhouse of a full back. He is the ideal player to provide competition to the 31-year-old Scotsman, who has naturally seen a drop off in intensity and performance due to his age.

With Milos Kerkez leaving Bournemouth, the Cherries now need to replace the 21-year-old. To see who the south coast side might sign, check out our article for the top five potential replacements.

Overall it's fair to say that Liverpool have been mightily impressive this transfer window, replacing and providing competition for players. This determination to keep players hungry for success after coming off the back of winning the Premier League is exactly the attitude of champions. It looks hard to look past Liverpool winning the league again, with a double, treble or dare I say a quadruple not entirely out of the picture.

MK Dons

The Milton Keynes based outfit narrowly avoided relegation from League Two last season, securing safety by only two points. This looks to have served as a wake-up call for the club, as they have got straight down to business this summer transfer window. A plethora of signing have come flooding through the gates as they look to improve on a poor showing last campaign.

Their first signing came at the back end of May, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing joining the Dons from Derby County. The 33-year-old has signed on a free transfer and will reconnect with his former manager Paul Warne. The winger was part of the Rams team that won promotion in the 2023/24 campaign with 92 points, the club’s highest ever points total. He was also part of the Derby side who avoided relegation by a point last season. With Mendez-Laing's experience of fighting for promotions and battling relegation, he will be a great addition to Paul Warne’s side.

A few weeks later MK Dons announced the signing of Gethin Jones, who also joined the side on a free transfer. The defender was released by Bolton Wanderers at the end of the season and was part of Everton’s academy at the start of his career. One of the most notable traits the Australia international has is his versatility to play in multiple positions along the backline. His ability to play as centre-back or full-back allows the team to be flexible in their formation, providing greater depth and fluidity in matches. This is something that will aid the Dons in their quest to climb up the league rankings.

A couple of days later on the 19th of June, the League Two side announced the signing of another former Bolton player, this time being Aaron Collins. The striker has joined the club on an undisclosed fee and will look to spearhead the Dons attack. The 28-year-old scored 19 goals across 55 appearances for the Wanderers last season, being a regular starter for the team. With the Welsh international playing regular League One football, it means dropping down to League Two should allow him to perform to a higher standard.

With the constant quick turnaround of signings this transfer window, it certainly looks like MK Dons will have a better season compared to their last campaign. A push for the promotion playoffs will certainly be on the minds of the players and staff, as they look to return to League One since being relegated in the 2022/23 season.

York City

Following play-off disappoint for York City, they were unable to secure promotion to League Two despite finishing in second place in the National League. It would be easy for the club to feel sorry for themselves and delay their transfer business. However they have done the exact opposite of that, with the club already completing three signings.

At the end of May the club announced the signing of Oliver Banks on a free transfer after leaving Chesterfield. The midfielder played a vital role in the Spireites winning the National League in the 2023/24 season, bringing a wealth of experience with him to his new club. Banks also has experience playing within England’s top four divisions, as he spent time with Oldham Athletic and Tranmere Rovers before re-joining Chesterfield. These are qualities which will help York City chase their goal of returning back to League Two since being relegated in 2016.

On the 18th of June, Ashley Palmer became the second former Chesterfield player to join the Minstermen. The defender, who has previously won promotions with Stockport County and Chesterfield, was released by the Spireites and is now looking to secure promotion with York City. He not only provides a defensive boost, but is also an aerial presence from set pieces, ending the 2019/20 season with Stockport as their third top goal scorer. It’s another impressive signing for the team who finished runners up in the National League last season.

On the 27th of June, York City got the signature of Hiram Boateng after he was released from Mansfield Town. It’s another player who has experience in higher leagues, something that the club needs to get over the line and secure promotion to League Two. The 29-year-old was part of the team that led the Stags to promotion into League One, becoming a staple within the side. Last season he recorded over 40 league appearances for Mansfield, with his abundance of experience being invaluable to Adam Hinshelwood’s side.

It’s fair to say that the club look in a very commanding position heading into next season, and appear to be one of the favourites to win the National League this upcoming campaign.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Charlie Stevens

Content Writer

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