The transfer window briefly opened early this summer thanks to the Club World Cup schedule. From June 1-10, clubs got a head start on their summer business, with the window reopening June 16 for the Premier League and July 1 for other European leagues.
And guess what? The big clubs wasted no time flexing their financial muscles. Let's look at what we've already learned about their strategies.
Liverpool Going All-In on Speed and Youth
Liverpool have made a statement by spending around €200 million on just three players. They've secured Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for €40 million and reportedly agreed to a massive deal worth up to €136 million for Florian Wirtz, plus they're likely adding Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez.
What do these signings tell us? Liverpool are building for both now and the future. All three players are young, fast, and incredibly athletic.
Wirtz is only 22 but already producing at a superstar level. He's not just technically brilliant - he makes 88 high-speed runs per 90 minutes, more than any Liverpool player last season.
Frimpong and Kerkez are even more impressive physically. Frimpong is one of Europe's fastest defenders with a top speed of 35.23 km/h, while Kerkez is one of only two defenders in Europe's top leagues to sprint over 1,000 times last season.
For bettors, this suggests Liverpool will be even more dynamic next season. Expect high-scoring games and a team that can counter-attack with devastating speed.
Man City Doubling Down on Attack Despite Defensive Issues
After finishing third last season with defensive vulnerabilities, City's solution seems to be: get even better at attack. They've signed Tijjani Reijnders (€55m), Rayan Aït-Nouri (€36.8m), and Rayan Cherki (€36.5m).
The problem? None of these players are great defenders. City allowed the fewest shots in the league last season but conceded the highest quality chances.
They're banking on Rodri's return to fitness to solve their defensive issues. Without him, City could continue to be vulnerable on the counter-attack - something savvy bettors might want to exploit in certain matchups.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been typically smart. They've signed Trent Alexander-Arnold (€10m to get him early), young center back Dean Huijsen (€59.5m), and 17-year-old prodigy Franco Mastantuono (€45m).
Chelsea continue their strategy of collecting undervalued young talent, adding Liam Delap for €35.5m. The problem is they still look like a collection of players rather than a coherent team.
And Manchester United? They're paying €74.2m for Matheus Cunha while reportedly looking to move on from 20-year-old Alejandro Garnacho. It's a short-term move that raises questions about their long-term vision.
For those placing bets this season, these early transfers suggest Liverpool and Madrid are positioning themselves as the most serious challengers to City's dominance. Chelsea remain unpredictable, while United still look some way from competing at the top level.
