Transfer watch: Chelsea’s acquisition of N’Golo Kante is proof that they can still attract big names

Transfer deals have picked up the pace as the 2016 UEFA European Championship is behind us. Players are free to move around and the clubs can conduct the medicals. There have been some high-profile moves that took place last week around Europe.

Let us take a look at some of the top players to move to different clubs on a permanent deal, as well as on loan. Plus, there are many more who made the headlines in the transfer rumours column. We have selected some of the bigger names below.

Done deals:

1. N’Golo Kante – Leicester City to Chelsea for £30 million

This was probably the biggest transfer deal done in the past week. N’Golo Kante was, in many people’s eyes, the player of the season last term as Leicester confounded everyone to win the Premier League title. The Frenchman was included in the Players’ Team of the Season. In his first season in the Premier League, Kante achieved something extraordinary. However, he has chosen to leave the English champions as they embark on their debut campaign in the Champions League. Chelsea have bought him for around £30 million and it shows their pull power despite not being in any European competition for the coming season. According to reports, many clubs were interested in Kante. So, it is odd that the midfielder chose Chelsea over many other high-profile clubs who will be playing in the Champions League.

2. Martin Skrtel – Liverpool to Fenerbahce for £5 million

Martin Skrtel moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce from Liverpool for a reported £5 million. The Slovakian spent eight-and-a-half seasons at Liverpool and was one of their mainstays in defence. He is a strong and powerful defender, who is also very good in the air. This is the beginning of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s blueprint for the club. One can expect a few more changes to The Reds’ squad before the end of the transfer window.

3. Jordon Ibe – Liverpool to Bournemouth for £15 million

This one has puzzled the Liverpool supporters. Just about a year ago, Jordan Ibe was considered one of England’s brightest prospects. But after the departure of Raheem Sterling, Ibe did not exactly cement his place in the Liverpool starting XI. But now, at 20 years of age, he has his whole future ahead of him. He is fast and direct in his runs and with a bit of proper coaching, he could turn into one of the world’s best wingers. But Bournemouth forked out £15 million for his signature and Liverpool agreed. From the outside, it looked like Ibe is a player that Klopp would like to have. But it has not turned out that way.

4. Lucas Digne – Paris Saint-Germain to Barcelona for £13.9 million

France’s Lucas Digne has moved to Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain for £13.9 million. The left-back was on loan at AS Roma last season and made 33 appearances. The 22-year-old also has a reported buy-out clause of £51 million. He is an attacking full-back and scored three goals for Roma last season.

5. Samuel Umtiti – Lyon to Barcelona for £21 million

The French defender impressed one and all during Euro 2016. He made his debut in the quarter-finals and played in the semi-final and final as well. Samuel Umtiti then signed for Barcelona for £21 million. Like compatriot Digne, Umtiti is also 22 years old. This shows that the La Liga giants are buying exciting young talents, who can be the bedrock of their future. Maybe the famed La Masia, Barcelona’s famous football academy, is not producing players as talented as their predecessors. Either way, they have quality in their squad.

6. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Bayern Munich to Southampton for £12.8 million

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg signed for Southampton from German powerhouse Bayern Munich for a reported £12.8 million. The Danish midfielder was a fringe player for Bayern since he joined them in July 2012. The 20-year-old was on loan at Schalke last season and the arrival of Renato Sanches probably resulted in his move to the Premier League club. With Victor Wanyama already having moved from Southampton to Tottenham, Hojbjerg could get the playing time he needs.

7. Vincent Janssen – AZ Alkmaar to Tottenham for £17 million

Tottenham have bought Dutch striker Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar for £17 million. Janssen was the top-scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie last season with 27 goals. He is left-footed and is considered to be very good at hold-up play, bringing other players into the equation. Tottenham needed another striker to complement Harry Kane and seem to have got the right player. This gives them more options in attack and eases the goal-scoring load on Kane.

8. Ganso – Sao Paulo to Sevilla for £7.89 million

While some might not know who he is, for many others the name Ganso will ring a bell. Around 2010, there were two names that kept cropping up in the Brazilian media about players with exceptional talents. One was Neymar and the other was Ganso. While one has gone on to achieve incredible things since then, the other has not had the same meteoric rise. After so many years, Ganso has finally moved to Europe. Spanish club Sevilla bought him from Sao Paulo for £7.89 million. The attacking midfielder may now be 26, but he still has time to prove his credentials.

9. Mehdi Benatia – Bayern Munich to Juventus on loan

Juventus just keep on getting high-profile and good players on the cheap or for free. This time they have signed Mehdi Benatia from Bayern Munich on a season-long loan deal. The centre-back chose Bayern last season when Manchester United were also in the running. But things have not gone according to plan for the Moroccan defender. He returns to the Italian Serie A after spells at Udinese and AS Roma. Benatia probably chose to leave the German champions after they signed Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund. Juventus have the option to buy him after the season for a reported £14.3 million.

Rumours:

1. Riyad Mahrez – Leicester City to Chelsea

It seems like N’Golo Kante’s move could be the trigger for some big transfers away from Leicester City. No sooner did the Premier League champions sell Kante, reports suggested they could lose their best player from last season as well. Riyad Mahrez was the Player of the Year and Leicester City’s Player of the Season for 2015-'16. The winger could follow Kante to Chelsea if reports in England are to be believed. That could land an even bigger blow for Leicester before they even begin their defense of the Premier League.

2. Gonzalo Higuain – Napoli to Arsenal/Juventus

It seems like Gonzalo Higuain is perennially been linked with a move to Arsenal every summer. But this time, Juventus are also in the mix. At 28 years of age, Higuain does not fall in the age bracket of players Arsene Wenger usually buys. He is the finished article, but Wenger buys younger players who could go one to become world class. Juventus, on the other hand, make a living buying players who are deemed old. But Higuain is not that old. For a player who never had explosive speed, he could easily play at a high level for years to come. Arsenal fans are crying out for a striker who is a significant upgrade from Olivier Giroud. Will Wenger finally bend?

3. James Rodriguez – Real Madrid to Manchester United/West Ham United

James Rodriguez’s name is a constant in the transfer rumours column. It is probably because Zinedine Zidane doesn’t imagine Rodriguez in his future plans at Real Madrid. While Manchester United are always reported to be interested, West Ham’s name is making the rounds as well. Buoyed by their move to the Olympic Stadium and the new influx of cash in the Premier League, West Ham are certainly dreaming big. Whether this actually comes to fruition remains to be seen.

4. Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea to Manchester United

A surprise name to come in the media is of Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish midfielder endured a poor run last season, but so did the whole of Chelsea’s first team squad, which got Jose Mourinho sacked mid-season. Fabregas was reported to be one of the main players to fall out with Mourinho, so the Spaniard's name being linked with Manchester United doesn’t make much sense as the Portuguese now manages the club. But stranger things have happened in football.

5. Mauro Icardi – Inter Milan to Arsenal

Mauro Icardi could be the Argentinean that Arsenal are realistically interested in. He is 23 years old and could develop into a fine striker. He is fast, strong and was the top scorer in the Serie A in 2014-'15. Theo Walcott’s time might be up at Arsenal, or at least as a centre forward, for good. This could pave the way for Icardi to move to Arsenal from Inter Milan.

6. Hal Robson-Kanu to Hull City

The unexpected star of Euro 2016. Hal Robson-Kanu impressed everyone with his Cruyff turn and goal against Belgium in Wales' quarter-final win. Anyone who can do that within the opposition penalty box with two defenders next to him is a good player, so it was a surprise to know that the forward didn’t have a club during the tournament. Hull City are reportedly close to signing the unattached Robson-Kanu for free on a four-year deal.

7. Wilfried Bony – Manchester City to Everton

The Ivorian striker could move to Everton from Manchester City according to various reports. Wilfried Bony has struggled at City ever since he moved from Swansea in January 2015. If the past is any clue, new City manager Pep Guardiola doesn’t usually use strikers who are big, strong and relatively immobile. He likes his forwards to be smaller in stature and quick in and around the penalty box. Bony doesn’t fit the bill in this regard, so he could actually leave Manchester for Merseyside.

8. Jeremy Mathieu – Barcelona to Liverpool

At 32 years of age, Jeremy Mathieu might not seem the ideal candidate to replace Martin Skrtel at Liverpool. But reports suggest Jurgen Klopp is keen on the French defender to sign for the club. With Barcelona signing centre-back Samuel Umtiti, Mathieu could be surplus to requirements. The move could happen despite it seeming like not a great match.

9. Fabinho – AS Monaco to Manchester United

Brazilian right-back Fabinho has been reported to be a target for Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Currently at AS Monaco, Fabinho played for Real Madrid on loan under Mourinho in 2013. With Matteo Darmian not convincing everyone last season and Antonio Valencia actually being a make-shift right-back, a deal for Fabinho could be imminent. Like all Brazilian full-backs, the 22-year-old is known for his attacking displays. He scored six goals last season in the French Ligue 1.

10. Neven Subotic – Borussia Dortmund to Middlesbrough

Only in 2011 and 2012, Neven Subotic was helping Borussia Dortmund trump Bayern Munich to back-to-back Bundesliga titles. But now, in the summer of 2016, he is a transfer target for newly promoted side Middlesbrough in the Premier League. Still only 27 years old, it seems very odd that Subotic would move to a club whose primary ambition would be to stay afloat in the Premier League, rather than teams who will be fighting at the top end of any big league. But as we have seen many a time in football, the surprising move could happen.