Assessing the transfer scene of summer 2024 and possible shrewd moves

It will not have escaped your attention that we here at Big Website are true football hipsters. Football Daily was into gegenpressing in the nascent days of Ralf Rangnick; we bought a Napoli shirt in the pre-mohawk Marek Hamsik era and, as we hammered Premier Manager for 18 hours straight, we drank fluorescent orange fruit beers before they showed up in any pub with a dodgy firestick. When it comes to assessing the transfer scene of summer 24, then, it’s the B-side deals that really wet our whistle, not the chart-toppers. So you can keep your Kylian Mbappés, your Endricks and even your Leny Yoros (sorry, Manchester United, but signing a generational teenager wanted by Real Madrid and paying £50m for the privilege hasn’t flown under anyone’s radar). Where are the bargains?

It’s a testament to Aston Villa’s upward trajectory that four of the nine most expensive deals in Europe this summer have involved players either arriving at, or being shipped out of, Villa Park. And although it’s no bargain with a £37.5m price tag, it’s the signing of Ian Maatsen that has caught our eye. Just canny profiteering from Chelsea to sell an academy product in the age of PSR and all that? Or a gem of a deal from Unai Emery’s boys to snaffle the 22-year-old who starred in Borussia Dortmund’s run to Big Cup final? Us hipsters love a former BVB player, naturally, so we say Maatsen’s got the lot. Staying in Germany, Leverkusen’s signing of Aleix García for just £15m from Girona is a tantalising prospect. He’s a Rolls-Royce midfielder who could mastermind another mangling of those men in Munich. Watch out, Bayern and Ko.

Back in Blighty, Crystal Palace are thriving in the transfer market these days thanks to Dougie Freedman and we’re mesmerised by the idea of Ismaïla Sarr getting chalk on his boots at Selhurst Park. Once linked with Barcelona, Liverpool and United, he stayed at Watford a little too long (sorry Hornets fans) before joining … checks notes, Marseille. Now, he’ll be latching on to Adam Wharton’s raking passes, and collecting Ebere Eze’s tricky flicks … phwoar there’s a thought. And all for just £12.5m! You couldn’t even buy one of Elliot Anderson’s legs for that.

Further down the price list and £7m Ben Brereton Díaz and his magnificent mane should be a shrewd acquisition for Southampton, Nottingham Forest’s new Portuguese starlet Jota Silva looks cheap at £5.9m, while Ross Barkley is a snip at £5m for Villa. From Kenilworth Road back to Big Cup in a matter of months, it’s come full circle for the former Toffees tearaway. Of course, Football Daily never once doubted his talents …

France. Argentina. Big Sports Day. 8pm BST. You’ll want to follow this one.

“One of the greatest people I’ve ever met, not only in football but in life. Last month [he] was texting me when I didn’t make the Euros squad while he was ill – shows the type of man he was. An absolute heart of gold. Absolutely devastated” – Jack Grealish, who worked with Craig Shakespeare at Aston Villa, pays tribute to the former coach and manager, who has died aged 60.

Seeing Héctor Vivas’s composite image of players in yesterday’s Football Daily (full email edition), I couldn’t help but be reminded of the madness of Joseba Etxeberria’s testimonial for Athletic Bilbao” – Robert Morgan.

I was at that match snapped by Héctor Vivas and the photo is a lot more exciting than sitting through the actual 90 minutes was” – Jim Hearson.

Re: yesterday’s Football Daily. I know all the kids in USA USA USA like the hip-hip (or so I’m told), but if we have to replace our anthem, can we please go with Rhapsody in Blue? It’s a marvellous piece of music and it is so representative of America, it’s ridiculous. Not only was it penned by a first generation son of Russian Jewish immigrants, it is also a great work of that other American musical invention: jazz” – Joe Pearson.

Further to the ongoing casting call for Saipan: The Movie (Football Daily letters passim), it should be a criminal offence if Daniel Brühl does not play Jason McAteer” – Aram Raworth.

Re: yesterday’s Quote of the Day. AFC Croydon ‘ninth tier’? I think not – they are in the Isthmian South East this year, which is the eighth tier. We’re intrigued to see them visit us down on the Kent coast at Hythe Town: a bit of celebrity stardust in our division might help shine a light on an oft-forgotten corner of the football pyramid – although, of course, our local rivals Ramsgate made it to round two of the FA Cup last year. Such a run for Hythe would be lovely, I can tell you” – Adam Williams.

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Robert Morgan. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

The Scottish Premiership is back this weekend, baby, with Hearts hosting Rangers in the season opener on Saturday lunchtime. But fitba has barely stopped all summer, with the Skol Cup already at the last-16 stage. One name not in the hat are Partick Thistle, eliminated after they failed to beat Motherwell in their final group game. The Jags asked for the tie to be replayed, after an error in the SFA’s new digital teamsheet system meant Ricco Diack was not listed among the subs – with the fourth official refusing to let the youngster on as a result. Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says he noticed the issue on the new “Comet” app during the game. “I don’t think managers should be put in that position, where officials are telling them ‘go and check your team on a phone’,” he sniffed. We’re off to a good start, then.

Before locking horns at Big Sports Day, France’s Jean-Philippe Mateta has admitted the country was deeply impacted by footage of Argentina players singing racist chants after the Copa América. “With what happened recently, all the French are touched by it,” said Mateta. “We’ll see what happens.”

Rangers boss Philippe Clement is staying at Ibrox, scrawling his autograph on a new deal until 2028. “I have fallen in love with the club, with the fans, the stadium and with the city,” he cooed.

The Croydon De Bruyne has moved to west London! Fulham have broken their transfer record to land Emile Smith Rowe in a deal that could reach £34m with add-ons. “I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible,” he cheered.

In the WSL, Missy Bo Kearns has left Liverpool for Aston Villa in search of a Lionesses call. “Missy has the potential and ability to become a regular England international,” trumpeted Villa boss Robert de Pauw. Meanwhile, Manchester City have signed Japan forward Aoba Fujino from Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

And Peter Lim is done at Salford City after 10 years, with Gary Neville buying out his fellow shareholder. “Peter’s support has allowed us to become an established League Two club with a unique ownership,” whooped chief suit Nicky Butt. “We continue to explore options to potentially work with additional new strategic partners to assist us in achieving our ambitions for the club.”

“I think two years in football is a long time.” Erik ten Hag says he doesn’t need the security of a longer contract at Manchester United, as he gets his pre-season chat on with Jamie Jackson.

Who fancies a freebie? Former United trio David de Gea, Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay all feature on our list of 10 big-name stars who are available on free transfers this summer, as detailed by Will Unwin.

Rangers are upbeat before the new Scottish Premiership season after a raft of signings, but there’s a good chance Celtic’s dominance will continue, opines Ewan Murray.

And Tony Gustavsson’s departure from the flamin’ Australia gig was in the best interests of everyone connected with the Matildas, reckons Joey Lynch.

More pre-season recollections of yore and another Arsenal-facing one, featuring Ronald McDonald putting the fear into Dennis Bergkamp as José Antonio Reyes looks on after kick-off in a 2004 friendly against Grazer AK.