The five biggest transfer bargains still available

Carlo Garganese

• 25 Aug 2021 22:00 BST
• 4 min read

With less than a week remaining in the transfer window, there are clubs all over Europe seeking to finalise their squads.

While this is most typically associated with players arriving, perhaps this summer more than ever it is important for other teams to reduce their squad size and wage bill because of the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Additionally, when it comes to this time of year, there are always players available who are out of favour, running down their contracts or simply want a change of scenery.

Such stars can often be picked up at relatively low prices, and that is certainly the case this summer.

Here are five potential bargains in the last week of the window.

Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva has long been a star at Manchester City, but the £100 million arrival of Jack Grealish means that his influence at the Etihad Stadium has reduced to such an extent that all he can hope for is minutes here and there.

Such a gifted player deserves more. He has already turned down the opportunity to move to Arsenal, but that begs the question as to whether there are any teams out there who can afford him and who he would want to play for.

With no clamour for his services coming, he will be available to sign at a bargain price.

Eduardo Camavinga

Once rated as a player who might move from Rennes for €100m or more, Camavinga is set to depart for only a fraction of that cost in the days ahead.

The teenager’s contract expires at the end of the season and the Ligue 1 side have already told him in no uncertain terms that he must either extend his deal or go.

It seems that Camavinga has chosen the latter option. Manchester United and Real Madrid have both been interested in him. While Madrid have their sights set on Mbappe, his price may have dropped to such an extent that Man Utd have a nibble.

Tanguy N’Dombele

A prodigiously talented midfielder apparently built for Premier League football, things have never quite clicked for Tanguy N’Dombele at Tottenham, despite flashes that suggested he might be the player they thought when they spent €62m to bring him from Lyon.

Left out of the squad for the first two games of the season due to his desire to leave, there can be little value in Spurs keeping a player who has not performed for them.

Chairman Daniel Levy might have won his fight to keep Harry Kane at the club, but N’Dombele is a player they could allow to go for relatively cheap. Bayern Munich have been linked.

Saul Niguez

Saul Niguez has been one of Atletico Madrid's best performers in recent years, but he has been put up for sale by the club this summer following the arrival of Rodrigo de Paul from Udinese.

Atletico are only believed to be asking for around €40m for Saul, an excellent price for someone considered one of Europe’s top midfielders.

Both Chelsea and Man Utd are contemplating whether to make an offer in the last days of the window.

Andre Onana

A key member of the Ajax team who were runners-up in the 2017 Europa League and were seconds away from reaching the 2019 Champions League final, Andre Onana is ready for the next big step.

The Cameroonian goalkeeper may be out of action until November due to a drugs ban but he still represents a big bargain this summer.

His contract at Ajax expires next year, meaning he is available for a very low price. Arsenal were interested this summer, while Inter are also considering him as a long-term replacement for Samir Handanovic.