Is the Samba the flavour of the Transfer frenzy?

At the end of every season, teams do a post mortem of some sorts on their team roaster; managers take stock of what went wrong or right about the just concluded season with a view at deciding where they need to add value or get rid of the dead weight within their respective squads.

In some cases, its the board that decides what direction their teams need to take, maybe the team needs a new man at the helm or they need to extend the current manager's contract and how active they intend to be in the market. All in all, the transfer market is filled with intrigues from month to month whilst the transfer window is open.

The transfer market this time around seems to be centered around the crop of young Brazilians lighting up the Brazilian league with some of them looking to seize Brazil its first Olympic Gold medal in football. As it has become the norm Neymar is hardly off the transfer headlines, however; the current transfer pneumonia been suffered by Real Madrid and Barcelona may result in him remaining with Santos for some time. However, a number of Brazilian youngsters have grabbed the headlines with moves to some of Europe's top teams with some of the more experienced lads ensuring they are not left out; we look at the Brazilians that are dominating the transfer talks, rumours and those that have eventually made moves to some of Europe's marquee teams.

Thiago Silva

Who else would I start with but, Thiago Silva arguably the best defender in the world on current form; definitely for him to leave Milan it had to cost an arm and a leg especially with the financial state Milan are in. 


The Arabs are leading the way in the transfer market and it had to be the Qataris at PSG that would be able to stump up the cash for such an accomplished defender. Watch out for PSG in the Champions League.

Dante Bonfim Costa Santos

One of the leading lights in Borussia Monchegladbach's return to previously familiar surroundings, 


qualification for the Champions League has not guaranteed the club will be able to keep its top performers; Dante follows Marco Reus through the Gladbach transfer door to join the most successful club in Germany; Bayern Munich, Dante's move to a big club was only a matter of time.

With the more experienced heads out of the way, we take a look at the youngsters bringing the Samba beat to the big European stage, how they would fare is a major concern.

Mario Fernandes

CSKA Moscow splashed a reported 15 Million Euros on the highly rated defender, tagged the new Lucio, a huge comparism taking into consideration  the achievements of Lucio. 


Fernandes is renowned for his accurate long passes and great aerial ability. 
My major concern for him is his unstable personal life; he was reported missing sometime ago in Brazil and also turned down a call up to the Brazilian National team for personal reasons; he may just get homesick and find Moscow difficult to adapt to, his footballing abilities have never been in doubt, but he needs to sort out his personal life.

Oscar




Chelsea continued their spending frenzy  by signing versatile Brazilian playmaker Oscar, who can play in numerous attacking positions. He is highly rated and it took 25Million reasons for Internacional to let him go, Oscar is in line with Chelsea's desire to freshen up their otherwise aging squad. I think the major worry with this signing is where exactly he fits in in the Chelsea midfield or in attack. As customary, Chelsea will  play 4-3-3; now the front three will interestingly in my opinion be Torres, Mata (if Di Matteo decides to play him that high up), Hazard and Marin; now i know a lot of Chelsea fans would give me stick for this, but then you really cannot blame me because i like most people have seen very little of Oscar and i do not know if he will be able to break the existing midfield trio or quartet of Lampard, Mikel, Ramires and Meirelles (note i did not even mention Essien). Obviously from what i have seen in Brazil's warm games for the Olympics and their first game; Oscar is a great signing; however my concern lies in will he settle down well, will he be willing to bid his time to break into the established Chelsea structure and life in London.

Lucas Piazon



Now this is a player i really like, dubbed the new Kaka; Chelsea splashed £8Million pounds on him a year ago, although he joined the Blues in January; he is expected to make his way into the first team in his first full season. In my opinion, his best position is just behind the striker, in the hole and can also play as a false nine as well; this guy is waiting to explode unto the scene, its now left to see if Chelsea are ready for this young dynamite from Sao Paulo.

After reviewing those Brazilians that have completed moves to Europe, we also look at those that are rumoured to be on their way to Europe or to the bigger European leagues and the likelihood of them happening.

Willian


Chelsea have been interested in the Shaktar Donesk playmaker for quite a while now, but i do not see this deal going through especially with the investments Chelsea have made recently.


 However, Spurs seems to be interested and willing to hijack Chelsea's interest, but a lot will depend on the Modric situation for this deal to go through in my opinion.

Ganso



Arsenal seem keen on Ganso and the Santos President admitted recently that he may leave, now Milan had flirted with Ganso in the past, but now their interest seems to have gone cold. My question is will Arsene Wenger be willing to put down the kind of bid that would attract a young Brazilian talent, more so, there's rumoured interest from Internacional as a replacement for Oscar. I think he will still be in Brazil by the close of the window.

Leandro Damiao


Another from the Internacional conveyor belt, he's been rumoured to be on the radar of Spurs for sometime now; currently in London for the Olympics to showcase his talent. In some quarters he has been tagged the new Ronaldo, living up to that tag is still yet to be seen.

Thiago Moura

Manchester United seem determined to land Thiago, the 19 year old is highly rated and its quite a surprise why United are so keen on him. Yes, United's team needs freshen up, but the consensus view is that it is on other departments and not in attacking midfield. 


The Prices been quoted for this untested youngster is quite alarming considering the experience United have had in the past with players from South America, undoubtedly, he is a great talent, he's transfer to United is more 50/50 than anything as United would want to make a deal at the right price and not at the agent's supposed price. 


Conclusion

Traditionally, Brazilians coming to Europe perform better in the warmer climes of Portugal, Spain and Italy, however the Samba beats have found it a little bit difficult in the cold climes of the British Isles yes there have been some exceptions, but South Americans generally have struggled in England and this is my major worry for those heading for the Premiership especially with the prices been quoted; pretty scary.

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Adeyemi Adesanya 

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Tactics IQ Limited

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