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<p>Analysis</p>
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alt="Cunha, Gyökeres and Ekitké - Are clubs spending more money on strikers this summer?"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/striker-trio-spotlight-1753810896-173453.png"
title="Cunha, Gyökeres and Ekitké - Are clubs spending more money on strikers this summer?"
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<p dir="ltr">This summer's transfer window has seen striking talent capture the spotlight, both in media coverage and in significant financial transactions. Among the top 20 biggest transfers completed so far, five involve players in striker positions, totaling close to €367 million spent on notable names like Hugo Ekitiké, Matheus Cunha, Mateo Retegui, Viktor Gyökeres, and João Pedro.</p>
<p>There's a strong possibility that this trend will continue, with reports suggesting that Newcastle's Alexander Isak might be heading to Liverpool for a record-fee transfer in the Premier League. Additionally, Benjamin Sesko is attracting interest from England's top clubs. It appears that many of the leading teams are on the hunt for a new striker this summer. So, are clubs indeed prioritizing strikers in their transfer strategies? Let’s explore further.</p>
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alt="total fees paid on strikers"
height="629"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/total-fees-paid-on-strikers-1753810963-173454.png?lm=1753810971"
title="total fees paid on strikers"
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<h2 dir="ltr">How much money has been spent on strikers this summer?</h2>
<p>Data from <em>Transfermarkt</em> indicates that clubs worldwide have invested approximately €1.06 billion in players who are center forwards or second strikers. Although this amount is currently the lowest compared to the previous ten summer transfer windows, it’s essential to note that we are still midway through the current window. Interestingly, it falls short of last summer’s total, which reached €1.87 billion during a notably busy transfer period when 496 strikers changed clubs. So far this summer, 261 strikers have made transfers, with a full month left in the window.</p>
<p>This figure can change quickly. If Isak and Sesko transfer for a combined fee of €200-300 million, this year's total could rank as one of the higher amounts in the last decade. If the trend continues and we see around 369 striker transfers by the end of August, an additional 106 strikers may still be on the move, surpassing the amount even if Isak and Sesko transfer at high fees.</p>
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alt="striker average transfer fees"
height="629"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/striker-average-transfer-fees-1753811007-173455.png?lm=1753811020"
title="striker average transfer fees"
width="503">
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<h2 dir="ltr">Are clubs paying more for strikers than ever before?</h2>
<p>A more insightful way to assess the spending this summer is by examining the average transfer fee for strikers. With €1.06 billion spent on 261 transfers, the average cost per striker is €4.06 million, representing an 8% increase from last summer's average of €3.78 million. However, this figure is still below the averages observed in the busier transfer seasons of 2020, 2019, and 2023, when the average fee was €4.61 million.</p>
<p>While these averages may not seem substantial at first glance, each €0.01 million increase in the average translates to an additional €37 million across the transfer market for strikers. Thus, the €0.54 million difference between this summer's average and that of 2020 is quite significant. Yet, as discussed, this could change dramatically in the coming weeks if players like Isak and Sesko start breaking transfer records. For now, the current interest in strikers seems consistent with historical spending patterns in soccer.</p>
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