While the implausible re-birth of Barcelona as one of Europe's big spenders has hogged the headlines this summer, an unusually frenetic spell at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich rivals their overhaul in both scale and ambition.
Though generally a cautious club by the roulette-wheel standards of others among the European elite, Bayern are no strangers to the odd expensive signing, and the Bavarian behemoth frequently trample over more modest rivals to secure the top talent domestically.
However, a transfer department overseen by much-criticised sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and technical director Marco Neppe has clicked into overdrive during recent weeks.
The ruthless efficiency of main marksman Robert Lewandowski may well be missing this season, but as Bayern prepare to get their latest Bundesliga campaign under way - seeking an 11th successive league crown - stars such as Sadio Mane and Matthijs de Ligt have been recruited to freshen up Julian Nagelsmann's squad.
Will they now thrive in the Champions League and continue their remorseless Bundesliga domination too? Sports Mole assesses FC Hollywood's costly recruitment drive.
ESTABLISHED STARS
For several months, indeed years, Sadio Mane's highly successful Liverpool career had been expected to end with a move to the bright lights of La Liga, as Real Madrid apparently monitored the Senegalese superstar's contract situation from afar.
It was Bayern, though, who managed to prise away an undoubtedly top-class player, who this year scored the winning penalty in the shootout that saw his nation finally crowned champions of Africa and was subsequently named AFCON's 'Player of the Tournament'.
Also the current African Player of the Year and a former Premier League Golden Boot winner, the 30-year-old was snapped up as he entered the final year of his contract at Anfield, for an initial fee of around £27m.
Though not in his first flush of youth, Mane will supplement an already experienced squad in Munich, signing a three-year deal during which he will expect to pick up even more silverware and thrive in the Bundesliga scoring charts.
Meanwhile, Bayern's second big-money buy came at the expense of Chelsea - who have grown used to being usurped in the market this summer - as they captured a potentially crucial piece of Nagelsmann's defensive jigsaw at the second attempt.
Having previously attempted to sign Matthijs de Ligt in 2019, when he first left Ajax, a substantial fee convinced Juventus to relinquish one of their most prized assets - reportedly £65m plus plenty of add-ons.
The 22-year-old leaves Turin after a difficult time in Serie A, with his former club fading from prominence at the pinnacle of the Italian game.
Instead of becoming a long-term replacement for Juve's departing skipper Giorgio Chiellini and his erstwhile partner Leonardo Bonucci, the Dutch defender opted to jump ship, and it ultimately boiled down to a two-club battle for his services.
Chelsea initially lead the race, but Salihamidzic and company intervened to clinch an impressive coup; reaffirming Bayern's pulling power in the face of the Premier League's financial domination.
Joining two other expensive recruits, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez, in the back four, De Ligt was among several new boys to highlight how much the Bayern board made it crystal clear that they wanted him, and the classy centre-back should slot straight into Nagelsmann's framework of attacking, high-intensity football.
Having been forced to sit deeper than he would like at Juventus, De Ligt can now play further up the pitch and exhibit the full extent of his impressive passing range. Like Mane, his move to Munich could be a match made in heaven.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Bayern have not simply focused on snapping up ready-made stars, but have also been busy adding several bright prospects, including Ajax pair Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui.
Like De Ligt, versatile full-back Mazraoui first caught the eye in the Dutch club's European adventures, having come through the various age groups at their famed youth academy.
Also capable of featuring in midfield, the Morocco international was initially linked with both Barcelona and Arsenal when it became apparent he would not sign a new deal in Amsterdam. Arriving on a free, Mazraoui offers strong competition for Bayern's first-choice right-back Benjamin Pavard.
Always keen to provide support on the overlap, he should slot in seamlessly to Nagelsmann's squad, alongside his former teammate, Gravenberch.
Since the latter made his senior debut in 2018, he has been touted as one of Europe's most promising midfielders, and as the Netherlands international was set to be out of contract next year, Ajax allowed him to leave for a relatively modest transfer fee (£15m).
It remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old can break straight into the starting XI on a regular basis, given some stiff competition at the Allianz Arena, but his could be the brightest future of all Bayern's summer signings.
The German champions have also moved to fill the attacking void left by Robert Lewandowski's departure - albeit indirectly - and have opted for the potential of youth.
Rennes striker Mathys Tel, who only broke into the French club's first team last season, has joined the influx for a reported £23m fee.
The 17-year-old only featured 10 times in the senior side, so represents something of a gamble, but is not the youngest player to make his way to Munich in this window.
Spanish starlet Adam Aznou recently completed a free transfer switch from Barcelona, after the 16-year-old left-back emerged as a top talent at the Blaugrana's famed La Masia academy.
THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY
In most observers' estimations, receiving nearly £40m for a 33-year-old with one year left on his contract represents brilliant business, but Bayern were understandably determined to keep their star striker, so Robert Lewandowski's departure goes down as a rare transfer market defeat.
Though Matthijs de Ligt's arrival has since softened the blow, the exit of centre-back Niklas Sule has also seen another first-team regular leave the club. The Germany international made 36 appearances last season, but has now trodden the reverse path of many Borussia Dortmund stars by joining Bayern's main rivals on a free transfer.
There may be some disappointment about his decision, after contract talks repeatedly stalled, but several other fringe players have also left Bavaria for pastures new - bolstering the club's coffers for perhaps one last signing.
Marc Roca (Leeds United), Omar Richards (Nottingham Forest), Lars Lukas Mai (FC Lugano), Ron-Thorben Hoffmann (Eintracht Braunschweig) and Corentin Tolisso (Lyon) have all either brought in fees or at least cleared some space on the wage bill, as Bayern seek to balance the books, having exceeded the most they have ever spent in a single window.
The previous record was set when Die Roten splashed around £118m on players including Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez in 2019 - that figure has already been surpassed in the summer of 2022.
And it may not be over yet. The rumour mill has it that Konrad Laimer of recent Super Cup victims RB Leipzig could be the full stop on a relentless recruitment drive, though the Austrian midfielder could play out the rest of his contract and then leave for free next year instead.
Either way, or even if he somehow resists FC Hollywood's glamorous charms, when all is said and done in September, it could be the case that Bayern Munich have 'won' this summer's transfer window. body check tags ::
