As the July heat is approaching, this column had reviewed with our fans and friends the big money attractions of JLF teams after the reopening of the international transfer window. The transfer window came to an end on September 2, and many J-League clubs are still actively reinforcing their lineups at the last minute. Today, we focus again on the transfer hotspots in these two months.
Mariners, Sanfrecce and Antlers battle it out as the road to the title takes twists and turns
Despite Kawasaki Frontale regaining the top spot in the midweek bye, Yokohama Marinos, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashima Antlers follow in an incredibly competitive race. The four teams are showing their own characteristics with very different strategies in the transfer market.
Kawasaki Striker Stays Stable, Yokohama Mariners Cautious About Reinforcements
Kawasaki Strikers chose to remain unchanged for two months as they did not bring in any new recruits and instead loaned out two substitutes, Takahide Tsukawa and Hideto Tanabe, to FC Tokyo and Chiba Ichihara. Coach Tatsuya Onigi seems to be confident in his current squad. Yokohama Mariners, on the other hand, have kept a relatively low profile in the transfer market, with midfielder Azunosuke Kiriyama loaned to Yamagata Yamagami, but wing forward Enematos joins from Pomeranian in the Barclays Premier League, bringing with him a certain amount of experience.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima brings in powerhouse scorer as Kashima Antlers get a new look
Sanfrecce Hiroshima have been surging this season under the leadership of Skippy. In their bid for the title, they brought in Cypriot shot-stopper Sudilio, who has made a name for himself in Bulgaria with Ludogardus. Kashima Antlers, on the other hand, have undergone a major shake-up with the departure of top scorer Eisei Ueda and the dismissal of coach Wei, who has been replaced by Iwamasa Daiki. Brazilian midfielder Zuan Ailanu was sold to Flying Foot Osaka, but Nigerian-born center forward Eriki joined the team from Belgium's VA Biszczot and is expected to boost the team's performance on the attacking end.
Mid-tier teams have their own plans
The mid-table teams had different strategies in the transfer market. Kashiwa Reysol and Cerezo Osaka did not make any major additions, while Urawa Red Diamonds did not make any transfer moves after bringing in Flying Yanno flanker Jenkinson Paik, while FC Tokyo experienced a series of personnel changes with the departures of Kenzo Nagai and Yojiro Takahagi, and new additions including Takahide Tsukawa on loan from Kawasaki Striker, and Brazilian winger Rex Ferrillipo on loan from Stokoei.
Nagoya Whale adjusts lineup, Shimizu S Pulse welcomes strong reinforcements
Nagoya Whale made a big change to their roster in the summer, but the direction of the reinforcements is slightly vague. Shimizu S Pulse, on the other hand, has gradually picked up their performance after a coaching change, with Qian Guishi and Yegor joining the team, injecting new vitality into the team.
Lower-tier teams go all out for relegation
The relegation situation in the Nippon Professional League is also confusing, with only 6 points separating Fukuoka Hornets and Iwata Yamaha. In order to stay alive, downstream teams have strengthened their offensive firepower in the summer. Teams such as Hida Osaka and Hokkaido Sapporo Gonzaga have brought in new recruits in an effort to achieve their relegation goal this season.
Kobe Victory ship seeks breakthrough
Kobe Victory had a poor start to the season, but sought to make a breakthrough this season by bringing in Montenegrin center forward Steven Mugosha and young center Maffeokona. In addition, the addition of Yuki Kobayashi fills the void left by the departure of Kunito Hashimoto.
The transfer window for the JLF is now closed, and the moves made by each team will surely affect the trend of the league this season. Let's wait and see if these transfers can bring good results for the teams.
This week's JLF live streaming schedule:
September 2, 6:30 p.m. Hokkaido Sapporo Gonzaga vs. Osaka Sakura Cable TV 601/661
September 3, 6:00 PM FC Tokyo vs. Yokohama Marinos Cable TV 601/661
September 3, 6:00 PM Xiangnan Bima vs Kawasaki Frontier Cable TV 602/662
This week's Sunday B live streaming schedule:
September 4, 5:00 p.m. Tochigi SC vs Gunma Kusatsu Onsen Cable TV 601/661
September 4, 6:00 p.m. Kumamoto Royals vs. Omiya Squirrels Cable 602/662
