La Liga: Spain not Germany set Euro transfer standard

Mario Mandzukic has joined Atletico Madrid from Bayern Munich

Spain's national team have slumped but their elite clubs shouldn't with Luis Suarez, Toni Kroos and Mario Mandzukic joining...

Germany may have dethroned Spain on the international stage this summer, but La Liga's reputation as the most desirable destination in club football appears likely to remain undiminished.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have already signed or set in motion the high-profile purchases of leading players in rival divisions the Bundesliga and Premier League.

Barcelona have agreed a deal for the Premier League's star attraction Luis Suarez, creating the tasty prospect of a Neymar-Lionel Messi-Suarez front three supported by fellow new arrival Ivan Rakitic.

Toni Kroos, the outstanding performer in Germany's historic World Cup semi-final destruction of Brazil, confirmed after the final that he will be joining Real Madrid, where there are rumours that he could be followed by World Cup Golden Boot claimant James Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid - distant 14.5n/a third favourites to win La Liga despite being holders - have gone all out to prove that they weren't one-season wonders by seducing Bayern Munich top scorer Mario Mandzukic to replace Diego Costa (should his move to Chelsea ever go through).

By contrast, the Bundesliga's headline summer transfers have been internal - Robert Lewandowski to Bayern, Adrian Ramos to Dortmund, Sidney Sam to Schalke and Josip Drmic to Nurnberg - with the exception of the fairly untested Ciro Immobile's switch from Torino to Dortmund.

Spanish sides were absolutely dominant in Europe last term, not only because they won the two major trophies - Real Madrid taking the Champions League and Sevilla lifting the Europa League - but due to going unbeaten in 13 knockout ties against foreign opposition.

Every Spanish elimination in both competitions was inflicted by a compatriot: Atletico Madrid took Barcelona out before being removed by Real Madrid in the Champions League, while Sevilla saw off enemies Real Betis and Valencia on their path to Europa League glory.

Despite exerting that control, La Liga's heavyweights trail 5.39/2 favourites Bayern Munich in the 2014/15 Champions League winner market. Real Madrid are second in line at 5.79/2, perhaps due to the rarity of retention, with Barcelona next up at 6.411/2.

Atletico's 27.026/1 billing puts them eighth in the betting, ahead of the likes of Liverpool and Italian champions Juventus at 29.028/1.