Managing transfers

To the delight of many the transfer window in European football has closed. Coinciding with a break in league fixtures for international matches, fans have been left wondering about the impact of those frantic last-minute additions or even whether their star players will be motivated having seen their ‘dream move’ fail to materialise.

Of course not all clubs resorted to desperate measures. Swansea City did their business early allowing new signings time to acclimatise while proving that real value does exist by adding Andre Ayew, a proven Ghanaian international, for free.

Their rivals Southampton, who were again business-savvy, managed to make a small profit despite spending over £30 million (BD17m) on new acquisitions. What was most impressive was the manner in which they spurned late advances for their players, refusing to sell due to the disruption last-minute overhauls make. Perhaps other clubs will now realise that to do business with the Saints they have to do so early in the summer!

Leicester City have also been a revelation, replacing the sorely-missed Esteban Cambiasso with an astute acquisition in the shape of Gokhan Inler, who looks to be one of the bargains of the summer, while N’Golo Kante and Yohan Benalouane add some steel.

Much of the talk on the final day centred around Manchester. The blue half of the city broke their recently-set transfer record (previously the summer acquisition of Raheem Sterling for £49m (BD28m)) by bringing in the best player in the German league last season, Kevin de Bruyne. Meanwhile, the Red Devils were united in their surprise at the club’s willingness to again break the record fee paid for a teenager.

While there was relief in some quarters that David de Gea’s proposed move to Real Madrid failed, resulting in blame apportionment and finger-pointing between the two clubs, that assumes he returns to the side and performs at the same high level that he can while signing a new long-term contract.

United now risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires in the summer. Club officials may also need to find a way to appease his girlfriend who unfavourably compared the city to the ‘back of a fridge’!

United has history in spending large amounts on teenagers, having acquired Wayne Rooney in 2004 for £20m (BD11.5m) and only last season buying Luke Shaw from Southampton for £27m (BD15.5m). They will hope that the starting fee of £36m (BD21m) spent on French forward, Anthony Martial, resembles the former rather than the £26m (BD15m) spent on Anderson in 2007.

That said, with £49m spent on Raheem Sterling and £40m (BD23m) being quoted for Everton central defender, John Stones, I suspect the furore is a result of him now being English and few who don’t play FIFA football having heard of him.

Of course, United’s transfer window was relatively productive with the early signings of Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, all of whom will add quality to a squad that has also seen much of the ‘dead wood’ set adrift.

Two managers who must be grateful that Manchester United hogged the headlines are Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho. Despite struggling to hit the back of the net this season Arsenal refused to purchase a new striker, a decision made more mysterious given the known injury to Danny Welbeck who faces several months out of action.

Yet it was Mourinho’s purchases that were the most bemusing, failing to make the headlines due to the antics and sums involved going on elsewhere. Having failed to acquire Stones and with his backline creaking in the early matches, Papy Djilobodji arrived from Nantes only to find that he could not even be named in the Champions League squad as Chelsea need to promote their academy players. At least they won the race to sign Pedro while Mourinho will feel as though he won another battle if he can get Radamel Falcao to find the form he showed in Spain.

Other talking points looking back through the window include Mike Ashley finally investing in his Newcastle United squad (perhaps now he is less distracted by Glasgow Rangers) to the tune of over £50m (BD29m) while Stoke City made some intriguing signings in the form of Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona) and Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich) while Marco van Ginkel arrives on loan (Chelsea). Their early-season struggles will surely be a temporary blip while the squad adapts and settles.

Watford, known for frequently changing the manager, is also in a fascinating position where the current incumbent of the hot seat, Quique Flores, claims the club signed ‘too many players’ – shortly before adding three more on the final day of the transfer window! Their total of 15 signings was, however, pipped in the lower leagues by Notts County with 19!

Other sides are simply content to have retained their best talent, warding off the advances of the elite. Crystal Palace (Bolasie) and Everton (Stones, Barkley) will be happiest while West Brom will be waiting to see whether Saido Berahinho goes on strike having been refused a move to Tottenham.

Despite shipping out a whopping 23 players (including those sent on loan), Manchester City managed to spend a net £125m (BD72m), making a mockery of what is left of the Financial Fair Play regulations in my opinion.