Big day today! One that I dread every year. I am already nervous about what could happen, keeping my fingers crossed it will be good news. My car is going in for its MOT!
The transfer window slammed shut yesterday. Many of you would have forgotten it was open considering how little business was done.
Premier League clubs spent £715m less than January 2023, with the combined expenditure of the 20 clubs being just £100m. Just 17 permanent deals were made.
The impact of Premier League clubs not spending was seen lower down the leagues as EFL sides spent just £15m – they rely heavily on money coming in from selling players to enable them to buy.
A lot of fans have blamed PSR during the window for the lack of spending, but the truth is most Premier League clubs blew their budget in the summer.
Despite the slow January, the 2023-24 season has seen over £2.5bn spent by Premeir League clubs across both windows – the second-highest total annual transfer spend ever.
The record of nearly £2.8bn was set in 2022/23, driven by Chelsea’s big spending January. Whilst 3rd on the list (2017/18) is around £700m below this years total.
So for those moaning…your club is not spending because they were not allowed due to PSR, they were not spending because they have no money until the summer. And in the case of Everton, your club is not spending because you have lost nearlt half a billion pounds in the last 5-years. If it was not for PSR you would be in administration.
Winners of the transfer window is Tottenham.
I have lost count how many times in the last decades their fans have celebrated “winning” a transfer window. Have not won a trophy in 16-years though.
Spurs signed some unknown Romanian centreback, loaned in a Chelsea reject and reportedly got a £10m deal over the line for some 18-year-old Swedish midfielder that no-one had heard of 4 days ago.
I read an article yesterday that said “Daniel Levy is a genius” and that his “long term planning is coming to fruition”. enic bought Tottenham nearly 24 years ago. they currently sit 4th and have won 1 League Cup in that time. What brilliant long term planning.
Tottenham’s spending in January simply means they will spend less in the summer. Whilst they decided to draw forward some funds, other clubs kept their powder dry to ensure they had the finances to secure their premier targets in 5-months.
Some might say “waiting 5-months could cost the league”, but that makes the assumption that Arsenal or Liverpool’s top targets were available in January. And if they were not, those secondary targets were good enough.
Personally, I would rather wait until the summer to buy a Douglas Luiz or Ivan Toney then sign a Lucas Bergvall or Timo Werner.
Arsenal did see a couple of outgoings in January.
Alex Runar Runarssons time at the club came to an end as we cancelled his contract. He has joined FC Copenhagen for free. What a strange signing he was!
We also cashed in on contract rebel Lino Sousa. The talented teenager’s current deal was due to expire in the summer, sand he was refusing to sign a new one. He has decided to take the step down to Aston Villa, who immediately sent him out on loan to Plymouth. The path to first team football is much clearer at a mid-table than a title challenging side. Good luck to him.
Charles Sagoe Jr, who made an appearance this season in the EFL Cup, has gone to Swansea on loan, whilst Mika Biereth saw his loan deal with Mothwerwell cancelled and is now at Austrian side Sturm Graz.
Tyreece John-Jules has seen his loan deal with Derby County extended until the end of the season. The hope will be that he continues to impress as Derby chase promotion, and they look to recruit him permanently in the summer.
The final deal saw Marquinhos return to after Arsenal pulled the plug on his loan deal to Nantes.
There is talk that Brazilian side Fluminense are in negotiations with Arsenal over a loan deal for Marquinhos that could include a purchase option at the end of the season. The Brazilian window is still open until 11 January.
Marquinhos was always signed as one for the future, and we have seen over history how often these sort of signings do not work out.
For every Gabriel Martinelli poached from obscurity, you get a Marquinhos , Joel Campbell, Carlos Vela, Wellington Silva and others. And this is not just Arsenal, every top team buys a lot of teenage talent from abroad with 95% not making it. You just need to ensure you are not overspending on these “punts” (like Chelsea have done!).
Marquinhos is still only 20 and habours an ambition to play for Brazil at this years Olympics. A good loan deal in Brazil should secure his seat on the plane (if they make it), and a good tournament could see him return to us full of confidence, or add a bit extra onto his price for a sale.
Today the cricket restarts. It has not been a good morning for England.
UTA.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 