Transfer frenzy is only on hold til the summer
ONE year ago, the Premier League had a record-breaking transfer window with £830million spent.
Fast forward 12 months and clubs have spent a fraction of that amount.
It was always going to be a quiet January window due to a few factors – players being away on AFCON and Asian Cup duty plus unrealistic inflated values.
But the biggest single reason has been the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Everton and Nottingham Forest have already fallen foul of
PSR. And the common misconception is that the bigger and richer clubs hate it because they have the money but are not allowed to spend it.
But the reality is very different because even the ‘Big Six’ are advocates of PSR because they believe it helps provide a level playing field.
After years of feeling they cannot keep up with Manchester City’s spending power, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool now feel they are in with a fighting chance.
Everton and Forest are
VASTLY experienced doctor Ian Beasley is set for a short-term role at Bournemouth after Craig Roberts left the club in December after eight years as medical director. the first teams to face punishment even though PSR has been in place for a decade. That is because in the last few windows, clubs have maxed out their spending and are now having to rein it in.
The Premier League will adjust the figures of PSR from next season as the set amount of permitted losses – £105m over three years – are horribly outdated and out of step with spiralling transfer fees and inflation.
There is frustration among clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and even Aston Villa that they keep being linked with deals which cannot happen in January. It raises false hopes.
While fans and TV stations may be frustrated now, it should be business as usual – and a return to last season’s excess – in the summer when all the numbers have been reset.
CHELSEA have a lot of catching up to do if they are to beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final after their humbling at Anfield.
However, if Chelsea do win at Wembley it could have ramifications for the Premier League’s European places.
Victory would give the Blues a spot in the Europa Conference League next year. But if they stay where they are in the table (10th) it would mean one less qualifying place based on league positions.
JORDAN HENDERSON got off his soap box for the sake of his money box when he went off to Saudi Arabia.
But, arguably, the bigger thing to do was to admit a mistake, and he is due to get his first shot at redemption tomorrow night when he is expected to make his Ajax debut.
Veteran midfielder Henderson (right) sat out last weekend’s win at Heracles because of their plastic pitch but he has been training well, high-fived his team-mates after that 4-2 victory and is looking sharp.
Ajax play runaway leaders PSV tomorrow and Henderson is primed for his debut – offering a big chance for the England international. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate tends to keep his scouting missions quiet these days but he is sure to check on Henderson soon, and the player’s return to Europe gives him a solid chance of making the Euros squad this summer.