Smaller clubs prepare to be raided by rich rivals

LONDON: With just over a week to go until the British transfer window closes for four months, several Premier League clubs are steeling themselves to resist raids on their young stars from bigger rivals.

The managers of West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Southampton, to name but three, fear new bids for players they have insisted they want to keep.

And all three have criticised the way the window will still be open four matches into the new Premier League season, which started a week earlier than usual because of next year’s European Championship finals.

Southampton’s manager Ronald Koeman described the September 1 deadline as “crazy” and said it should be on August 1, before any matches are played.

He is concerned about speculation linking his Senegalese winger Sadio Mane to Manchester United and Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama to Tottenham. After Southampton’s 0-0 draw at Watford on Sunday he insisted “nobody is for sale”.

One of the problems has been that playing three or four games while the window is still open enables rich clubs to identify weaknesses in their squad, sometimes caused by additional injuries or suspensions.

Tottenham fall into that category and manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was in charge at Southampton before leaving last year, is reported likely to be reunited with Wanyama.

The first three games have also exposed his team’s over-dependence on striker Harry Kane and Pochettino confirmed last week he wanted another forward.

Without naming West Bromwich’s England Under-21 international Saido Berahino, who is widely believed to be the main target, the Spurs manager said at

Everton have been aware for some time of Chelsea’s interest in young England defender John Stones, which is likely to have increased after the champions conceded seven goals in their first three games and now have captain and centre-half John Terry suspended following his sending-off at West Bromwich.

Everton’s captain Phil Jagielka, who plays alongside the 21-yearold Stones, said in interviews before Sunday’s defeat by Manchester City that the present system led to uncertainty and “unsettles people”.

“I cannot get my head round why it works the way it does,” he added.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez reiterated after the match how keen the club were to keep Stones. But like Pulis, Koeman and others, he faces an uncomfortable wait until 7pm (SA time) next Tuesday. – Reuters