Transfer lull not a worry for City
IF it seemed like City’s transfer window would be a procession of triumphs, they appear to have ground to a standstill.
The season had barely finished before Bernardo Silva and Ederson were snapped up to signal Pep Guardiola’s intent, and their other primary targets have long been apparent.
However, a month since the last one through the door and there is still no sign of Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker or Alexis Sanchez.
All continue to be of significant interest, but the latest word is that no signings are expected imminently.
And, when you push through the giddy excitement the early business created, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
There are any number of reasons for deals requiring time to be completed.
Those in the footballing family - as part of the human race - do like to have a bit of time away from their job and even when all parties are willing there can be delays.
It took a week from Benfica announcing the sale of Ederson to City confirming it - and that was just sorting out the last 0.5 per cent of the deal.
More than anything though, and as the yellow ties of DEADLINE DAY make clear, posturing is crucial to every team in the transfer window.
They will all be weighed and measured the second the window slams shut - even though it would be wiser to review signings after they have had time to actually play - and everyone has to be seen to have made a success of it.
French champions Monaco do not want to celebrate their title win by immediately flogging their best players, Arsenal would lose face as well as an excellent player if they cannot show they can replace Sanchez, Tottenham’s Daniel Levy has a reputation to uphold as a tough negotiator.
City can’t be seen to be desperate in either buying or selling either.
If they believe players want to join them, that gives Txiki Begiristain extra room to eke out a better deal in principle.
Likewise, the hardline approach of refusing to take loan deals for exiles such as Joe Hart and Nolito may soften towards the end of the window but is a strong way to start negotiations with clubs looking for a bargain.
The limit to haggling comes with how much time the signings need to bed in.
Everyone wants business done early to give the team as much time to gel as possible.
However, City should have extra legroom given that Guardiola will be bringing in more players he has identified rather than the ones left to him when he arrived at the club.
That won’t mean all the work is left until August 31, but no news now isn’t necessarily bad news for the Blues.