Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Is it a big gamble to splash the cash in virus crisis? You bet!
AS so many big clubs go about their transfer business seemingly without recognition of the global crisis still raging around them, I’d use one word – gamble.
Or maybe two, because I ’d add massive.
I think it’s a massive gamble for two reasons – one, because of the financial uncertainty over if and when fans are allowed back into stadiums.
But, two, because spending big money on several players this summer, when there is so little time to prepare for the new season, means it will be even harder than normal to settle new signings into an unfamiliar surrounding and a new system.
Look, it’s hard enough anyway. It doesn’t matter if you spend £12 million or £120 mon a new player, it’s always a gamble.
Will they settle in? Will they understand the new system, will they actually have the character you believe them to have?
That’s always hard to answer until they arrive.
And sometimes even the best homework doesn’t give you all the necessary information.
Sometimes, even signing players from the same league with an incredible track record doesn’t pay off. Alexis Sanchez, anyone?
Yet this summer, when most clubs have about a fortnight to prepare, and some, like Manchester City and United have even less, it will be incredibly difficult if you are trying to bed in four or five players.
Four or five from abroad, getting used to the pace and rhythm of the Premier League and some of the sophisticated systems clubs use, with what, one or two pre-season games to give them a taste?
Good luck with that.
Yet I get why clubs may be tempted. Chelsea boss Frank Lampard looks like he may sign three or four, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, too. And spend big money too. And pay big, big wages, which I’ve argued before is not a good look for Arsenal when they are making so many staff redundant.
They were miles off the top, so they clearly believe they need to take that gamble.
And what a gamble it would be. Because no fans until Christmas – or, God forbid, all season – would mean a loss of hundreds of millions to those clubs.
If I were a betting man, I ’d say United will spend big money on Jadon Sancho, too. And quite possibly a centre-half. City may make three or four signings, but I’d class those clubs slightly differently.
United haven’t been the same club for some years, but if they want a player, they can always find the money and ride out any losses. And Sancho isn’t a player for one season, he’s one for a decade because of his age.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a good end to the season, but the reality is that they were still a mile off the top, so a couple of signings would help them over the course of next season and in the coming years.
I don’t class City in that bracket at all. Ye s they finished a long way behind Liverpool , but they are still class and could go into a new season with the same players and still win the Premier League. New signings are a bonus for them, who could be fed in over many months. Which brings us to Liverpool.
I hear them being criticised for only signing squad players, but hang on – what have people been saying about them for a while now?
They have a fantastic team, but their squad doesn’t look as strong as some others.
I’m an advocate of the idea that not signing players isn’t just standing still – it can be going backwards.
But they have just won the League by 19 points. They don’t need to dramatically change their team, they just need more strength in depth.
Their signings recently are bringing them that. And interestingly are also showing what I’ ve said here, that it takes time for players to settle in. Look at Naby Keita, it’s taken two years! Only next season will we see a player worth £50m.
Minamino, too. He will be a good squad player for them , but it’s taken him six months and he’s not there yet.
It’s typical of fans that they want glamorous bigmoney signings all the time, I’m a fan too and I want that as well! But their transfer policy has worked for some years now, so why change it?
You can’t argue with that model.
Some of their young players could be ready to challenge Firmino, Salah and Mane in a couple of years at the right time when the trio all hit 30.
And Ju rge n Klopp clearly believes he can find even more improvement in the players he has.
I don’t doubt that either, with his track record.
So I can understand why Liverpool may be different to the rest this summer and I can believe they may not be too disadvantaged by it.
But I can also accept some clubs need drastic measures to close the gap… and tell them it’s a massive gamble.
I get why Chelsea and Arsenal are prepared to spend ... they were miles off the top spot