No doubts that Haaland’sworth every penny
The transfer window closed on Thursday evening, and in the Premier League we saw a record spend by the 20 clubs of close to £2 billion.
That’s an incredible amount of money. It shows that, in the upper echelons of the English game at least, football isn’t being affected by the cost of living crisis.
The riches the top-flight clubs enjoy are down to the huge television monies and sponsorship packages.
Season-ticket sales are also vital and, for now, the fans are still digging deep to support their club.
Clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United spent big amounts of money on players, with Ajax winger Antony’s arrival at Old Trafford for £82 million making him the most expensive deadline-day transfer ever.
Arsenal, Newcastle United and West Ham look as though they have recruited wisely.
Nottingham Forest signed more than 20 players, and manager, Steve Cooper, will have to hope that he finds a way to make them gel.
One guy who has already found his feet in Erling Haaland. He has been on fire for Manchester City, and has absolutely set the place alight.
He is a striker of the highest calibre, and City have signed very well there.
The Norwegian had many suitors, so his choice shows that the top players want to come and play in England.
Some will hit it off, and others will find it difficult. There is no secret formula, and every player will cope differently.
Managers need to find a way for the new players to fit into their system and produce the goods, which is not always easy.
If it doesn’t work out, then they usually pay the price. That’s not always fair, but there are always casualties in football.
Some teams will do well and punch above where they should be. Others will dip below their usual standards.
That’s why the Premier League is so interesting, and why there is movement up and down the table every weekend.