It feels quite like old times. The papers suddenly look more like themselves, and the court circular of King Lear, as they muse on who is in and who is out. It is not just agents who welcome the opening of the transfer window.
For years, the staple diet of football was the daily rumour mill, the transfer gossip, but the closing of the Premiership market during the season for all but January put paid to that. And while it may have filled sports editors and writers with gloom, it has been, by and large, good for the game.
Now we are forced to concentrate on the game itself for most of the season. Now coaching, rather than spending, is the significant factor. At least that is the theory.
Remember Norwich leading the table in the first year of the Premiership in 1992/93? They were overhauled, of course, by bigger clubs, Manchester United winning the title, Aston Villa runners-up and the Canaries finishing third in what now looks a bygone era.
It caused their manager at the time, Mike Walker, to lament that the competition could develop into a test of buying rather than coaching, and to call for a transfer shutdown. It took a while for Walker’s plea to permeate, but finally it caught on.
The irony is that while coaching skills are indeed more necessary, never has it been more demonstrable that the buying clubs — that is the bigger ones — are those to whom success comes. What nobody quite foresaw was the twin arrival of such large sums of television money and the Champions League, which has created fissure, leading to the modern three-tier Premiership.
Even David Moyes, with his hitherto remarkable management of Everton on a comparative shoestring, knows that a club cannot keep pulling rabbits from hats. To compete for silverware, or a Champions League place, sooner or later funds have to be found.
‘Ask any manager in the Premiership and he’ll be busy — busy fending off calls from agents,†says Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren, of the window. Indeed, a look at last year tells you that the amount of business done may not match the speculation.
Then, there were four major deals: Louis Saha joining Manchester United, Arsenal recruiting José Antonio Reyes, Scott Parker moving to Chelsea and Jermain Defoe arriving at Tottenham. About £40-million changed hands.
It was a sign that the market was picking up after a fallow spell since 2001 when, with Leeds at their most spendthrift, £488-million was spent. The new factor has been Roman Abramovich, leading to £340-million being spent by Premiership clubs in 2004, a huge slice by Chelsea.
Otherwise, most deals done last January were creative, in the shape of loans and short-term contracts. It is what we may see again at clubs seeking to avoid relegation. Harry Redknapp, particularly, will be in his element at Southampton.
Redknapp has already conceded that James Beattie will be sold to finance changes and the first major deal could be the striker moving to Everton. Moyes now has some funds, from the Wayne Rooney transfer and proposed new investment in the club, as he seeks to cement fourth place. He will be leading the chase, the more so now that Duncan Ferguson’s days at the club look numbered.
Newcastle, too, could be in the market for the striker to succeed Alan Shearer as he nears retirement and the idea of wearing the famous number-nine shirt on Tyneside may appeal to the player. Redknapp would probably also like to sell to Newcastle, as he could do a deal for much-needed players in return.
For Newcastle, though, the priority is in defence — more and perhaps better strikers will be available in the summer — and already Graeme Souness has moved for Celestine Babayaro from Chelsea and Jean- Alain Boumsong from Rangers. The fee of £8-million for the latter, with a five-and-a-half-year contract, illustrates the club’s desperation.
With Fernando Morientes also ready to join Liverpool from Real Madrid, the indications are that the clubs chasing the fourth Champions League place will be the most active, with Aston Villa also seeking, if tentatively, to bridge the gap between second tier and first. Those virtually guaranteed a place — Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United — are likely to make the best of what they have. No great hardship, indeed.
Chelsea might like another midfield player, Arsenal a goalkeeper and Manchester United a striker to alleviate an injury crisis — a luxury, however, since the Rooney money was not in this season’s budget but next — but sometimes buying can disturb the balance of a squad. Going back to 1972, Manchester City bought Rodney Marsh supposedly to confirm a championship but instead finished fourth.
Besides, those of the highest quality that the big four, to include Liverpool, may covet are already likely to be cup-tied when it comes to the Champions League. Anyway, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger are adept at managing their squads in the second half of a crowded English season.
We are about to find out if that applies to Jose Mourinho as well. The need is also greater for those basement dwellers such as Redknapp’s Southampton. Here it is about scrimping and saving, wheeling and dealing. The prospect of losing up to £20-million in TV revenue next season may be alarming, but not as alarming as forking out, through bank loans, and still going down.
It is here that much of the new type of work is done. These days, worldwide scouting and contacts are vital. It is also where maligned agents come into their own. Chairpersons, such as Crystal Palace’s Simon Jordan, may describe them as leeches on the game, but many a manager, far from fending off their calls, is happy to have their cellphone numbers to see what is available and what can be procured.
It is why Redknapp was right to be aggrieved by his Portsmouth chairperson, Milan Mandaric, implying that £3-million had been wasted on agents during the manager’s time. Actually, much more was saved in transfer fees by knowing whom to get, and how and when.
It is this sort of creativity that can be invaluable to clubs, even to those in the Football League who bemoan the fact that they can no longer sell to the Premiership except in the limited transfer periods. They can always agree to do business outside the windows, then complete the deal during them, and budget accordingly.
It would not be surprising if Nottingham Forest, for example, had agreed to part with their prize assets of Andy Reid and Michael Dawson. Reluctant though the clubs may be, especially Forest as they seek to stave off relegation, they know that the fees from on high would enable them to pick up more players of the type required for their current situations.
It all means that while January, in football, too, is traditionally the time for paying, the work has been going on for a while behind the scenes, with scouts and agents, to find those season-turning recruits.
Now the English season takes on a new juiciness: the FA Cup next weekend, four weeks of recruiting. After that, endgame approaches, games thick and fast in Cup, league and European quarterfinals. Let the deals begin.
Arsenal
Available to spend: £15-million to £20-million — but Arsène Wenger aims to save it for the summer.
The targets: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City, £17m); Javier Mascherano (River Plate, £8m) — on Real Madrid’s list, but Wenger sees the 20-year-old as the next Patrick Vieira; Andrea Caracciolo (Brescia, £5m) — Italy U21 striker, also watched by Liverpool; Sergio Ramos (Seville, £8m) — will battle Alex Ferguson for the teenage utility player; Valeri Bojinov (Lecce, £11m) — teenage striker also tracked by Chelsea; Manu Eboue (Beveren, undisclosed) — deal complete. Among the keepers linked are: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton, £7m); Antti Niemi (Soton, £5m); Francesco Toldo (Internazionale); Robert Green (Norwich, £5m).
Aston Villa
Available to spend: £10-million.
The targets: James Beattie (Southampton, £6,5m); Steed Malbranque (Fulham, £8m); Amdy Faye (Portsmouth, £2,5m) — Senegal star is on transfer list; Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal, £1m) — on a Bosman in the summer, tempting Arsenal to sell now; Gary Kelly (Leeds, £300 000) — Leeds need his £28 000 a week off wage bill; Michael Dawson (Nottm Forest, £3m); a £6-million move for Chelsea’s Scott Parker is off after the midfielder broke a foot.
Blackburn
Available to spend: £3-million.
The targets: John Hartson (Celtic, £500 000); Robbie Savage (Birmingham, £2m); Thomas Linke (Bayern Munich); Ousmane Dabo (Lazio, £2,8m) — wants January move; Ryan Nelsen (Washington DC United, free); Aaron Mokoena (Racing Genk, £700 000) — initial bid rejected; Danny Gabbidon (Cardiff, £3m); Jonathan Spector (Man Utd, loan) — deal on hold.
Birmingham
Available to spend: £4-million.
The targets: Robbie Blake (Burnley, £1,5m) — a done deal; Matthew Etherington (West Ham, £1,5m); Paul Dickov (Blackburn, £400 000) — initial bid rejected; Dean Ashton (Crewe, £3m); Nathan Ellington (Wigan, £3m).
Bolton
Available to spend: £0. Sam Allardyce has asked for funds for
two new loan players — the board has already ruled out permanent moves.
The targets: Yossi Benayoun (Racing Santander, £3m); Dmitri Bulykin (Dinamo Moscow, loan); Gary Naysmith (Everton, pre-contract deal before a summer Bosman move. Celtic also keen); Bernard Diomède (free agent, short-term deal).
Charlton
Available to spend: £4-million.
The targets: Andy Reid (Nottm Forest, £4m) — six months after their first inquiry, Charlton are back in for Dawson. His contract expires next year, so Forest are ready to talk; Michael Dawson (Forest, £3m) — Alan Curbishley wants to pair the much coveted defender with Talal El Karkouri; Lisandro López (Racing Club, £2,7m); Darren Bent (Ipswich, £3,5m); John Mensah (Chievo Verona, trial).
Chelsea
Available to spend: If the right player becomes available, money remains no object.
The targets: JoaquÃn (Real Betis, £28m); Jiri Jarosik (CSKA Moscow, loan); Scott Carson (Leeds, £400 000); Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City, £17m).
Crystal Palace
Available to spend: £4-million to £5-million. ‘I’ll buy four or five,†says chairperson Simon Jordan, ‘if it means we have a chance of staying up.â€
The targets: Kily González, Giorgios Karagounis and Francesco Coco (Internazionale); Martin Djetou (free agent, trial); Emmanuel Petit (free agent) — holding out for a two-year contract; Stephen Clemence (Birmingham, £500 000); Sebastian Mila (Dyskoblia Grodzisk, Poland, £1m); Eyal Berkovic (Portsmouth); Bobby Zamora (West Ham, £700 000); Lucas Alessandria (Lanus, Argen-tina, loan).
Everton
Available to spend: £10-million — at least. The Rooney money could be swelled further by imminent new investment in the club.
The targets: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Portsmouth, £10m) — an alternative to in-demand James Beattie. Another option remains long-time target Benni McCarthy, of Porto; Robbie Savage (Birmingham, £3m); Dean Ashton (Crewe, £3m).
Fulham
Available to spend: £6-million — a sum that could increase if Steed Malbranque is sold to Villa.
The targets: Ricardo Baptista (Vitória Setúbal, £250 000) — Replacement for Edwin van der Sar; Derek Riordan (Hibernian, £1m); Jason Koumas (West Brom, £1m); Sebastian Mila (Dyskobolia Grod-zisk, Poland, £1m).
Liverpool
Available to spend: £10-milion — boosted by Champions League qualification.
The targets: Fernando Morientes (Real Madrid, £10m) — Liverpool remain favourites, but rival bidders (particularly Lyon and Newcastle) are driving up the price; Nicolas Anelka (Man City, £8,5m) — if the Morientes deal goes wrong, Anelka is plan B. L’Equipe predict a three-year, £8,5m deal and City need to sell; Pablo Aimar (Valencia, £9m); Julio Cruz (Internazionale); David Cortes (Real Mallorca, £2m); Pablo Ibañez (Atlético Madrid, £2m); Mauricio Pellegrino (free agent — released by Valencia); Scott Carson (Leeds, £1m); Dimitar Berbatov (Leverkusen, £4m); Dario Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Man City
Available to spend: £0 — the club’s debt is £62-million and Kevin Keegan’s future is short-term. Spending will be financed by big-money sales.
The targets: Teemu Tainio (Auxerre) — not likely to move until the summer, but City could test Auxerre with a bid for the star — imminently out of contract — if they can raise funds by selling Nicolas Anelka, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robbie Fowler or Sylvain Distin.
Man United
Available to spend: £0 — Ferguson blew his winter transfer kitty
(£30-million) on Rooney in the summer. If he does plan to spend, he needs to sell a surplus high earner first.
The targets: Antti Niemi (Southampton, £5m) — Ferguson wants a new keeper and plans to wait until the summer — but won’t want to be beaten by Arsène Wenger. Also on Fergie’s list is Middlesbrough’s Mark Schwarzer; and Sergio Ramos (Seville, £8m).
Middlesbrough
Available to spend: £5m. Chairperson Steve Gibson has promised to make funds available.
The targets: Amdy Faye (Ports-mouth, £2,5m); Robert Green (Norwich, £5m); Kevin McNaughton (Aberdeen); Giuseppe Pancaro (Milan); Alex Nyarko (free agent, trial).
Newcastle
Available to spend: £10-million.
The targets: Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea, undisclosed) — deal confirmed; Sylvain Distin (Man City, £5m) — bid lodged after Rangers initially snubbed £8m offer for Jean-Alain Boumsong, but the Boumsong bid has been accepted. A deal for Distin could wait until the summer; Walter Pandiani (Deportivo La Coruña, £3,5m); Barry Ferguson (Blackburn, £5m); Fernando Morientes (Real Madrid, £8m); Luis Boa Morte (Fulham, £2m).
Norwich
Available to spend: £1,2-million.
The targets: Peter Crouch (Southamp-ton, £1m); Erwin Lemmens (Espanyol); Mark de Vries (Hearts, £300 000).
Portsmouth
Available to spend: Chairperson Milan Mandaric says he will finance a winter move ‘provided everything is sensibleâ€.
The targets: Traianos Dellas (Roma, £2m); Angelos Basinas (Panathinaikos, £2m).
Southampton
Available to spend: £6-million — if Beattie is sold.
The targets: Stéphane Henchoz, Igor Biscan (Liverpool, £1m combined) —both out of contract in the summer, Liverpool will take a cut-price offer now; Jamie Redknapp (Tottenham); Mido (Roma, £2,5m); Jason Euell (Charlton, £2m); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle, £2m); Patrik Berger (Portsmouth).
Tottenham
Available to spend: £6-million.
The targets: David Limbersky (Viktoria Plzen, loan) — deal agreed, with an option to make the move permanent; Emil Hallfredsson (FH Hafnarfjordur, Iceland) — deal complete; Christian Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht, £5m); Ousmane Dabo (Lazio, £2,8m); Thomas Buffel (Feyenoord, £2m); Andy Reid (Nottm Forest, £4m) — will attempt to beat Charlton’s offer; Laurent Robert (Newcastle, £2m).
West Brom
Available to spend: £6-million.
The targets: Juninho (Celtic); Igor Tudor (Juventus, £3m); Kily González (Internazionale, loan); Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion (Manchester United, loans); Matias Almeyda (Internazionale, free) — deal done. —