The January window this year, with roughly three hours to go, has been uneventful to say the least. Possibly the most exciting transfer being a loan in the form of Higuain to Chelsea. So, whilst the media make the most that they can out of a boring and dull month, is it not time to knock it on the head?
The summer eighteen window saw clubs in the premier league spend
a total of £1.24billion. Compare this to the winter window last season where
the total was £419.5million there is clear evidence that most business is done
in the summer.
Premier league teams voted that the 2018/2019 summer transfer window would
close prior to the season starting. Fourteen, at the time, premier league clubs
voted for this action.
According to the BBC, mangers had complained that signing players when the
season had already started was a disruption to preparations. This wasn’t a decision
without risk as other major leagues in Europe stay open until the end of August
and beyond.
Premier league clubs have again voted for this action for the 19/20 season
implying that any worries about an early closure didn’t affect many.
Disruptions to preparations is one thing but players coming and going halfway through a season surely would bring more disruption? We have seen Marko Arnautovic’s head turned with a big money move to China on the table, who can blame him when it’s reported he would be earning £200K a week for four years. That’s £10.8million!! As we now know the forward will stay at West Ham, it is however thought that at least a few players within the squad are annoyed by his attitude, in particular the way he has handled the matter.
Ok so the January transfer window isn’t all doom and gloom, we have seen the likes of Suarez, Vidic and Aubameyang all move to the premier league during January and it can be a season saving month.
The burning question is if the summer window closes before the season why do we have a window in the middle? The life expectancy of the winter window may not be as long as you think.
TheFootballArticle 