Every time there will be a successful January signing, there will be an argument to keep it. There are PLENTY OF EXAMPLES to show it does not work. But it takes fewer success stories to ensure its sustenance.
It was after the end of 2015’s January transfer window when Arsene Wenger finally let his restraint slip. He had dropped hints over the years but after a tepid month, he aimed at his target. Like many other modern football vices, this was another which had acquired the capability to annoy Wenger. The Frenchman, true to his style, played the role of an irritated grandpa.
“IT WAS NEVER SUCH A LOW activity level across Europe — basically nothing happened. It shows still that financial fair play had an impact, for sure, because we have the experience of seasons before. It pushes even more an idea forward — let’s completely get rid of [the transfer window], and go from season to season with the same players. Yes [I would scrap January transfers] because it can disturb the cohesion of a group within the season. When the players don’t play in October or the end of September, they already think that they may move in January. You lose them and in our job it’s important that everybody is on board. I find the transfer window [a disturbance].”
A DISTURBANCE. Wenger was tetchy, yet smiling. The winter transfer window annoyed him. It worried him. But not to the point that it would keep him up at night. Or maybe it did, for he did make use of it. It may be a vice but a man has to earn his bread. Or three points. So, Wenger bought two players that winter. One of them, Gabriel Paulista, has gone on to earn first-team status. May be, it is not a waste of time after all. Luis Suarez, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic were even more illustrious winter signings. In football, if you mess the summer transfer window up, there are second chances.
As we approach the latest iteration of the January transfer market, it is worth wondering what can the Premier League clubs do to make this opportunity count. Some need the window more badly than others, of course.
This story is from the January 7, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
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This story is from the January 7, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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