Chidozie Ehirim
Editor
With the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season fast approaching, football fans have been occupied amongst other things, with this summer's action packed transfer window.
Tens of millions of pounds have been spent on players and as ever, business has been booming.
Editor
With the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season fast approaching, football fans have been occupied amongst other things, with this summer's action packed transfer window.
Tens of millions of pounds have been spent on players and as ever, business has been booming.
In recent years though, transfer fees have exploded. According to accountancy firm Deloitte, Premier League clubs spent approximately £1.165bn in last summer's transfer window. If that wasn't staggering enough, that figure is on course to be surpassed in the current window.
The current season's transfer window has seen unprecedented activity with ever increasing amounts spent of defensive players and goalkeepers.
John Stones moved from Everton to Manchester City for £47 million last August. In the current transfer window so far, City have spent £50 million and £52 million respectively on full backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy. Everton recently splashed out £30 million to obtain goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland, making him the most expensive British goalkeeper in history.
Mendy and Walker are no doubt quality footballers but remember, they are full backs. Traditionally, defenders and goalkeepers moved for a lot less.
How times have changed.
The significant increases in the transfer fees have led many to question whether the transfer market is getting out of control. It is often a topic for discussion and debate amongst fans and pundits alike. Even club chairmen are weighing in.
Tottenham chief, Daniel Levy commented on the current transfer market telling BBC Sport "We have a duty to manage the club (Tottenham) appropriately. Some of the activity that is going on at the moment is just impossible for it to be sustainable. Somebody spending £200 million more than they're earning, eventually it catches up with you and you can't keep doing it"
Choice words indeed.
Levy's comments are probably tempered by the fact that he is currently overseeing the construction of Tottenham's new stadium - cash now, will be tight and in relative terms they just will not be able spend huge amounts on players. It is likely that much of the cash for new players will come from the sale of current players to balance the books.
Despite this though , Spurs, in comparison to their rivals have not always been big spenders. Current coach, Claudio Pochettino since his arrival in North London has created one of the most competitive and highly improved teams in recent years. The Argentinian coach has created one of the most tactically astute and ruthless teams. Their second place finish last season above Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United was a great achivement despite spending significantly less on transfers in comparison to the aforementioned clubs.
Many will argue that footballers are entertainers and that the transfer fees and wages should reflect this. Others point to the fact that if the money is there, it should be spent, especially due to the fact that Premier League clubs recieve millions in TV deals. According to BBC Sport, Chelsea received £150 million in prize money from the Premier League. Sunderland recived £94 million despite being relegated from the Premier League after a shocking season. If this money was not available or significantly less, would clubs spend the way they do?
Perhaps not.
Premier League clubs now have the added external injection of funds and do not rely soley on gate receipts and the sale of players. The landscape has changed significantly and this is reflected heavily in the way the transfer market operates.
The changes have their advantages but have also meant that some concerning trends have emerged. One reason for the massive amounts spent on players is the value placed on players by the selling clubs. These clubs, desperate to hold on to their best players ensure that buying clubs have to pay a minimum amount - these amounts are often astronomical.
This could be a contributing factor in the inflated transfer fees - the market is being distrorted as a result of clubs, possibly over valuing players.
The role played by player's agents has also been a source of debate. Agents have always taken their cut of transfer deals and rightfully so. After all, they are integral to the movement of players between clubs and should be renumerated. However, are they now taking more than they deserve? Are clubs and the transfer market paying too high a price?
Paul Pogba's transfer to Manchester United was shrouded in contoversy as a result of his agent, Mino Raiola. It was claimed that he would pocket £23 million from the transfer as well as an addtional £16 million in instalments over the course of Pogba's contract. This is an aspect of transfers that sometimes is overlooked. Although Raiola is just one example of an agent perhaps taking more than his fair share, it does beg the question - how often is this happening? Clubs are possibly already playing more than than they need to but are agents having a negative impact on transfer dealings?
If the answer is yes, then it is a major concern and must be addressed. Daniel Levy's prediction that the status quo isn't sustainable should be taken seriously. If the bubble bursts, what will that mean for the game?
We might not like what we see but it might bring some semblance of normality to the transfer market.
The current season's transfer window has seen unprecedented activity with ever increasing amounts spent of defensive players and goalkeepers.
John Stones moved from Everton to Manchester City for £47 million last August. In the current transfer window so far, City have spent £50 million and £52 million respectively on full backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy. Everton recently splashed out £30 million to obtain goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland, making him the most expensive British goalkeeper in history.
 |
| John Stones |
How times have changed.
The significant increases in the transfer fees have led many to question whether the transfer market is getting out of control. It is often a topic for discussion and debate amongst fans and pundits alike. Even club chairmen are weighing in.
Tottenham chief, Daniel Levy commented on the current transfer market telling BBC Sport "We have a duty to manage the club (Tottenham) appropriately. Some of the activity that is going on at the moment is just impossible for it to be sustainable. Somebody spending £200 million more than they're earning, eventually it catches up with you and you can't keep doing it"
Choice words indeed.
Levy's comments are probably tempered by the fact that he is currently overseeing the construction of Tottenham's new stadium - cash now, will be tight and in relative terms they just will not be able spend huge amounts on players. It is likely that much of the cash for new players will come from the sale of current players to balance the books.
Despite this though , Spurs, in comparison to their rivals have not always been big spenders. Current coach, Claudio Pochettino since his arrival in North London has created one of the most competitive and highly improved teams in recent years. The Argentinian coach has created one of the most tactically astute and ruthless teams. Their second place finish last season above Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United was a great achivement despite spending significantly less on transfers in comparison to the aforementioned clubs.
Many will argue that footballers are entertainers and that the transfer fees and wages should reflect this. Others point to the fact that if the money is there, it should be spent, especially due to the fact that Premier League clubs recieve millions in TV deals. According to BBC Sport, Chelsea received £150 million in prize money from the Premier League. Sunderland recived £94 million despite being relegated from the Premier League after a shocking season. If this money was not available or significantly less, would clubs spend the way they do?
Perhaps not.
 |
| Paul Pogba |
The changes have their advantages but have also meant that some concerning trends have emerged. One reason for the massive amounts spent on players is the value placed on players by the selling clubs. These clubs, desperate to hold on to their best players ensure that buying clubs have to pay a minimum amount - these amounts are often astronomical.
This could be a contributing factor in the inflated transfer fees - the market is being distrorted as a result of clubs, possibly over valuing players.
The role played by player's agents has also been a source of debate. Agents have always taken their cut of transfer deals and rightfully so. After all, they are integral to the movement of players between clubs and should be renumerated. However, are they now taking more than they deserve? Are clubs and the transfer market paying too high a price?
Paul Pogba's transfer to Manchester United was shrouded in contoversy as a result of his agent, Mino Raiola. It was claimed that he would pocket £23 million from the transfer as well as an addtional £16 million in instalments over the course of Pogba's contract. This is an aspect of transfers that sometimes is overlooked. Although Raiola is just one example of an agent perhaps taking more than his fair share, it does beg the question - how often is this happening? Clubs are possibly already playing more than than they need to but are agents having a negative impact on transfer dealings?
If the answer is yes, then it is a major concern and must be addressed. Daniel Levy's prediction that the status quo isn't sustainable should be taken seriously. If the bubble bursts, what will that mean for the game?
We might not like what we see but it might bring some semblance of normality to the transfer market.
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