The WhatsApps begin to light up around 6am – and don’t stop until the deadline ticks past 11pm. From unsolicited clips packages sent by hopeful agents to the phantom medical slots that most clubs will book in anticipation of any last minute deals, deadline day for football clubs is a whirlwind of conversations, claims and theories that occasionally turn into actual business.
This year, industry insiders feel there is scope for cash rich Premier League clubs to move the needle on 1 September. While there won’t be any earthquakes to match Cristiano Ronaldo confirming his return to Manchester United 12 months ago, English clubs have the funds to lure overseas talent and – in the phrase beloved by all sporting directors and football executives – be “alive to possibilities”.
Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton were cited in football circles as clubs still prowling the market. Southampton are locked in talks for Cody Gakpo. Leeds United have money for the right striker. Even Arsenal could add a final flourish to what has been a decent transfer window.
While more sober heads usually prevail, even the clubs that pride themselves on being methodical and meticulous in their recruitment planning will hold early morning huddles where they discuss whether they can opportunistically “nick” long-term targets.
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“The bulk of the business has been done now, but the intensity of the agent calls definitely steps up. There are a lot of intriguing things being put to you because everyone knows that Premier League clubs have the guaranteed TV money,” one director of football told i.
Overseas deals are more difficult to do and if you hear of left-field links emerging in the late afternoon you can probably discount them. Since Brexit changed the way English football operates, clubs have a mountain of paperwork to plough through that can’t be done in a matter of hours. Indeed no deal is ever truly “last minute”.
The nature of the industry – and the proliferation of analysts, scouts and sporting directors who contribute to recruitment decisions – dictates that all the pieces of the transfers signed off on the final day of the window have been put in place long before those frantic hours before the deadline arrives.
Some will ask why any multi-million pound investment is left until the final hours of the transfer window when they have the whole summer to do business. Phil Giles, Brentford’s director of football, once explained it in simple terms.
“You’re never working on just one deal, you’re working on three or four. You have your preferred one over here and it’s a classic thing of spinning plates,” he said.
“You’re trying to do your preferred one but if that’s not possible and they’ve gone elsewhere you have to flip onto the next one and you try to get that done in time.”
This year clubs have tried to factor a winter World Cup into their thinking. There are only 10 weeks to go until Qatar and that gives clubs a break over December and the latter weeks of November, and planning for the winter window has already begun.
While many will be watching for top flight moves, it is in the lower reaches of EFL where the game-changing deals might be done. An onslaught of loan moves is anticipated for fringe and young players who have been waiting to see what opportunities crop up.
One recruitment official told i that the “bottom has fallen out of the market”. Clubs in the Championship want to hire players but can only afford 20 per cent or less of their monthly wages.
“You’ve left it all summer to get a better deal but in the end you probably buckle and the player goes,” they said. “Those moves can transform clubs in League One and League Two.”
What time does the transfer window close?
The transfer window for clubs in the Premier League and EFL will close at 11pm on Thursday 1 September.
Clubs in Scotland have an extra hour to do their business while the transfer windows across Europe close at different times.
Deadline day times across Europe (all BST):
- 5pm: Germany’s Bundesliga
- 7pm: Italy’s Serie A
- 11pm: Premier League, EFL and Spain’s La Liga
- Midnight: Scottish Premiership and France’s Ligue 1
5 deals to look out for on deadline day
Cristiano Ronaldo to Napoli: Nothing has changed in terms of Ronaldo wanting to leave Manchester United but there is no obvious escape route. Napoli looks like the only realistic option, but odds overwhelmingly favour him staying.
Youri Tielemans to Newcastle or Arsenal: Leicester are open to selling the Belgium midfielder, who is in the final 12 months of his contract. Newcastle could clinch a deal for £25m to add a final flourish to another impressive transfer window.
Cody Gakpo to Southampton: PSV Eindhoven forward looks like the next cab off the rank in the Eredivisie. Southampton are pushing for the move but Leeds could yet rival them as they look to add firepower.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chelsea: The Blues’ approach could best be described as “scattergun” this summer. They remain interest in the former Arsenal striker, who is available for the right price.
Idrissa Gana Gueye to Everton: Everton will add to their midfield with moves for Gueye and James Garner in the final 24 hours of the transfer window to sign off a hectic summer.
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