It’s transfer deadline day and the last minute trolley dash is on. It has been suggested that Tottenham Hotspur held back on the Gareth Bale transfer to try and deny Arsenal signings that they want from Real Madrid as the Spainards seek to recoup some of Bale’s fee.
It’s transfer deadline day and the last minute trolley dash is on. It has been suggested that Tottenham Hotspur held back on the Gareth Bale transfer to try and deny Arsenal signings that they want from Real Madrid as the Spainards seek to recoup some of Bale’s fee.
Despite receiving a record world fee, Spurs still seem miffed about the departure of Bale, their argument being that they fostered and developed the player. They have received a very substantial financial reward for that, much more than lower league clubs who get their youngsters poached. Admittedly, Spurs have lost a genuinely world class player and the replacements, who still have to knit together, are international class rather than world class.
As for Arsenal, their victory over Spurs will delight their fans but it does not undermine the case for reinforcements if they are serious about winning a trophy. In the short term, however, which all too often is almost everything in football, the pressure is off Arsene Wenger.
It looks as if an armada of players is heading here from Spain which casts some doubt on gleeful reports from some quarters of the imminent demise of the Barclays Premier League. The influx of new players has not slowed down, despite the attractions of new money in France and Russia.
Apart from Real Madrid and Barcelona, most Spanish clubs have become exporters as they try to cope with alarming levels of debt. Indeed, some struggle to pay wages that are much lower than the average salary of a Premier League footballer. Of the squad of 23 that won the under-21 championship for Spain two years ago, 13 now belong to clubs outside Spain.
Of the top nine clubs in the Premiership last season only Manchester United and cautious West Bromwich Albion did not have a Spaniard on their roster and of course United had David De Gea as a goalkeeper. The best buy was undoubtedly Michu who went to Swansea City for £2m.
United have been chasing Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera whose release clause costs £31m. Athletic are a relatively stable club, but Herrera could double his current wages of £1.3m a year. If he comes, he will join 31 other Spaniards playing in the Premier League.