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Big Transfer Sagas To Look Forward To Next Summer

With the transfer window fully closed now and the season back in full swing again, it looks as if we are going to have to look forward to January and next summer to witness the next big transfer sagas which many thoughts were going to be completed this summer. Although this summer was a little lack-lustre in terms of huge names moving clubs, we believe that it was the catalyst this year to start of a year of huge transfer fees and big moves next summer.

The biggest saga of the summer this year that wasn’t able to get over the line was when Lionel Messi, who joined Barcelona in 2004, handed in a transfer request via fax to leave his beloved club. Barca went through a sticky patch last year and got blown away by European champions Bayern Munich 8-2 in the semi-finals and this was the final nail in the coffin for Messi. There were many rumours of Messi coming to England to reunite at Man City with Pep Guardiola and even going to America to join an MLS team; although Messi was persuaded to stay but with Barcelona looking even worse this season, it’s almost guaranteed that he will leave next year.

[Image: AS English]

During the transfer window, many football punters like ourselves had to find alternative methods in which to bet on seeing as the football season was on its summer break. This led to a trend of many football gamblers moving over to online casinos and giving them a spin whilst waiting for the return of football, UK players are accepted at these particular casinos.

Furthermore, another transfer that didn’t quite have the legs to get over the line was that of Jadon Sancho moving from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United which looks almost guaranteed to happen at the beginning of the season. Many experts and pundits had predicted that all personal terms had been agreed and that it was just the fee that the clubs were way out on the price for the young English man. United will now be frustrated with themselves that they didn’t pay the extra £10 million for the winger as they are currently struggling in the league this year.

And finally, a saga that wasn’t anything this season, but rumours have started to creep into the mouths of many at the beginning of the season with the most marketable player in the world Kylian Mbappe and his potential move to Real Madrid. This would quite easily smash the current transfer record out of the water with the 22-year old Frenchman due to both his age and his star quality that he is already showing – this is the most exciting transfer news in recent times and one we will be watching very closely.

[Image: Goal]

Why Manchester United Should Still Hunt Bargain Buys

Whenever there’s a transfer window open, it’s a pretty safe bet that Manchester United will be linked with numerous moves in the gossip columns. Still in the process of rebuilding his team, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for a vital injection of new talent capable of putting the Red Devils back in the reckoning for silverware.

Although they slipped behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in the most recent Deloitte Football Money League published in 2020, the Old Trafford outfit still remains the richest club in the Premier League. However, in an era of stratospheric transfer fees and player wages, prices always seem to inflate whenever they’re linked with a move.

Big Spending

The recent capture of Donny van de Beek from Ajax reportedly cost £35 million, plus £5 million in add-ons. That could prove to be good business, if the 23-year-old Netherlands international lives up to his promising expectations. This move also follows on from several big-money additions last season.

Harry Maguire was landed for £80 million from Leicester City, Aaron Wan-Bissaka cost £45 million from Crystal Palace, while Bruno Fernandes was an excellent addition to the team at £47 million, plus the inevitable add-ons that Manchester United will have to pay Sporting CP. Prior to those big outlays, United also spent £47 million to land Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Despite all that spending in the last couple of years, the latest Premier League football betting odds have Manchester United priced as 16/1 outsiders for the title. By comparison, Manchester City are favourites at 4/5, reigning champions Liverpool are 9/4, while Chelsea have moved ahead of the Red Devils at 10/1 following their recent influx of transfers.

Bargain Buys

Whenever they make a move for quality players, it doesn’t seem like Manchester United get much change out of £50 million these days, with many of their recent additions costing around that sum. It almost seems preposterous to consider such signings as bargains, which is an indication of just how expensive transfers have become.

Nevertheless, there are still genuine bargains to be had. If they can move quickly enough, before rival clubs take too much interest in potential targets, United have shown they can still grab some bargains. Daniel James is a great example, after he came highly recommended by former Old Trafford favourite Ryan Giggs for just £15 million in June 2019.

The young Welsh international went on to make 33 Premier League appearances during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring 3 goals and also providing 6 assists. James will celebrate his 23rd birthday in November and given the quality of his performances, looks to be a great investment for years to come. He is proof that United don’t always have to spend big to get great value for money.

Good Scouting

It goes without saying that for United to land more quality bargains, they need to focus their scouting department towards spotting them. Supporters always seem to be enthusiastic when the club splashes out large transfer fees, yet the price-tag of a player is never any guarantee of how successful they might become.

Just look at how Barcelona have struggled in their attempts to replace Neymar, signing several players for more than £100 million apiece, without any of them being particularly impressive. Haphazard spending is one reason why Lionel Messi expressed his frustrations, and almost left the Spanish giants, claiming there was no sense of direction with signings.

Solskjaer himself is a prime example of what good scouting can achieve. Fans wondered who this obscure Norwegian striker was when he arrived at the club in 1996 for just £1.5 million. He’s now a club legend and more than anyone else knows that even the cheapest bargain signing can potentially become a legend at Old Trafford.

1994 vs 2005 – Which was the more dramatic PL dogfight?

This year will see May come and go without the Premier League’s traditional final-day relegation dogfight.

Though others are more than worthy of mention, there are two such days that certainly stand out as the most prominent inside the first 15 years of the Premier League’s existence, but which gives us the bigger goosebumps?

Stein saves Ipswich – 7 May 1994

In the end, this one came down to three teams: Ipswich, Everton and Sheffield United, one of which would drop into the Football League.

Notably, both of the latter teams are in contention to seal a UEFA Europa League berth via the league. Prior to the break, Sheffield United were among the favourites for the top six in the Premier League betting outright markets, but it was all very different for that duo 26 years ago.

Most of the early drama on the final day of 1993/94 took place at Goodison Park, with Everton conceding two goals to Wimbledon in farcical fashion. Everton pulled one back from the spot, to go in just 2-1 down (and relegated as the second-bottom club) at half-time.

By contrast, Sheffield United led 1-0 at Chelsea and sat three places above the drop zone. It had been a reasonably comfortable day for the Blades, but from their vantage point, the second half proved just how unforgiving football can be.

Everton ultimately rallied and fulfilled their end of the bargain, with a tremendous volley from Barry Horne and a fluke goal by Graham Stuart winning it for the Toffees. That left Ipswich (drawing 0-0 at Blackburn) and Sheffield United (now drawing 2-2) as the two teams threatened.

That was enough for the Blades to stay up, but they were mistakenly under the impression that Ipswich were winning. In turn, United went all-out attack and were duly hit with a winning goal from Chelsea’s Mark Stein.

Ipswich held out to draw, sending United into the abyss, where they would remain for twelve long years. In 2007, Sheffield United would again face final day agony, with West Ham striker Carlos Tevez’ winning goal at Old Trafford proving the death knell.

Christmas curse smashed – 15 May 2005

For the first time ever, no team in the bottom four was guaranteed survival or relegation going into the final weekend – thus, in practice, only one of four threatened teams (Norwich, Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Brom) would survive. Norwich merely had to win at Fulham to stay up, but that plan was soon scuppered by Fulham’s onslaught of goals.

Southampton took an early lead at home to Manchester United, putting them above the dotted line. United soon wrested back control, and come the second half, it was really between West Brom and Crystal Palace. After the break, West Brom raced into a 2-0 lead at home to a half-motivated Portsmouth.

Sadly for them, it looked as though their efforts would be in vain, with Palace leading 2-1 at Charlton as the 2004/05 season headed into the final ten minutes of its lifespan. Enter Jonathan Fortune, whose late goal made him the toast of Sandwell, ensuring West Bromwich’s survival.

In staying up, West Bromwich also became the first team to survive after being bottom of the league on Christmas Day.

Which is the greatest escape?

There were technically six teams with no cast-iron guarantee of top-flight status or relegation in 1994, whereas there were only four in such a situation back in 2005. The decisive goal was also scored much later in the 1994 relegation battle.

The 1994 survival fight also came close to bookending forty years of top-tier action for Everton, who had been champions just seven years previously. For some, that alone is enough to see 1994 take the crown as the greatest final-day survival battle of the Premier League era.

Top 3 Premier League Biggest January Transfer Predictions

It’s that time of year again when rumours and gossip are hitting the football headlines, with Premier League managers looking to tweak their squads, keen to add that all-important missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle that could change the fortunes of their teams.

As the 2020 January transfer window swings open for business, with Forbes already predicting lots of winter activity, let’s take a look at three of the biggest moves that could happen before deadline day at the end of the month.

James Tarkowski – Burnley

For a player who started his senior career in the North West Counties League and the tenth tier of English football with Maine Road FC in Manchester, the current status of James Tarkowski is certainly a world away from his humble beginnings in football. After spells with Oldham Athletic and Brentford, 27-year-old James Tarkowski is now attracting attention as an outstanding defender with Burnley in the Premier League.

Indeed, such has been the consistency and quality of his performances with the Clarets, there’s serious talk that Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to land Tarkowski in January for around £40 million, having already tried to sign him last summer. This time a firm bid might be harder for Burnley to resist, especially if the player has ambitions of playing in the Champions League next season.

Currently amongst the Premier League betting favourites to finish in the top four, the Foxes are enjoying an excellent 2019-20 campaign and are looking to continue strengthening, despite already boasting one of the best defensive records during the season so far. Tarkowski would certainly be an excellent addition, providing that Rodgers can finally secure the services of a player he clearly already values highly.

Ivan Rakitic – Barcelona

Having fallen down the pecking order at Barcelona, cultured Croatian international Ivan Rakitic could well be calling time on his stay at the Camp Nou before the end of the January transfer window, with the Spanish giants seemingly willing to listen to offers for the 31-year midfielder. After Arsenal opted to bid “good ebening” to the short-lived Unai Emery era and welcomed Mikel Arteta as manager, the Gunners have been linked with numerous players.

While transfer gossip and mention of Arsenal is practically a festive tradition in itself these days, their reported interest in moving for Rakitic not only seems realistic – it also makes good sense. Improving a midfield which has performed well below expectations will be a priority for Arteta, as he aims to turn around a hugely disappointing Premier League campaign, keen to steer his team back towards the top four.

Barcelona are unlikely to let Rakitic go on the cheap. He’s valued at around £20 million, which still seems like quite the bargain when considering the price tags being quoted for alternative targets. However, there’s also the potential of a bidding war if Manchester United weigh in with their reported interest, meaning that Arsenal will need to move swiftly to get a player who could make a huge difference to their team.

Jadon Sancho – Borussia Dortmund

If there’s one player likely to command the biggest transfer fee during the January window, then it’s Borussia Dortmund youngster Jadon Sancho. The 19-year-old is currently valued at over £100 million by transfermarkt.com estimations, making him one of the hottest properties in European football at the moment.

After leaving Manchester City without having made a first-team appearance, Sancho quickly established himself as a phenomenal talent in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, who seem increasingly willing to open negotiations with the highest bidders. Liverpool are apparently leading the race for Sancho, although other reports have suggested that Manchester United are in hot pursuit, while Chelsea could also offer up to £120 million to beat their rivals.

Nevertheless, both Premier League giants could face a tough battle with plenty of interest amongst the biggest clubs on the continent, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also rumoured to be keeping tabs on Sancho and his uncertain situation in Germany, should he decide against returning to England. Whatever happens, the supremely talented young player would undoubtedly be the biggest January transfer deal, should he decide to move.