The summer transfer window is a time of much excitement and speculation for fans and, sometimes, players too. In fact, it feels as though the transfer window is 90% excitement and speculation and 10% actual transfer moves.
The late days of the window this summer – particularly deadline day – were very much in that mold, with many of the most interesting deals being the ones that, in the end, didn’t happen. Let’s take a look at some – and the possible repercussions for the players, managers, and teams involved.
Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid
Diego Costa has spent the summer living the high life in Brazil, effectively on strike from duty at Chelsea, having been told by Antonio Conte that he surplus to requirements. Chelsea initially moved for their ex-player Romelu Lukaku as a direct replacement, but after he chose Manchester United instead, Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata – a very different kind of striker to Costa – was drafted in. The problem for Chelsea was that although they signed Costa’s replacement, they could not get rid of Costa himself. This problem was exacerbated by Costa’s desire to only move to his former club Atletico Madrid – who, of course, cannot register new players until January.
The Costa conundrum may have contributed to Chelsea’s failure to sign Fernando Llorente from Swansea City. The Spaniard pitched up at Spurs in the end, and we may never know exactly why Chelsea didn’t get him, but maybe, with Costa staying, Llorente feared his game time would be even more limited – assuming Costa is eventually integrated back into the first team, as he surely will be with a World Cup looming. Being back up to Morata is one thing, but behind Morata and a fit-again Costa in a few months? Llorente may have preferred being second fiddle to Harry Kane at Spurs. After all, Vincent Janssen offers much less competition.
Vincent Janssen to Brighton
BREAKING: Vincent Janssen has turned down a move to @OfficialBHAFC and will stay at @SpursOfficial – Sky sources. #SSN pic.twitter.com/JqjK4bxhDD
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 1, 2017
Speaking of Vincent Janssen…the striker arrived at Tottenham Hotspur last summer with a big reputation, but the former AZ Alkmaar man failed to make the expected impact. A move away for Janssen made sense – particularly with Llorente’s arrival likely to further restrict his game time – but he rejected a deadline day switch to Brighton.
On the one hand, it is understandable that he may not fancy a backs-to-the-wall relegation battle. But it is really any worse than being third choice striker at Spurs, with only the odd cup appearance between now and the World Cup? For Chris Hughton and Brighton, the rejection was a huge blow. The need for a new striker has been clear for them all summer, as it’s unlikely that any of Glenn Murray, Tomer Hemed or Sam Bostock will score enough goals to keep them up. Janssen’s late decision didn’t leave them with enough time to make another move, either. As a result, Brighton could be in real trouble.
William Carvalho to West Ham United
Anyone who saw West Ham’s opening Premier League games could tell you that a midfield enforcer was badly needed. Neither Pedro Obiang nor youngster Declan Rice looked up the task of assisting Mark Noble in central midfield, and the club moved to rectify that issue with a move for Sporting Lisbon’s coveted midfielder William Carvalho.
Bubbles The Bear has handed in a transfer request at West Ham after Slaven Bilic asked him to play CDM. pic.twitter.com/VIsxTnccls
— Uber West Ham (@UberWestHam) August 31, 2017
West Ham made a bid before deadline day, and co-owner David Sullivan said that Sporting returned on the 31st to accept the bid, only for it to be too late to push through the transfer. When their bid was originally made, manager Slaven Bilic insisted that it was Carvalho or no-one.
“It’s too late for anyone else, so no [we won’t make other offers]. That’s it. But I hope we are going to get him.”
They didn’t get him, but Bilic might have been wrong about it being too late to get anyone else. Co-chairman David Sullivan has since claimed the club were offered both Renato Sanches and Grzegorz Krychowiak. They ended up at Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion respectively.
“Grzegorz Krychowiak and Renato Sanches were both offered to the manager before their switches elsewhere, but he [Bilic] told us that he is happy with the squad he has.”
If true, it represents a gamble by Bilic, who is already under pressure after a dreadful start to the season. Carvalho would have been an excellent signing, but so would have Sanches or Krychowiak. To get none of them at all puts a lot of pressure on a West Ham midfield that already looks below par. Who knows, in few weeks the failure to land a new midfielder could put Bilic out of a job.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ross Barkley to Chelsea
One wonders whether Jose Mourinho allowed himself a wry smile at Antonio Conte’s woes, as Chelsea enjoyed another frustrating transfer window. Conte has been beating the drum all summer about the reinforcements Chelsea needed, but he saw moves for two of his targets fail in the transfer window’s dying days – in addition to the inability to get rid of Diego Costa.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, perhaps fearful of more time spent out wide at Stamford Bridge, having been earmarked for the right wingback spot, plumped for Liverpool over Chelsea. The Ross Barkley saga, meanwhile, was one of the oddest twists of the window, as the midfielder turned down Chelsea at the very last moment to remain with Everton (until January, at least).
In light of those failures, Chelsea made other arrangements. Wingback Davide Zappacosta arrived as competition for Victor Moses, and Danny Drinkwater will get to link up again with Ngolo Kante in midfield. Will it be enough to please Conte, though? It seems unlikely, as it looks as though of their summer arrivals, only Timoue Bakayoko was the manager’s first choice.
In light of those failures, Chelsea made other arrangements. Wingback Davide Zappacosta arrived as competition for Victor Moses, and Danny Drinkwater will get to link up again with N’Golo Kante in midfield. Will it be enough to please Conte, though? It seems unlikely, as it looks as though of their summer arrivals, only Timoue Bakayoko was the manager’s first choice. It would be no surprise if the combustible boss has considered his future this summer.
Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City (and Thomas Lemar to Arsenal)
Alexis Sánchez had informed the people closest to him that his move to Manchester City was done. (Source: @bbcsport_david) #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/8YrQFIwRlF
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 31, 2017
Deadline day was full of twists and turns for Alexis Sanchez and fans of both Manchester City and Arsenal. After a summer of posturing and will-he-won’t-he drama, it looked as though Sanchez would get the move he’s been craving. Manchester City had a bid of £60m accepted, while Arsenal, in turn, tabled a record-breaking bid for Monaco‘s Thomas Lemar as a replacement. And then everything went wrong.
Lemar was playing for France on the evening (and scored twice in a 4-0 win against the Dutch) and so Arsenal realised there would not be enough time to get the deal done. They pulled out of the Lemar deal, and so scuppered City’s hopes of swiping Sanchez. There have been (far fetched) rumours that City might take legal against the Gunners over the rather farcical non-transfer, but what seems more likely is that Sanchez will sulk and pout until January, when he will get his move.
Anyone to Newcastle United
It speaks to the parsimony of Newcastle United under Mike Ashley that they didn’t make any moves on deadline day. Rafa Benitez’ frustration with his club’s transfer policy is well known, and his frustration has likely only grown thanks to the club’s inactivity in the window’s final hours.
Benitez had hoped for a new goalkeeper and a striker, at the very least, but he got neither. Well, he got Joselu, who arrived earlier in the window, but he clearly wanted more. Newcastle’s inactivity has arguably pushed their decorated boss closer to the exit door. If he does leave, Newcastle could be in real trouble. There’s no chance of another manager of Benitez’ stature taking the job, knowing that they won’t be backed by the owners in the transfer market. It could all mean relegation trouble for the newly-promoted side.
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Image credit: Sky Sports News via Twitter.
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