Clubs brace for risks in January window
Print Edition
THE start of the New Year means the opening of the January transfer window and an opportunity for English Premier League clubs to once again flex their financial muscle.
The window opens in England today and clubs in Europe’s richest league are likely to once again be the busiest in the market, but January is rarely the best time to do business.
A year ago the biggest moves saw Manchester City sign the Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony from Swansea City for 28 million pounds (US$41.3 million) and Chelsea bring in Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina for 26.1 million pounds.
Fast forward 12 months and Bony has struggled to settle as a back-up to Sergio Aguero at City while Cuadrado has already returned to Italy, joining Juventus on loan.
Making signings in the January window, which closes on February 1, may be a risk, but the new broadcasting deal due to come into effect next season means just finishing last in the Premier League in 2016-17 will be worth 99 million pounds.
That means clubs battling to avoid relegation from England’s top flight, or competing for promotion and the associated riches, will be ready to spend big in the winter window, while teams at the top could be ready to spend even more than usual.
While City is being linked in the English press with a move for Schalke 04’s talented young Germany winger Leroy Sane, Arsenal will look to spend to improve its chances of a first title since 2004.
“I’m already busy and I said already one month ago we are a bit short to deal with all the competitions we face, especially in midfield. We will be busy, yes,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, transfer activity is likely to be modest, although Spanish giants may make some moves when the window in La Liga opens on Monday.
Barcelona can finally register players again as a year-long FIFA-imposed transfer ban comes to an end. That means the defending European champion can hand debuts to Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan, who were signed in the summer from Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, respectively.
In Italy, the window also opens on Monday, while in Germany clubs can start doing business as early as New Year’s Day and Eintracht Frankfurt has already announced the signing of the Hungarian Szabolcs Huszti, who returns to the Bundesliga after a spell in China.
German sides will be braced for moves from England, with Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp being tipped to return to his homeland as he tries to strengthen his squad and Schalke director of sport and communications Horst Heldt insisting Sane does not want to go and will not be leaving.
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