TALENT AND THE TRANSFER MARKET

Edited Using free elements on Canva

I know that I'm not the only one who's not impressed or enjoying the inactivity and dormancy of the transfer market so far. It's been so boring that many times, I forget that we're in the transfer season. So far, the only headline transfers has been Darwin Nunez to Liverpool, Erling Haaland to Mancity and Sadio Mane to Bayern Munchen.

Erling's transfer was already concluded before that transfer window even opened, Sadio's was an open secret that most of us already knew while Darwin's was a non-existent battle where Man United never stood a chance. So apart from those three there have been no other transfers to light up the market. No blockbusters to hug the headlines and no surprise captures to shake the football world and stir up controversies.

I know the economic adversities of the lockdown is still affecting many clubs and has dwindled some of their war chest. But on the flip side, who in the market right now is worth the risk of splashing the cash? Apart from Nunez ad Haaland, there are basically no players worth the risk out there. Mbappé to Madrid would have been the transfer to light up the market, but PSG utilized all their political power and connections to good effect to scupper that deal.

Real Madrid eventually signed Aurélien Tchouameni, a youngster who's yet to prove that he belongs with the elites of the game while picking up Rudiger for free. Those are not galactico signings but just the picking of available products in the market.

A club like Man United who are trying to rebuild are constantly linked with the likes of Timber, Antony, Eriksen, Malacia, De Jong etc. Taking a closer look at that list, only De Jong and Eriksen look like the proven required quality. But at the same time, Eriksen is on the other side of 30 and De Jong has lost some of his magical status at Barca.

Barcelona, another team in the rebuilding process are linked with the likes of Joules Koundé and Raphinha, while they captured Christensen for free. You would agree with me that none of those players can be confidently called "world class". Take into consideration that they went for Ferran Torres and Adama Traore in January and you will see where I'm coming from.

If Lewandowski leaves Bayern, who can they sign to replace him? Inter are looking back to Lukaku because they don't know where else to go for redemption. Dusan Vlahović is the new Ronaldo at Juventus, while Pogba is returning as the prodigal son.

Chelsea are looking more confused by the day. Do they go for Joules Koundé where they will compete with Barća and perhaps end up paying over the top, or take their chances with Mathias De Ligt whom Juve won't let go for cheap? Who can they sign to replace Lukaku? It's getting more and more tricky.

That's why Arsenal's capture of Gabriel Jesus looks like one of the shrewdest and best thought business of the summer. And Tottenham, looking to challenge for the league title are bringing in the likes of Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisić, Kulusevski and Richarlison. The only player on that list that looks the part is Perisić who's on the wrong side of 30. Kulusevski impressed last season but is not particularly world class, Bissouma has premier league experience but is also making a big leap from Brighton, while Richarlison is just not consistent enough.

That's not to say that those players are not good enough or that it's not good business. They're actually fantastic business, but it's just not league winning recruitment, unless Conte works his magic.

So I guess the club's are taking their time because they are being careful not to splash out cash unnecessarily in this harsh economic times without getting the required value in return. The era of just throwing money around and hoping that it works is getting to an end and clubs have learned their lessons the harsh way. Now teams are looking for quality that compliments their money and the club's status. The dearth of this quality has stunted the market and is making it boringly quiet.

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