When it comes to the transfer window, this isn’t the Mill’s first Rodeo. The last time we checked, it was the 27th. The point is, we know by now that the phrase ‘merry go round’ doesn’t do it justice. That implies a never-ending cycle, glitzy and exciting but ultimately pointless. How does that apply to the transfer market? The Mill will tell you it’s more like a big ol’ game of KerPlunk, pieces held in place interminably by a stubborn blockage.
This month, it’s Dimitri Payet causing the hold-up; his drawn-out return to Marseille is stopping deals for Brentford’s Scott Hogan and the Mill’s Mr January, Robert Snodgrass, who could yet plump for Burnley or Middlesbrough instead. Until Hogan signs, Brentford can’t close a deal for Norwich’s Sergi Canós. Did you think about how Brentford would suffer, Dimitri? I doubt it.
There’s a similar scenario at Chelsea, with Arturo Vidal and Álvaro Morata top of Antonio Conte’s big summer wish list. Vidal’s arrival would set Cesc Fàbregas free to stroll around Serie A midfields at either Juventus, Milan or Inter – his choice. If Real’s Morata moves to Stamford Bridge, Conte may be willing to let Thibaut Courtois go the other way – a deal that has repercussions for Asmir Begovic’s move to Bournemouth, as well as Craig Gordon and Diego López, who both find themselves on Conte’s radar.
In Manchester, Pep Guardiola spent all night in his shed staring at the chalkboard, trying to plug that pesky hole in central defence – and has decided to make it rain in the direction of Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang instead. That might be because on-loan Eliaquim Mangala is finding form at Valencia, and could bring right-back João Cancelo along on his return. City are also in for the Venezuelan teenager Yangel Herrera, while Guardiola could experiment with poor, unsuspecting Fabian Delph as a left-back.
Gaston Ramírez is set to repay Aitor Karanka’s faith in him by demanding to leave Middlesbrough. He wants to climb the league ladder – one rung, to be precise – and get a brief, chastening taste of the Champions League at Leicester City. Ramírez might pass Islam Slimani on the way in, with the Foxes’ record signing on the radar of Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian. Also possibly off to China is Real Madrid’s Pepe, wanted by Manuel Pellegrini’s Hebei China Fortune, a team with their key selling point cunningly built into their name.
Up in Newcastle, Rafa Benítez is flushed from chasing speedy duo Modou Barrow and Andros Townsend all January. Crystal Palace could fill the gap with Norwich’s Robbie Brady, and are also keen on reuniting James McCarthy with James McArthur in midfield. Norwich will replace Brady with Sporting’s Marvin Zeegelaar, while Watford have inked a loan deal for Milan winger M’Baye Niang.
Finally to Sunderland, where David Moyes is busy playing Go For Broke. He’s all set to blow his minuscule January budget on Swansea’s Neil Taylor, Stoke’s Charlie Adam and QPR’s Nedum Onouha.
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