Post by QPR Report on Jul 6, 2009 14:19:09 GMT
The Times - June 8, 2009
Transfer market moves in mysterious ways
The Times's transfer expert lifts the veil on a system where bluff and brinkmanship are part of the deal in trading players - Gary Jacob
Long before a club can trumpet a player’s arrival to expectant fans, they have to win a game in the transfer market that can involve bluff, brinkmanship and bravado.
A transfer is often shrouded in coded messages to fans and rival clubs, sent via the media. Harry Redknapp’s revelation that he tried to sign Gareth Barry last week was almost certainty done with the intention of telling agents and Tottenham Hotspur fans that he is looking for a midfield player, because a deal for the Aston Villa player, as he was then, was very unlikely.
The main summer drama could again be Cristiano Ronaldo’s dalliance with Real Madrid, but Manchester City have shown in the opening week of the transfer window that they could well win themselves the lion’s share of the headlines. Here is a basic guide of what to look out for.
Should fans be sceptical about some transfer tales?
Related Links
The Agent – all your questions answered
Liverpool set to lose out on David Silva
Perhaps not. Stories can be true even is there is little chance that the deal will happen. Countless tentative approaches are made for players and transfer speculation originates from many sources and for many reasons, such as:
¤ A club contacts a rival club or agent about a player and word leaks.
¤ A club desperate to sell a player tries to create public interest or an auction, or force the hand of another club to complete a deal.
¤ A club may show interest in a player, even though he is not one of their favoured choices for the position. Clubs are unwilling to talk openly about transfers, and often will not provide information to set the story in context.
¤ An agent tries to move his player or broker a deal for an overseas player. The agent offers the player to a club, who may show strong interest and word comes out. But a club may show some interest to stay in the loop or because they are not sure about their transfer requirements as they may depend on other deals. Word leaks, but they may have little intention of pursuing the interest.
¤ An agent may publicise the interest of a club in his player to force another party to complete a deal.
Why are some transfer fees undisclosed?
Some clubs don’t want rivals to know how much they are spending because it provides an insight into their transfer kitty and could affect the fees that they are quoted in future deals.
Other clubs announce the fee to prevent fans complaining about a lack of spending or because they are required to do so by Stock Exchange rules, if they are a listed company.
Things can become more complicated when the transfer fee rises depending on the number of the player’s appearances or success. The selling club will often want to announce the higher fee, in contrast to the buyer’s wishes, to justify to their fans why they sold the player, although there are exceptions. The seller may not want their rivals to know how much money they received because it can inflate quotations in future deals. Or on occasions, both clubs announce the higher fee to send respective messages to their fans.
A club sell a player for £10 million. Why aren’t they spending the same amount?
Sometimes the full transfer fee is paid immediately. But in many cases, only half is paid up front with the balance paid over a couple of seasons or even the length of the player’s contract. The size of a club’s transfer kitty will depend on how much they owe or are owed from transfers in previous seasons. Smaller clubs use profits from transfers to bridge the gap between income and wages and running costs.
Related Links
The Agent – all your questions answered
Liverpool set to lose out on David Silva
Are clubs being totally truthful when they deny an offer has been made for a player?
Perhaps, but it is often about semantics. A buying club could argue that no offer has been made when they ask: “Would you accept £20 million for Franck Ribéry?” Yet the selling club will consider it an informal bid. A club could claim that no bid has been made even though verbal bartering has taken place.
Why do clubs release players on loan?
For experience, but sometimes to put them in the shop window. The club taking the player may have the first option to buy him at a specified price, at the end of the loan agreement. There may be a loan fee payable.
For example, Arsenal received £1.5 million when Philippe Senderos joined AC Milan on loan last summer, and the Italian club can sign the defender on a permanent deal for a further £6.5 million this summer.
Who pays the player’s wages in a loan deal?
In most cases, the signing club pay the full wage, but sometimes it is split. In rare cases, he is paid by the parent club. Peterborough United wanted to sign Freddie Sears on loan for next season, but asked West Ham to pay the forward’s wages. West Ham declined and Sears is expected to move to Sheffield Wednesday, who will foot the entire bill.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6451030.ece?&EMC-Bltn=V9K8VA
Transfer market moves in mysterious ways
The Times's transfer expert lifts the veil on a system where bluff and brinkmanship are part of the deal in trading players - Gary Jacob
Long before a club can trumpet a player’s arrival to expectant fans, they have to win a game in the transfer market that can involve bluff, brinkmanship and bravado.
A transfer is often shrouded in coded messages to fans and rival clubs, sent via the media. Harry Redknapp’s revelation that he tried to sign Gareth Barry last week was almost certainty done with the intention of telling agents and Tottenham Hotspur fans that he is looking for a midfield player, because a deal for the Aston Villa player, as he was then, was very unlikely.
The main summer drama could again be Cristiano Ronaldo’s dalliance with Real Madrid, but Manchester City have shown in the opening week of the transfer window that they could well win themselves the lion’s share of the headlines. Here is a basic guide of what to look out for.
Should fans be sceptical about some transfer tales?
Related Links
The Agent – all your questions answered
Liverpool set to lose out on David Silva
Perhaps not. Stories can be true even is there is little chance that the deal will happen. Countless tentative approaches are made for players and transfer speculation originates from many sources and for many reasons, such as:
¤ A club contacts a rival club or agent about a player and word leaks.
¤ A club desperate to sell a player tries to create public interest or an auction, or force the hand of another club to complete a deal.
¤ A club may show interest in a player, even though he is not one of their favoured choices for the position. Clubs are unwilling to talk openly about transfers, and often will not provide information to set the story in context.
¤ An agent tries to move his player or broker a deal for an overseas player. The agent offers the player to a club, who may show strong interest and word comes out. But a club may show some interest to stay in the loop or because they are not sure about their transfer requirements as they may depend on other deals. Word leaks, but they may have little intention of pursuing the interest.
¤ An agent may publicise the interest of a club in his player to force another party to complete a deal.
Why are some transfer fees undisclosed?
Some clubs don’t want rivals to know how much they are spending because it provides an insight into their transfer kitty and could affect the fees that they are quoted in future deals.
Other clubs announce the fee to prevent fans complaining about a lack of spending or because they are required to do so by Stock Exchange rules, if they are a listed company.
Things can become more complicated when the transfer fee rises depending on the number of the player’s appearances or success. The selling club will often want to announce the higher fee, in contrast to the buyer’s wishes, to justify to their fans why they sold the player, although there are exceptions. The seller may not want their rivals to know how much money they received because it can inflate quotations in future deals. Or on occasions, both clubs announce the higher fee to send respective messages to their fans.
A club sell a player for £10 million. Why aren’t they spending the same amount?
Sometimes the full transfer fee is paid immediately. But in many cases, only half is paid up front with the balance paid over a couple of seasons or even the length of the player’s contract. The size of a club’s transfer kitty will depend on how much they owe or are owed from transfers in previous seasons. Smaller clubs use profits from transfers to bridge the gap between income and wages and running costs.
Related Links
The Agent – all your questions answered
Liverpool set to lose out on David Silva
Are clubs being totally truthful when they deny an offer has been made for a player?
Perhaps, but it is often about semantics. A buying club could argue that no offer has been made when they ask: “Would you accept £20 million for Franck Ribéry?” Yet the selling club will consider it an informal bid. A club could claim that no bid has been made even though verbal bartering has taken place.
Why do clubs release players on loan?
For experience, but sometimes to put them in the shop window. The club taking the player may have the first option to buy him at a specified price, at the end of the loan agreement. There may be a loan fee payable.
For example, Arsenal received £1.5 million when Philippe Senderos joined AC Milan on loan last summer, and the Italian club can sign the defender on a permanent deal for a further £6.5 million this summer.
Who pays the player’s wages in a loan deal?
In most cases, the signing club pay the full wage, but sometimes it is split. In rare cases, he is paid by the parent club. Peterborough United wanted to sign Freddie Sears on loan for next season, but asked West Ham to pay the forward’s wages. West Ham declined and Sears is expected to move to Sheffield Wednesday, who will foot the entire bill.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6451030.ece?&EMC-Bltn=V9K8VA