With the latest news being that Atletico and Real Madrid have both been given transfer bans for the next two seasons, this might just give the January window the spark it needs this year. Unsurprisingly, the next day, many newspapers suggested that Real Madrid were suddenly going to do a massive overhaul of stars from around the world, some names that were being mentioned included the likes of Eden Hazard, Paul Pogba, Harry Kane, John Stones, Sergio Agüero, and of course, David De Gea. Some even reported them as going on a ‘£250 million spending spree’ to make sure that they remain a major superpower during their two years under the ban.
But Jose Angel Sanchez, Real Madrid’s general director, has turned down any such optimism from the Los Blancos faithful, saying instead that the club has ‘sufficient’ talent to be in a good position during the entirety of the transfer ban. Though he has called the imposing of the ban itself as ‘absurd’ and said that Real will appeal this ban.
Anyways, this little side story’s got to make life a bit more interesting at the very least, doesn’t it?
This January window was supposed to be a big one for many clubs. At least, I certainly thought so, since many Premier League clubs do need a revamp and need it urgently (Chelsea, Liverpool, Bournemouth). Instead, this is turning out to be a window shaded with rumours that have no element of truth to them. Whether it’s just bad journalists or bad sources remains an argument for another day, but it’s just downright boring from a fan’s perspective. There have been no big-name signings made by any clubs as of yet, and the situation has turned out to be so bad that Arsenal fans are now cheering over an Egyptian player named Mohamed Elneny joining their club. No disrespect, but I don’t think this would make the headlines that it did make had the other clubs been a bit busier. Hopefully, the lad will last up to the hype that he’s been surrounded with, and even more hopefully, become a household name in that area of North London.
Jonjo Shelvey is now a Newcastle United player. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Jonjo Shelvey has decided to exit the Swansea bandwagon and join the even more pitiful Newcastle United, whose owner, Mike Ashley, has promised supporters free coats (£59.99 each) if the team can win their game against West Ham at home this weekend. This is actually a pretty good signing for Newcastle, and one that I think will improve them significantly in midfield, as well as going forward.
Bournemouth were a side that were flooded with injuries before the transfer window began, and so many thought they would make some signings to last them through the campaign. But, no one probably expected to see the immensely talented Juan Iturbe to come on loan.
Juan Manuel Iturbe will spend the rest of the season on loan at AFC Bournemouth.(ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)
Iturbe wasn’t doing particularly well in Serie A with Roma this season, and so pastures new might help him regain his mojo. Frustratingly, these are the only deals that are of any significance that have occurred so far in the transfer window, and it is very disappointing when you consider the amount of money that Premier League clubs are getting. However, we should hope for better, as there is still another half of January to go through and the best is, for the most part, saved for the last.
