The calm before a transfer storm!

June 22, 2009

The Premier League campaign came to a close four weeks ago and, as the fixtures for the new season were released in the past week, the question many fans are asking is when will the transfer market burst into life?

From the Premier League’s big four clubs only Arsenal have moved to strengthen their ranks with the arrival of defender Thomas Vermaelen late last week, while Manchester United have lost loan man Carlos Tevez - having refused to pay £25million for his services - and Cristiano Ronaldo is seemingly just a signature away from a world record £80m move to Real Madrid.

Liverpool and Chelsea have not done any business at the time of typing as Manchester City are the only real movers having snapped up Gareth Barry for £12m from Aston Villa.

The poser is, will the big boys and the rest be spending big this summer or will the global economic climate finally hit home with English top-flight football clubs forced to curb lavish outlays on world class players?

Personally I feel it would be more interesting if the likes of United, Liverpool and Chelsea were restricted in bringing in new faces this year given that the likes of City and Tottenham appear determined to buy their way into the top-four, while Everton and Aston Villa will also be on the periphery!

However it seems to me that summer holidays are all that stands between another spending frenzy as soon as players, managers and agents get back from lounging about on their poolside sun beds.

Therefore forget the credit crunch because another record-breaking summer of spending is on the horizon!

Whether clubs will have to sell to buy or in Manchester City’s case have bundles of notes ready to throw at any club who possess their transfer targets, remains to be seen? And don’t forget Sir Alex Ferguson will have £80m burning a hole in his pocket any time soon!

So the message for fans who are itching for the spending to begin is simply, be patient!

Written by Craig Smithson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football betting.

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