The Transfer window is now closed, so how have we done?
Some wit wrote that we sold the Monkees and bought the Juventus Chuckle Brothers… a bit harsh, but I understand what they meant. However, the Monkees did have a few hits between them (but now gone)… while the Chuckle Brothers will give us hope for the future. But no extra striker in case Kane gets injured… which will probably be left to Steve Bergwijn and nice one Son to fill if that should happen (when he is fit).
We all know that Fabio Paratici has used his Juventus contacts to bring in two quality players. That sounds great, but what does this do for our absence of cover at centre-back? What about creativity from the right flank (none)? And what about cover for Kane? We all thought things would be different when Levy stepped down from his purchasing role and gave the job to Paratci, but nothing has really changed… other than Levy still pulling the strings from his lofty perch. Once a controller, always a controller.
Everton have signed Dele Alli on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He leaves us after seven years (he scored 67 goals across 269 games in all competitions). Some say he had one brilliant season with us and then a steady slide down a slippery slope.
Alli will be cup-tied for the game against Brentford, so he could make his Premier League debut against Newcastle on 8 February.
Non-league winger Ollie Tanner will remain at Lewes as he could not agree personal terms with us. He thought he was such a talent that he deserved megabucks and rejected an offer to develop with us (silly boy!) His financial demands were excessive, given he would not be going into the first team and refused to offer an amended deal.
Leeds turned down the chance to sign Harry Winks, 25, on loan.
We have signed Juventus players Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, while record signing Tanguy Ndombele has joined Lyon on loan. The Swedish winger Kulusevski, 21, joins on an 18-month loan for an £8.3m fee with an option to buy for £29.2m. The Uruguay midfielder Bentancur, 24, joins for an initial £15.9m – which could rise by £5m – on a deal until 2026. Bentancur is a former Aston Villa target and is currently on World Cup qualifying duty with his country.
As for the rogue Ndombele, he returns to Lyon for the rest of the season – three years after leaving them. Bryan Gil has joined Valencia on loan until the end of the season.
Giovani lo Celso has joined Villarreal on loan for the rest of the season.
There were some protests outside the Tottenham stadium on the Transfer window deadline. Around 30 supporters were protesting against the club’s ownership and board. They complain about a lack of investment in the playing staff, no accountability, and a focus on the corporate side over the football side at their club.
Thoughts
Antonio Conte has a saying (“I can count on him”) when it comes to players that he believes deserve to be in his squad. Conte has said publicly that he can count on Harry Winks and Steven Bergwijn; therefore, the two players remain at the club beyond the January transfer window. Those he didn’t like were not so fortunate as he had called for a ruthless culling of those he could not “count on”. He then presented his detailed assessment on every player to Levy and Fabio Paratici, and now the bad ones have gone, while the others can fight for another day. So, he has got his way in removing those he wasn’t happy with, but did he get what he wanted?
Two things will happen after purchasing two players and the sale or loans of others. Either we start to improve and challenge for the FA and a top-four spot or the fans will start to get on Conte’s and Levy’s back (again).
I hope that we limp on until the Summer – and in the process reach a top-four spot – and then start splashing the cash… or Conte will be off (to a more challenging club).
Our next two games will be against Brighton in the FA Cup and Southampton in the League; both will be at home.
To be honest, the transfer window was typically Levy… uneventful and dull (at least for us).
Do you think Levy has done enough?
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Considering it’s the Winter window and it’s extremely difficult to get top players to move clubs, I think we did ok. The 2 signings look very good potentially. Those 3 teams around us vying for that 4th spot didn’t sign anyone, we have games in hand on them all. We have to make those games count, & only time will tell what we need come the end of the season.
If Son and Romero canqui kly return to full match pace, sharpness and fitness we could have a good chance of making the Top Four. We must also get the two new lads integrated quickly but, since they and the manager already have experience of each other, this should notbe a big problem ?
I agree with both comments; we also need a slice of luck and if we do get the rub of the green we can make the top four and even get to the final of the FA Cup. But we need to integrate the two new players quickly and get everybody working as one. Get that right and we could be on a winner… if anybody is capable, then Conte is.