Tough time for transfers

Tuesday, 24/01/2012

One of the best things about football is the rumour mill. Who your club will buy or sell during the transfer windows.

So far this January that makes this window a bore-draw! Where are all the mega deals and great talking points?

We all knew Gary Cahill was on his way from Bolton and that Chelsea was likely to be his new home. No fun in that.

Newcastle surprised us all by swooping for Senegal striker Papiss Cisse (pictured), splashing £10m and making their fans wonder if often-despised own Mike Ashley was finally trying to win them over. That was fun!

All I can say is thanks Mr Ashley for at least giving us one good story this window.

And if Cisse proves to be as good as his international team-mate Demba Ba has been at St. James' Park (I won't use that other silly name it was given) then the chairman might even get thanks from his club's fans.

Of course what has happened is that clubs have finally realised that cash is tight. Like the rest of us they have found it's a long way down to the bottom of their pockets.

Even Manchester City have been keener to off-load players before they get anyone else in to the Etihad Stadium. There's not much space left in the changing rooms there for new faces and it also appears they are having great difficulty in getting rid of that unforgettable face of Carlos Tevez.

Inter Milan's £20m-plus offer should have been snapped up. Not only would it get Tevez off their books - let's be honest he's never going to play for them again, is he? It would also free up a few truck loads of cash to pay more international players.

The clock is ticking and many agents reckon that after this weekend's games all hell will break free as managers finally decide who they would like or what position they need to fill – despite having months to think about players who may or may not be available.

And lest we forget: January deals aren't always the best. Remember this time last year? Rember £50m Fernando Torres and £35m Andy Carroll?

• 

• Have your say