Analysis: “The transfer market could become like when houses fall in value and no one wants to crystallise the loss”
17 February 2021
We have used a unique method to investigate which clubs are most vulnerable to the frozen transfer market.
Our list contains five French clubs – the rest coming from England, Italy, Portugal, Holland and Denmark. One famous owner has two clubs on the list.
French clubs stand out as being extremely dependent on player sales – whereas clubs from the German Bundesliga are much less reliant on transfer fees.
The power balance in the transfer market has significantly changed. It is turning into a buyers’ market.
However, bigger clubs could be left lumbered with players whom they don’t wish to accept a loss on. The Portuguese market is a future joker.
Ever since transfer windows were introduced to European football, back in the 2002/03 season, January has harboured a reputation as a bad time to do business.
The winter transfer window is a sellers’ market: clubs seeking to improve their squads midway through the season are often held to ransom to do so, and underperformance prior to Christmas can result in panic-buying. If a club can do without, they’re probably better off holding onto their cash.
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