2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[PaulWinch again]

SKY Transfer Deadline day show is going to be very quiet, seems as though no club apart from Spurs are spending any money

FFP is making it so difficult for clubs to buy players, i wonder if clubs will start to push for a change in the rules?

Looks as though we are waiting for the Summer window to sign players.

Generally I’m quite glad, I think it’s good for clubs to start having to think about the money they chuck around and actually use the resources at their disposal. Although hopefully the clubs who have abused it to date are punished.

That said, I think we’ll still see a signing or two.

That’s the problem though isn’t it Paul, it’s not a level playing field, Everton got done, seems Forest are in their sights yet it’ll be 5 years to catch up with Man City etc.  There needs to be a date in the season where all FFP positions are known and all penalties applied for clarity and fairness.

See I’m not convinced it’s not level as such. Everton was a single breach, that I think was essentially admitted to and pretty obvious. Citeh clearly dispute theirs and have lawyers all over it - which inevitably means a drawn out process. Hopefully at the end of it they’ll get an appropriate punishment. I think it’s a bit of a conspiracy theory that the rules only get applied on certain clubs - whereas the reality is the circumstances are different which results in different situations both in terms of the complexity of process and also any sanctions as a result.

[Risso]

Not sure I agree Paul. They've very clearly broken the rules. Punish them accordingly, then let them takes years defending it if they wish. The way they're going about it now is all arse about face.

[Monty]

It's always harder to nail the kingpin than the kid dealing smack on the estate.

[Dante Lavelli]

FFP is making it so difficult for clubs to buy players, i wonder if clubs will start to push for a change in the rules?

It’s a weird one, when tobacco sponsorship was banned the cigarette companies actually made more money as they could no longer spunk a fortune on sponsoring F1 or whatever.  There’s a chance the owners are happy as long as the TV money continues to increase.

[Risso]

It's always harder to nail the kingpin than the kid dealing smack on the estate.

In this case it shouldn't be. All of the evidence is there, leaked contracts from whistleblowers with other entities that aren't Man City in various jurisdictions are in the public arena.

[VillaTim]

Not sure I agree Paul. They've very clearly broken the rules. Punish them accordingly, then let them takes years defending it if they wish. The way they're going about it now is all arse about face.

exactly , Ci£y bought the big hitting barristers in to stall the process and in the meantime have won the treble etc and continued to hoover up players . A level playing field it certainly isn't

[Monty]

It's always harder to nail the kingpin than the kid dealing smack on the estate.

In this case it shouldn't be. All of the evidence is there, leaked contracts from whistleblowers with other entities that aren't Man City in various jurisdictions are in the public arena.

In no case should it be. Toto Riina boasted on tape about dissolving enemies in acid baths! But with being the kingpin come the resources to buy escapologist lawyers and extra-legal influence to make life difficult for the prosecutors.

Riina went down eventually, so it's not hopeless. But it does always take longer.

[LeeB]

It's always harder to nail the kingpin than the kid dealing smack on the estate.

In this case it shouldn't be. All of the evidence is there, leaked contracts from whistleblowers with other entities that aren't Man City in various jurisdictions are in the public arena.

I think the poster that suggested the transfer emargo is right, that's the way to get them, and tell them it's in place until they're ready to face the charges.

[Monty]

It's always harder to nail the kingpin than the kid dealing smack on the estate.

In this case it shouldn't be. All of the evidence is there, leaked contracts from whistleblowers with other entities that aren't Man City in various jurisdictions are in the public arena.

I think the poster that suggested the transfer emargo is right, that's the way to get them, and tell them it's in place until they're ready to face the charges.

That would encourage them to speed it up for sure.

[LeeS]

With the NFL, they review the Salary Cap each year and usually increase the amounts allowed.

Wonder whether they will start doing that with FFP?

I thought it did go up. Not yearly, but in line with revenue. So as the TV deals get renegotiated the pot gets bigger for each club.

[Smithy]

With the NFL, they review the Salary Cap each year and usually increase the amounts allowed.

Wonder whether they will start doing that with FFP?

I thought it did go up. Not yearly, but in line with revenue. So as the TV deals get renegotiated the pot gets bigger for each club.

It's slightly different.  A salary cap is about how much you can spend.  FFP is about how much you can lose.  Technically, you can spend whatever you like, as long as it's paid for legitimately.  So "increasing" the FFP allowance would simply mean "letting clubs lose more money" which I'm not sure is sustainable long-term for anyone.

The did increase the FFP allowances post-Covid, because clubs lost all gate receipts and associated match-day revenues - so they were "allowed" to lose a little more than normal.  But it's not the case that they're allowed to lose more as the TV deals get bigger.

[paul_e]

With the NFL, they review the Salary Cap each year and usually increase the amounts allowed.

Wonder whether they will start doing that with FFP?

I thought it did go up. Not yearly, but in line with revenue. So as the TV deals get renegotiated the pot gets bigger for each club.

Nope, the numbers today are exactly the same as when it was announced.

[SamTheMouse]

It's always harder to nail the kingpin than the kid dealing smack on the estate.

This is the problem with letting state actors own football clubs. It suddenly stops being about sport and becomes about geopolitics.

It's an infection. The sooner it's eradicated, the better.

[ChicagoLion]

Not sure I agree Paul. They've very clearly broken the rules. Punish them accordingly, then let them takes years defending it if they wish. The way they're going about it now is all arse about face.

The evidence for some of the breaches is cast Iron, its the fact that they have included lots of less provable cases has played in the Lawyers hands.
No way is this a level playing field, for it to be level it has to be fair. Citeh are getting away with it.
What is even more concerning is that the Sports Media is carrying on as if nothing has happened.

[Risso]

Mancini had two contracts. One from Manchester City for being their manager, another identical one from a UAE firm for unspecified consultancy. Something like £4m for three days work.