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

[Percy McCarthy]

Might be a few pages back so I haven’t checked, but was it on this thread that the Ornstein story appeared, in which he said we must sell before June to comply with FFP?

Transfer window closed, doesn’t open up til July, so points deduction incoming then.

[LeonW]

I realize this is for a future thread but this January seemed to be a lot about reducing the spend from squad players like Traore, Dendoncker and investing in players who have more potential upside (hence) riskier but better from an FFP perspective. Until we generate more revenue this seems to be the most sensible approach. I could see a few more surprises / unknown experiences squad players on less wages like Moreno.

I think Olsen, Digne, Chambers, Zaniola and Cash all leaving next summer. Coutinho we would love to shift but I can’t see there being any takers. Duran possibly also on the way out.

[Mister E]

We are where we are for 2 reasons: we've spent too much on players who have not delivered; our commercial revenue and other income has not grown in line with our onfield expectations. Hence why Heck is here and trying to squeeze revenue from whomsoever can afford to spend.
Some of these kids we have better come good, and quick!

[nigel]

Might be a few pages back so I haven’t checked, but was it on this thread that the Ornstein story appeared, in which he said we must sell before June to comply with FFP?

Transfer window closed, doesn’t open up til July, so points deduction incoming then.

Again, might be a few pages back, but wasn’t it you who mentioned that we drop £99m off which gives us a big boost, regarding FFP?

Sorry if it wasn’t you, but definitely read it on here.

[Gareth]

Might be a few pages back so I haven’t checked, but was it on this thread that the Ornstein story appeared, in which he said we must sell before June to comply with FFP?

Transfer window closed, doesn’t open up til July, so points deduction incoming then.

Last summer the window opened mid June - sure the comment was by the end of June so there is time. 

There will be a lot watching Everton / Forest cases to see what punishment is dished out eventually to see whether it is worth just breaching it or whether to cut cloth accordingly. 

PL being PL and with an awareness that the Man City case needs addressing I fully expect them to bottle the punishments…maybe give 5 points per offence to Everton / Forest so that overall Everton’s 10 points stands.  Put them both in a battle with Luton for the last relegation slot, knowing full well that Luton won’t have the legal resources to challenge if they go down

[chrisw1]

I would be amazed if we have to sell before mid July.  Surely we wouldn't have signed 4 future prospects if the transfer fees would tip us over the edge (or taken us further over the edge).  Non of those transfers were essential and non are likely to have a significant impact this season.  I just don't believe we would have left ourselves in the same compromised position that Forest were with Johnson.

[Dogtanian]

I would be amazed if we have to sell before mid July.  Surely we wouldn't have signed 4 future prospects if the transfer fees would tip us over the edge (or taken us further over the edge).  Non of those transfers were essential and non are likely to have a significant impact this season.  I just don't believe we would have left ourselves in the same compromised position that Forest were with Johnson.

Exactly. And as all of those happened after journalists started saying we had to sell points towards this too. You'd be pretty dumb to buy a player for next season now when you were already overspent for FFP this season.

[brontebilly]

Is that educated-guesswork re Zaniolo returning to Gala or has he got a source indicating as much?

Probably watched his cameo against Newcastle. Zaniolo has a top pedigree but really has shown very little for us. Another one like Duran that needs to start with correcting his attitude and go from there.

[Monty]

Is that educated-guesswork re Zaniolo returning to Gala or has he got a source indicating as much?

Probably watched his cameo against Newcastle. Zaniolo has a top pedigree but really has shown very little for us. Another one like Duran that needs to start with correcting his attitude and go from there.

Different personality issues but ultimately, yes, he's got a between-the-ears issue. Duran looks petulant and wild, Zaniolo looks like someone ripped his self-confidence off with velcro.

[Drummond]

I think Zaniolo is a good player, but his head needs sorting, and he needs to calm. I'd hope this injury allows him time to get himself together, that Emery et al put their arm round his shoulder and help him.

The charges can't be helping either.

[Risso]

Might be a few pages back so I haven’t checked, but was it on this thread that the Ornstein story appeared, in which he said we must sell before June to comply with FFP?

Transfer window closed, doesn’t open up til July, so points deduction incoming then.

I haven't seen the story, but it doesn't sound right to me. Firstly, our accounting date is 31 May, so anything in June will be in next year's accounts and therefore almost unknowable at this stage in terms of profit and loss. Secondly, anything we do up to May 31, well the accounts don't need to be in until next year, and who knows what else they've got in there. There are all sorts of unknowns at this stage, such as final league placing reward money, FA Cup run and Euro Conference run. Also, why were we buying the likes of Rogers and the right back if we were that skint that we HAD to sell?

Unless I've completely misunderstood the point which is entirely possible!

[chrisw1]

I think Zaniolo is a good player, but his head needs sorting, and he needs to calm. I'd hope this injury allows him time to get himself together, that Emery et al put their arm round his shoulder and help him.

The charges can't be helping either.

I suspect it's too late for him now, but I agree I think he'll come good in time.  Probably just not for us.

[paul_e]

Might be a few pages back so I haven’t checked, but was it on this thread that the Ornstein story appeared, in which he said we must sell before June to comply with FFP?

Transfer window closed, doesn’t open up til July, so points deduction incoming then.

I haven't seen the story, but it doesn't sound right to me. Firstly, our accounting date is 31 May, so anything in June will be in next year's accounts and therefore almost unknowable at this stage in terms of profit and loss. Secondly, anything we do up to May 31, well the accounts don't need to be in until next year, and who knows what else they've got in there. There are all sorts of unknowns at this stage, such as final league placing reward money, FA Cup run and Euro Conference run. Also, why were we buying the likes of Rogers and the right back if we were that skint that we HAD to sell?

Unless I've completely misunderstood the point which is entirely possible!

I don't know any details but there's been talk of changes to how clubs have to report things for FFP/P&S to ensure punishments for breeches can be applied in the same season or at least much sooner.

There's a section here about it - https://theathletic.com/5198425/2024/01/13/premier-league-ffp-financial-fair-play/ - key bit quoted below:

Previously, if a P&S assessment recorded a loss in excess of the £15million limit over three years, clubs had to provide future financial information for the next two seasons by March 31, before submitting their evidence of secure funding to cover the losses.

But this timeline made it difficult for potential serious breaches to be dealt with in the same season.

Under new guidelines, clubs had to submit their accounts for 2022-2023 by December 31, rather than March. Any breaches and subsequent charges will be confirmed by January 15.

Teams, though, will not necessarily know their actual fates by the end of the season. Appeals will have to be concluded by May 24, five days after the final Premier League fixtures of 2023-24.

Not sure how that links up with the end of June stuff we keep hearing about though.

[Dave]

There are all sorts of unknowns at this stage, such as final league placing reward money, FA Cup run and Euro Conference run. Also, why were we buying the likes of Rogers and the right back if we were that skint that we HAD to sell?

It feels like we're fine to spend and don't need to panic and sell, but we don't have the room to spend Diaby / Torres / Buendia money on an instant improvement to the first team.

So we're better off dropping £6-8m here and there on stuff that might be brilliant in a year or two, as the player that will instantly come in and and upgrade Cash / Tielemans  / Konsa doesn't exist without throwing £60m at it.

[Dogtanian]

The Premier League rules require clubs to submit their annual accounts, director's reports, auditor's reports, P&L, and balance sheet for Profitability & Sustainability.

This makes it clear that the assessments are based on club accounts and financial years.

https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2023/08/10/eb775c99-351a-46c1-9050-53dcae175a81/PL_Handbook_2023-24_DIGITAL_03.08.23.pdf

(Page 131, rule E47)

This means our assessment will be based on our financial year ending May 31st, with anything happening in the next transfer window being part of our 2024-25 season accounts.