Slackers and enhancers: Analysing the summer transfer window

Professor Brady said: “We don’t believe that the positioning of the transfer window is the issue. These patterns happen every year, people who work at the last minute and others that get things done earlier.

“Liverpool have done very well because they went early and had a clear plan for specific positions. West Ham will be wait and see as will Wolves and Everton to see how all their new players perform. On the other side Man Utd haven’t done enough to match Liverpool or Manchester City, I don’t think, and Spurs will regret not signing a striker if Harry Kane gets injured.”

“However, there is a counter argument that English clubs have been forced to adopt a more thoughtful, strategic approach to player acquisition, which is enforcing upon them a need to adopt foresight, careful planning, and stronger talent acquisition strategies. In the coming season, it will be interesting to observe the potential ramifications of the English model and the models being used elsewhere in Europe.

“Ultimately, one wonders whether England's or Europe's model ultimately prevails; or perhaps whether England's approach will bring the transfer system to a tipping point after which a completely new approach to transfer windows might be adopted by football authorities. As we head towards the final few days of the English window, the issues may therefore be less about the volume of business that clubs can squeeze in and more about the optimal arrangements for establishing and enforcing new transfer arrangements.”