Today’s fluff is on top of things
Now that the window has slammed shut, deal sheets either filed or torn up, there’s more than a few players left in limbo by the Premier League’s record-breaking summer transfer window.
What now for Emi Martínez, who keeps waving goodbye to Aston Villa and yet remains on the books, denied a dream move to Manchester United because Senne Lammens was the cheaper, younger option. A move to Turkey? The World Cup winner is said not to fancy it. The Turkish window rolls on but there is a Champions League deadline this week to meet to for its qualified clubs, with Galatasaray the most likely destination.
In any case, no bid came from United, who were also the preference for Gianluigi Donnarumma. In both cases wages were the issue for United. The Euro 2020 winner instead headed to Manchester City to learn how to play like Pep Guardiola asks – with Ederson heading to Fenerbahce.
Most deals tend to have knock-ons, and the collapse of Marc Guéhi’s move from Crystal Palace to Liverpool had ramifications for Joe Gomez, who was poised for a move to Milan. Instead, he is likely to be Virgil van Dijk’s partner for the foreseeable/until the January window, when Guéhi comes in. Guéhi recorded a soft-focus farewell video, shots of Wembley and his “last” goal for Palace at Villa on Sunday. That’s leaked on to the internet and “Skipper” as it terms him, can always get it recut.
