But does it even matter? We have until the end of the season to sign Bertrand. Whether he signs now or tomorrow doesn't seem to make a difference.
And why are we trying to wrap this on deadline day? We could have done it any day of the transfer window, we surely haven't decided just a moment ago that we want to keep Bertrand.
It looks like our actual business in the transfer window is completed. So we have a better idea of where we are, and what we need in terms of players and finances now. It makes sense to go ahead and start working toward re-signing Bertrand now. It just doesn't have to be before the deadline. Unless maybe he will sign for less than he is making at Chelsea and we can save a few pounds. That probably isn't a big deal, though.
Only possible reason I could see for needing to sign Bertrand today would be so we could loan someone else from Chelsea? Have they got anyone worth it!?
It'd be nice to tidy the deal up so the club have one less transfer-related thing to think about but it's no big deal if it doesn't.
Just a thought - maybe Chelsea put in the small-print that if we wanted to sign Bertrand, it had to be done in January...
Possibly, in a reversal of our traditional situation (trading in the staged payments for Bale/Walcott because we needed the cash) maybe we could get a better deal by buying now?
