It's hard to tell how mobile Lavia is, because he weirdly always seems to be right where he needs to be. He might be extremely slow but blessed with some ability to fold space and time.
It's been one month since our last signing and we have one week left in the transfer window. It seems like it could be a very busy week for us! Was hopeful of 4 further incomings, but with just a week left now I'd think that's unlikely. Difficult to even call which positions we will fill as likely to be dependent on outgoings too. The only position that I'm confident we will bring in is a striker. I'd like to think we will make use of the loan spots too, particularly for full back.
I'd imagine it's been difficult to shift the players we want to get rid of, but there is always movement at the end of the window. Redmond, Walcott & Stephens are likely earning more here than they could at the level of clubs who would be in for them, and you could probably add McCarthy and Bednarek to that list. That's probably held up further incomings. We didn't need to sell to buy our priority targets, but I'm guessing we now need to free up wages to improve the squad depth. Was also wondering whether we'd look to keep a loan spot free for the January window?
We can also sell players to clubs in other countries who's window is open longer after English window is shut.
Is this a bit like the on-line auction sites, where you want to get your bid in as close as possible to the cut-off point, in order to stop someone else putting in a later bid?
Sometimes it does seem that the entire transfer system is exactly like buying stuff on eBay. Buy Now or submit a bid to register an interest, then risk being gazumped in the final seconds.
Good comparison, and the delays are further exacerbated by the fact the items being sold can also hold off to see if a better buyer comes in. Thankfully my golf clubs can't refuse to be sold because they think a better player might come in for them towards the end of the window!
Nathan Redmond and his missus were in Brighton yesterday. That wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility...
^ for that reason and more the window should shut before the first game of the season. I find it baffling that the FA/PL think this is a good system. Squads should be ready to go
