Purchases and Principles

By: Tom | May 27th, 2009

For all it’s faults, the transfer window can make for some exciting times when it does come around. I get giddy as a school girl at the possibilities. Particularly when I’ve been handed a £72 million war chest. Let’s have a look at the comings and goings then.

First, those unlucky few who are leaving behind the hallowed turf of the Emirates.

Owen was the first to be shifted, and Aston Villa the poor club to have taken him on. I thought his wages might be a sticking point, but he’s actually come out of it with a very slight pay rise. I recouped an absurd £7.5 million for him, almost twice what he cost. I am annoyed though, because I had been negotiating for other Villa players that I wanted to sign (see below) and offered Owen up as part of a swap deal (along with other players), but when the deal was accepted by both clubs, it would always collapse as Michael decided he didn’t want to go. I’d imagine becoming a makeweight in a deal for a younger, better player than yourself can be quite humiliating for a former Balon D’Or winner.

Silvestre was next to go (£3.5 million to Racing Santander), and Gallas soon followed (£8.5 million to Milan), as the restructuring of the defence began in earnest. I thought about hanging on to Gallas for one more year, but there are no shortage of decent English defenders in this game it seems, and it allowed me to replace him as captain with Fabregas (Jagielka as vice-captain) without the risk of upsetting him and his allies in the side. (Yes, I’m a coward).

My two reserve goalies were also out, as Fabianski and Mannone both moved to Italy – Udinese and Genoa respectively.

The other big departure was Samir Nasri, who went up north to Liverpool for £16 million. He never really convinced last season, and there are other up and coming options for the left wing.

Other than that, a few youngsters were let go and a few farmed out on loan. In total I’ve brought in £42.5 million, and that, coupled with the extra £15.75 million later made available by the board, gave me a new total of about £130 million to spend. Tasty.

So who’s in?

Ben Foster completed his move from Man U at the start of the window for £10.5 million, and will shift Almunia to the bench. I’ve snapped up another young keeper on the advice of a commenter (sorry, I’ve forgotten who!), Alex Smithies, who had been released by Huddersfield, and, I’ve been assured, has great things in his future.

Another free transfer was completed as Daniel Sturridge, stalling on a new Man City deal, decided to pitch up at his boyhood club instead. The fans were pleased, and he’ll definitely get a decent run in the League Cup at the very least this year, where he may be joined by Fabian Delph, the attacking midfielder from Leeds, who has arrived for £2 million.

The biggest signing so far has been Gabriel Agbonlahor for £17 million. I will want to throw him into the team from the off, but I can’t realistically drop Adebayor, so a change of formation to something employing two strikers might be called for.

With the departure of Silvestre and Gallas, a big name centre back was need, and Joleon Lescott fit the bill, as Everton were finally persuaded to part with him for £14 million. I think I have very good options at the back now, with Taylor, Jagielka and Lescott, and promising full backs in the shape of Kieran Gibbs, Gavin Hoyte and Kerrea Gilbert coming through.

I’ve spent £43.5 million, but I have my sights set on one or two other major signings. Ashley Young is key amongst them. Villa, however, are playing hardball. I’ve offered up to £25 million for him and they’ve come back demanding more than double that. I have the money to spend, but I don’t want to be taken for a ride, so I’ll see if I can get them under £30 million.

Another player I’m considering is someone who may prove controversial. Miguel Veloso. Definitely not English. Doesn’t even speak English. But hear me out.

While I am trying to build an all English team, there is nothing in my (self-imposed) rules to say I can’t buy the odd foreign player along the way. My target is five English starters in every game this season, so if I can sign Veloso and still maintain that, then why not? I’ve started tentative negotiations with his club, Sporting Lisbon, and it looks like he’ll be available for £17 million or thereabouts, and while he will have to leave a couple of years down the line, I’ll probably make a profit on him when he does.

Personally I’m torn though. He would almost certainly prove to be a key player in my team, and would provide a good defensive base in midfield around which to begin bedding in some English youngsters, but at the same time, he would be denying an English player a chance to make that position his own. Then again, the only current English holding midfielders in the side are Cattermole and Jagielka, one of whom is almost certainly not up to the job, and the other is better suited to playing at the back. I’ve made a move for Jack Rodwell of Everton, but even if he comes he won’t be ready for the first team from the off, and it’s a similar position for a promising young DMC from my youth set-up, James Dunne.

It’s been a while since I handed over a decision to you wonderfully decisive people, so I thought I’d settle this one with a poll.

Should I sign Miguel Veloso?(online poll)