The ratio has beaten the emotion during this winter mercato. Correct or incorrect? Lawyer Jesse De Preter and real estate agent Gunter Thiebaut think so. “Clubs have become more afraid and wonder whether the economy will allow it to gain added value on a player later on. They are more careful.”
It was a quiet mercato, or at least in Belgium, confirm lawyer Jesse De Preter and broker Gunter Thiebaut. Although the duo had busy days arranging (potential) transfers, many deals were not forthcoming.
“It has to do with the fact that very few clubs are still afraid to drop out of 1A”, De Preter analyzes the Belgian calm. “The league position is pretty clear.”
“On the other hand, the fact that the top clubs have not invested too much may have to do with the financial blows they received during the corona crisis.”
“They may also anticipate the financial fair play rules that may become stricter again. That tolerance is disappearing.”
Clubs have become more scared and wonder whether the economy will allow it to gain added value on a player later on. People are more careful.
That’s called putting it to the test. “Yes. And besides, most deals are also rental agreements that involve little transfer money. Clubs do not make long-term commitments.”
“They have become more afraid and wonder whether the economy will allow it to gain added value on a player later on. They have become more careful and manage the budgets like a good family man.”
The money did roll in England, although De Preter points to a distorted picture. The expensive transfers are centered around a few clubs flirting with relegation from the Premier League.
Still, the lawyer emphasizes that it was by no means a calm period. “My phone did ring continuously, but in an inefficient way.”
“The terrain was explored and information was sought, but too little was concreted.”
“The negotiations are often conducted by people with a lot of technical knowledge, but they are not necessarily the best negotiators. They wait too long and it becomes inefficient.”
Club Brugge was still active on Deadline Day.
“More fair? All transfer periods are wrong”
The lawyer also takes the Africa Cup into account – the cores of the clubs are gradually becoming complete again – and also emphasizes the human factor in a transfer target.
“A player is first of all someone with family. He then has to tell his family that they are suddenly moving.”
“Clubs underestimate that human aspect. It is not so obvious to change employer at the last minute. Clubs should pay more attention to that.”
Given that the top clubs have made few expensive transfers, that should mean that their work has been good over the summer. We’ll see at the end of the season if it was.
Fewer transfers should also increase fairness in a competition. Or not? “When you talk about fairness, all transfer periods are wrong.”
“It would be healthier to keep the transfer periods before the start of the competitions and allow corrections during the winter, for example for injured players. That has to be reconsidered.”
But for now, the panic buying seems frozen. “The process is now more objectified with data, but in the end someone has to decide and a technical director is also held accountable for that.”
“Since the top clubs have made few expensive transfers, that should mean that their work has been good over the summer. We will see at the end of the season if it was.”
“A team like Union also performs by working in a rational and scientific way. That encourages other teams to do the same.”
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