John Victor, a gifted young goalkeeper, is in the midst of a difficult professional transition. After a tough recent rejection by West Ham United, he must be feeling down. Though disappointing, it’s not entirely unexpected that Southgate would look beyond this exception for the foreseeable future. As clubs prepare their plans for the next season and beyond, Victor’s movement is a sign of how dynamic the football transfer market can be.
To reject a player like Victor, as West Ham had done, was particularly cruel. The young goalkeeper found himself at a crossroads. This surprising shift of fortune presents opportunities for other clubs in the league. They have a real opportunity to now step in and grab him up themselves. Victor’s track record certainly suggests the type of player any contending team would want to add to their goalkeeping corps.
Premier League Broadcast Landscape
On the other side of televised sports, Sky Sports are dominating Premier League coverage this season. Sky Sports will broadcast an incredible 80 percent of all televised Premier League fixtures this season. That’s 215 total live matches for the fans to watch! This outpouring of coverage is an indicator of just how far the league has come. It creates an opportunity for emerging players such as Victor to showcase their talents should they choose to go for it.
Clubs are acutely conscious that reach from such broadcasts can make or break the trajectory of a player’s career. For Victor, this affords a crucial opportunity for exposure, as competing at such a high level in the Premier League will provide valuable experience. Such an experience would greatly improve his future transfer or contract negotiation prospects.
Focus on Brentford’s Nathan Collins
Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in the hunt for signings. Brentford captain Nathan Collins has emerged as their main target in that process. Collins is certainly on the radar of top-tier teams. Like everyone else, they are eager to fortify their defenses before a new season to engage begins. It is his leadership qualities, as much as his on-field performance that makes him such a coveted player.
The competition for Collins speaks to the high stakes involved in the transfer market. Other clubs besides Real Madrid are in competition for his signature but are going through their own financial fair play restrictions and wage negotiations. With transfer windows closing fast, the competition to land Collins is heating up.
Other Transfer Developments
Beyond Victor’s case and the excitement surrounding Collins, there have been other major items that have developed on the transfer front. Feyenoord’s Xavi Simons this summer rejected approaches from Bayern Munich and Manchester City. He is interested in a transfer to Chelsea instead. This ruling shows the difficult calculus players must make when deciding where to go next.
Jadon Sancho’s massive salary is making it difficult for him to leave Manchester United, as well. His story paints a vivid picture of the tremendous political power of money to shape transfers. Too often, this combined effect finds clubs handcuffed by the stranglehold of their own salary caps.
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