Deadline Day is upon us, but what do you need to know about one of football’s most anticipated days of the year?
We’ve compiled an A-Z of everything that could feature on Deadline Day. Happy Jim White Day to you all!
A is for Agents…
These are the key men in any Deadline Day deal. They hold the strength of hand when it comes to negotiating and they can make or break any potential moves.
B is for Big Ben…
Forget New Year’s Eve, this is when the famous landmark comes into its own! It will signal the end of transfer activity for January at 11pm.
C is for Car Window…
There’s no ‘Arry Redknapp in the Premier League at the moment, but there’s still lots to be gained by hassling managers while they’re in the front seat.
D is for Done Deals…
A transfer is only over the line when the dotted line is signed by everyone involved.
E is for Euros…
Get the currency converter ready, you’ll need it to work out whether a transfer is value for money or not.
F is for Fax Machines…
We may well be in the digital age, but the fax machine is still just as important. Registration forms need to be sent on time, but surely email is a better way of doing things?
G is for Google…
Not every January signing is a household name. Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic were relatively unknown when they arrived, but a quick check on Google will tell you everything you need to know.
H is for Helicopters…
Worried about congestion on the motorway? Is there a rail strike? Well don’t worry, because the new in vogue method of transport for the footballer on Deadline Day is to travel by helicopter. Let’s hope it’s not too foggy…
I is for Injuries…
There’s nothing that forces a manager into action quicker than an injury to a key man. Unfortunately when this happens, the cost of a replacement skyrockets as selling clubs recognise the need of the buyer. Simple supply and demand.
J is for Jim White…
Happy Jim White Day to everyone! It’s his time to shine and he’ll guide you through all the ins and outs of the day.
K is for Keep or Sell…
Does a manager cash in on a player and risk not being able to sign a replacement? It’s a tough job being a football manager and these are the big decisions that have to be made.
L is for Loan Window…
The loan window closes at the same time as the transfer window this January. Where will Chelsea’s youngsters end up?
M is for Mobile Phone…
Jim White will have his out; the players will have theirs, as will their agents. Keep up to date with all the comings and goings on social media as the day unfolds.
N is for New Shirt Numbers…
Any new signings are likely to court some of the more popular vacant shirt numbers at their new club.
O is for Odemwingie…
Depending on your allegiance, Odemwingie is a Deadline Day hero. The Nigerian’s trip to the car park at Loftus Road in 2013 was a perfect example of how not to engineer a move to a new club.
P is for Panic Buys…
Desperation leads to panic, which leads to poor transfer business. Think Kim Kallstrom…
Q is for Quids in…
What goes under the radar on deadline day are lower league clubs profiting from sell-on clauses inserted into contracts of their former players. Barnsley would have made a substantial profit from John Stones’ move to Manchester City last summer.
R is for Record Transfers…
Dimitar Berbatov, Robinho, Andy Carroll, Fernando Torres… Deadline Day is the scene of a number of record signings across the Premier League.
S is for Sky Sources…
The metaphorical bible of Deadline Day. Is your team after a player? Well, when sky sources say they’re after someone, more often than not, they’re telling the truth.
T is for Twitter…
There’s no better place to look for a good vine, meme or gif when it comes to reacting to a player’s move. You can also find up-to-date news, players expressing their views and official unveilings on social media.
U is for Unconfirmed Sightings…
Seen Ronaldo up Blackpool Tower? Adebayor spotted in Nandos in Wolverhampton? There are a number of unconfirmed sightings on Deadline Day. Don’t believe all the rumours that you hear.
V is for Valuation…
How inflated has the market rate become? What was the price difference between a striker your club bought in 2017 and one bought in 1997?
W is for Work Permit…
Aside from the signed contract, the work permit is the most important piece of administration required for registering global talent.
X is for X-Rays…
The all-important medical required before completing a transfer. Come to think of it, how did Kim Kallstrom ever pass his?
Y is for Yellow…
The colour of Jim White’s tie.
Z is for Zzzz…
Don’t go to bed too early. The transfer window shuts at 11pm, but there’s a grace period of a couple of hours for clubs who’ve submitted paperwork, but haven’t finalised the deal before the window slams shut.
