A web of rules, motivations and etiquette governs the trade in temporary solutions that will again dominate this month
It is a time of year to beg, borrow and steal in the football world, especially in England, where the January transfer window is again expected to be dominated by loan deals. Only 37 of the 178 players leaving Premier League clubs last January moved permanently and close to one in every three of the incoming signings in the top flight – a ratio that for the second successive year was twice as high as in the summer – joined on a temporary basis.
Halfway through the season is normally short-term fix territory rather than a buyer’s market, which partly explains the prevalence of loans. Yet arguably the biggest factor is the sheer number of professionals that Premier League clubs have on their books these days and the need to find regular first-team football for as many as possible while recouping a bit of money at the same time.
Written by Stuart James
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/05/the-borrowers-loan-deals-dominate-january-transfer-window under the title “The borrowers: how loan deals took over the January transfer window | Stuart James”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
