Sridhar Bhamidi
One thing that was missing from the deadline day action of this summer transfer window was Manchester United. The Red Devils did their business early in the window and stayed away from the buzz on the final day. And manager Jose Mourinho thinks that this has saved his team millions of pounds.
The Red Devils manager was talking to The Times and stated that after the world record purchase of Neymar by Paris Saint-Germain, the whole market scene transformed on its head.
Mourinho stated, “We thought that something could happen that could change the market forever.” Adding, “after Neymar, everything changed – and changed for the worse in terms of prices.”
That’s true in more senses than one! Whatever is the reason, Mourinho always prefers doing his business early. The capture of Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic were done very early with enough time left in the transfer window.
One reason Jose often gives is that it gives enough time for his new recruits to settle into the side ahead of the new season. This year though, it even saved the club lot of money!
The amount of money we paid for Matic and Lukaku now looks very cheap considering the prices commanded by players on the deadline day. Who knows how much Everton would have demanded in Lukaku’s sale had United bid for him after the blockbuster sale of Neymar!
Mourinho indicated the same when he said that Matic could have easily cost £70million and Lukaku would have cost £150million had the deals were pursued on August 31.
United’s total outlay in this transfer window has been £169.5million (according to Sky Sports) and had the deals been dragged on, it could easily have been £300million.
Just imagine this – Barcelona spent £135million on Ousmane Dembele this summer after losing Neymar to PSG. The youngster is supremely talented but he surely is not worth that much! PSG followed the Neymar sale with a season-long loan deal for Kylian Mbappe who could be purchased next season for £166million.
Mourinho is right with his analysis of the transfer market, which looks to have taken flight after Neymar’s sale. By doing most of his business early, the Red Devils got their preferred targets and at a relatively cheaper price that.
All hail Jose!
