Sport

Seven Days in Seven Points

That was a bizarre transfer window

Do we really need to say any more than that? The money spent was absolutely ludicrous; I mean Spurs managed to get £13m for Ryan Mason! RYAN MASON! I’d like to run through some of the more ridiculous transfer deals but, if I’m honest, I don’t have the time. The money being offered for players that a year ago wouldn’t have even fetched half the amount just beggars belief. And the worst thing? We’re going to have to get used to it. This is the way of football now, and the spending is only going to become more unfathomable this time next year.

Impressive business from Newcastle

Championship side Newcastle managed to bring in 12 new players this summer while also turning a profit and reducing the wage bill. By selling top earners Moussa Sissoko, Daryl Janmaat, Andros Townsend, Papiss Cissé, Fabricio Coloccini and Georginio Wijnaldum they were able to fund moves for proven Championship talent such a Grant Hanley and Matt Ritchie, as well as highly rated youngsters including Achraf Lazaar and DeAndre Yedlin. It’s not clear which players will settle, or if there will be flops among the Toon dozen, but if this squad can get Newcastle promoted at the first time of asking, then the Geordies have done some seriously good business.

No Yaya in City’s Champions League squad

It’s not really too much of a surprise, but it is a decision that highlights just how far Yaya Toure has slipped down the Manchester City pecking order. Teams are not allowed to include more than 17 overseas players in their Champions League squad and, as City have 18 on their books, someone had to miss out. The 33-year-old was criticised regularly last season for his apparent lack of effort in a number of games, and it now appears that boss Pep Guardiola does not regard him as a key player for the upcoming season. And, when you take into account his regularly lacklustre displays during the last campaign, it’s safe to say that many City fans will not be too disappointed.

Donnarumma is the future

This young lad is a serious talent. The 17-year-old goalkeeper, who has already appeared 32 times for Serie A giants AC Milan, made his Italy debut this week after replacing legendary stopper Gianluigi Buffon – a player who made his debut before Donnarumma was even born. Buffon has already described the youngster as ‘the chosen one’, which is unbelievably high praise from someone many consider the greatest ‘keeper of his generation. Keep an eye on Donnarumma, because he’s going to stick around.

Is Wilshere good enough to keep Bournemouth up?

You’d have to say the answer to that is a resounding yes. If Bournemouth’s coaching staff can do that which has eluded Arsenal’s for the last two seasons – namely keeping the 24-year-old fit – then he should give Bournemouth an absolutely massive boost. It is arguably the biggest signing in the club’s history, and that’s not surprising; how often does a team with only one year of Premier League experience manage to bag a young talent with over 30 international caps to his name? This could well be the signing of the summer.

New deals for Lamela, Eriksen and Vertonghen

Although Spurs managed to snare Sissoko from under Everton’s nose and also managed to add Vincent Janssen, Kevin Nkoudou and Victor Wanyama to an already talented squad, arguably Tottenham’s best business of the summer will be if they manage to get the trio of Lamela, Eriksen and Vertonghen to commit to the club for the long term. All three are absolutely integral to the squad and, if Spurs are to have ambitions of finishing in the Champions League places season after season, they need to be keeping hold of their best talent. Should these contracts be signed, Levy will have earned a hearty pat on the back.