The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

Hello, good evening, ladies and gents. I hope you’re well and in good health. Sports fans, we need to talk; we need to talk about football and this summer’s transfer window.

By the time this is published, the transfer window will be closed. This has been a record transfer window, with Man City headlining the window arguably with the most eye-catching signings. The signings of Enzo and Elliott Anderson filled the gaps left by the departures of Rodri and Nico Gonzales.

The Blues, to their credit, have filled their Enzo Fernades gap by signing Lamine Camara from AS Monaco. Some might argue that this deal is an overspend, considering the price earlier in the window was quoted at £30 million.

But this is Chelsea, guys, the masters of selling playing talent for a profit. Former Benfica midfielder Enzo is a case in point.

Another example is that Serie A side Fiorentina were on the lookout for a striker, and they solved that issue with the signing of Beto from Premier League side Everton.

The Toffees looked to French side Monaco to fill their striker void by signing American striker Folarin Balogun, but the deal has apparently hit a snag, so we can’t say it’s completed for sure.

A loan move for Manchester United bench-warmer Joshua Zirkzee has been mooted. Newcastle is another side that has expertly filled voids in their team. Bournemouth and Brighton, for example, do this superbly well.

The rest of Europe is catching up. Some parts of the football community have criticised FFP as bad for football. In parts it is, but times like this, I will say it loud for the people in the back: FFP is a good thing!

Where it isn’t good is that it hampers clubs like Aston Villa, who don’t have deals they can line up like Man City can, which shows their books in a more favourable light.

Despite that, The Villains have had a superb window. Sports fans, don’t be fickle and judge their early-season results and then say they have had a poor window. Ok, I am not sure about the signing of Nicholas Jackson, but every other signing appears to have solved an issue.

Senegalese striker Jackson, although hardworking, isn’t the best at times in terms of his finishing. Former striker Ollie Watkins, all-round, was excellent. He will be a tough act to follow.

Say it quietly, out of all the teams, I think Aston Villa won the transfer window. As much as Liverpool and Man City have been signing players above £100 million, Europa League winners have spent a lot, but they’ve done it with a method.

Not saying City and 20-time Premier League winners Liverpool haven’t, but the fact that they have spent £100 million+ twice in two of the last three windows and the Cityzens have twice in the same window has made it harder for the rest of the clubs to do business.