The January transfer window smacks of panic buys, desperate deals and a last throw of dice in the battle for promotion or battle against relegation.
And for the agents working on transfers, the four months leading up to the window are all about strategy, lining up players - and then seeing the best laid plans fall apart in the madness. Incredibly, the last January window saw Premier League clubs fork out a record £815m which was nearly double the previous biggest spend of £430m in 2018.
Much of that was down to Chelsea who splashed out £105m on Enzo Fernandez and £89m on Mykhailo Mudryk in a huge £323m spending spree. Don’t bet against Chelsea going into the market again while Newcastle have also been tipped to strengthen their squad in January but doubts remain whether they will actually dig deep.
So, what is it really like to be a top agent in the midst of the madness? One told Mirror Sport that he is expecting a quiet window and his only deal is likely to be taking a player overseas to a major European club.
His last few weeks have been fairly quiet and relaxed but, in many cases, agents can find themselves frantically busy in one summer and then very quiet the next. The life for an agent is often one of contrasts but one top agent believes - compared to last year - It will be quieter generally across the board.
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What has he done this week? One Championship game, two youth matches and will probably take in a Premier League game in the next few days. It has not been hectic - though the phone never ever stops - but is warming up for others.
He said: “Most of the big business was done in the summer, so I’m not expecting many big deals in January. This is all about lining up things for January, I’ve got one deal in place to take a player overseas and then we’ll see what happens and if there’s any fall out.
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Mykhailo Mudryk's move to Chelsea was among the highest-profile January 2023 deals (Ian Tuttle/REX/Shutterstock)“What tends to happen with transfers is that if one happens then it can have a domino effect in that suddenly another club has more money to spend or suddenly they feel the need to keep up with a rival. That’s often how out works or if there’s a chase like Mudryk last year when Arsenal wanted him but Chelsea got him.
"But from what I hear, I’d be surprised if we get the same levels of last year’s spend. This year might be about balancing the books and if big deals get done then a few clubs will have to get their budgets sorted first.”
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has already hinted that, despite the £1billion spend under owner Todd Boehly, he needs more players in January and, in particular, a striker to put the ball in the net from all the chances they are creating. Meanwhile, Newcastle have been tipped to be busy with Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips linked with a potential loan move. But they are not the only ones keen on the England midfielder as Juventus have been looking too.
Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a move this January (Paul Phelan/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)“Everyone is talking about Newcastle but I don’t think they’ll end up doing much because they’re up to their spending limit and also hope players come back from injury,” said the agent. “All the talk off the pitch is about what Chelsea will do next. It’s been absolutely chaotic.
“They’re bound to do some deals and do some ins and outs to enable some incomings. But wow, what a mess. If they are going to do deals again, then that will have to get cleared up first.”
The last few months have also been about agents fighting for their own rights. FIFA tried to bring in a new exam and licence system to regulate agents. It has good parts to it and the idea that it would get rid of fly-by-night agents out to make a quick buck or indeed under qualified members was a good principle.
Eddie Howe could add to his Newcastle squad in January (Eleanor Hoad/Every Second Media/REX/Shutterstock)But the biggest agencies and the biggest agents in English football, objected to the idea of caps on earnings, a limit on a percentage of what can be taken from a deal and also greater restrictions on dual representations. The big agents came together, launched a legal case and they successfully stopped FIFA bringing in the licence and exam system into English football.
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Our agent has been a very interested observer. No-one should underestimate the role of a good agent. The best have become mentors, managers and hugely important to top players.
The best are not sycophants who only say what they think the player wants to hear. They tell the truth, tell the player they have to work harder and even advise them to go to the unfashionable club over the glamorous one if it is good for their career.
They earn their corn. And that is why our agent believes they were right to launch their legal fight against FIFA.
He added: “As an agent, to put a limit on what you can earn is restriction of trade. The bigger agencies didn’t want a cap on what you could earn and also dual representation.
“When they brought in the exam a few years ago, it was the best thing they ever did. As soon as they made it so anyone could just pay a bond, that opened the floodgates to any Tom, Dick or Harry.
“Families have come in, bigger agencies have employed relatives, brothers or whoever from families. But at the heart of it, agents play a huge role.”
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