The market 'slows', as clubs await the big move to release a frenzy

The Independent’s football newsletter [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( July 15, 2023 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( The market 'slows', as clubs await the big move to release a frenzy Temporary solution forced Ten Hag's hand David De Gea has ultimately left [Manchester United]( because he is not good enough with the ball at his feet, and it meant[Erik ten Hag]( couldn’t play his football to the level he wants, but part of the extended departure was because the coach had seemed to figure out a solution on the pitch. After rigorous work on the training ground, it was found that Lisandro Martinez and De Gea had worked out a connection, with the defender realising where best to place himself to take pressure off the goalkeeper. It was also why Martinez’s injury had such an effect on United’s season, setting them back in so many ways. Needless to say, it’s also the explanation for Ten Hag’s strong interest in Andre Onana. As regards another player who doesn’t completely fit the coach’s ideal, Harry Maguire remains convinced he can change Ten Hag’s mind. The centre-half is intent on working hard to prove it. Even the biggest clubs waiting on sales The widespread[expectation is that Onana will go to United](, although there had been more tension about the exact price than perhaps had been publicly acknowledged. There was a period when neither side were budging, even if the difference was only £5m. It does feed into a wider reality with this transfer window, which is how blocked it all is. The word constantly being used is “slow”, as a series of factors prevent a lot of deals. The main issue is the influx of Saudi Pro League money. Far from accelerating the market and creating a knock-on from extra income, it has instead meant major [European clubs re-assessing]( their plans as wages and fees have been inflated. Everyone, right up to Manchester City, is consequently waiting on sales. So managers still have so many needs, though, which is why the current expectation is that late August will be frenzied. A lot of considerations for Kane As an example of a blockage, and the movements behind it, so much depends on Harry Kane. It is only a few weeks since so many involved were adamant he would not go to Bayern Munich, and would probably only leave the Premier League for Real Madrid, but the striker is now giving it consideration. This is why Bayern are pushing. They would not be making these bids without a serious possibility of the move happening. Tottenham Hotspur have so far rejected all bids but there are some fascinating questions there. Is it really worth one season for the club to lose out on around £100m? Should Daniel Levy just try and start a full necessary rebuild now, using Kane money? Or, and this is something more people are giving thought to, do Spurs make the calculation that it might be better to keep the forward to try and secure similar figures through Champions League prize money for qualification? The calculations may go on, though. In the meantime, Spurs are at least seeking to have insurance plans by looking for a potential replacement. 2030 looks set for western Europe For all the focus on Saudi Arabia, especially amid another round of bids for players like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, there has been one area where strides have not been as great as anticipated. The state is now seen as virtually [out of the running for the 2030 World Cup](, due to the clever politicking of the Spanish-Portugal-led bid. By including Morocco, as well as potential games in Ukraine, the Iberian project have essentially guaranteed a significant amount of votes in Europe and Africa. They are, in the words of one involved source, “almost there”. That may come as a disappointment to those who see the South American bid as the obvious emotional choice for the World Cup’s centenary but it doesn’t have the same commercial pull. There is still some way to go, mind. Lukaku closer to exit as Pochettino seeks experience Internazionale are still over £10m off [Chelsea’s asking price on Romelu Lukaku](although there is hope there can be progress by the start of next week. After that, there will be more clarity for an attacking option, as Mauricio Pochettino wants to bring in more experience to complement the extreme youth of his side.   Top stories [PSG attempting to hijack Bayern Munich’s bid to sign Harry Kane]( [‘Powerful and brave’: Dele Alli praised for candid interview about abuse, drug dealing and addiction](     Karl's Dispatches It’s a time of the year when some of us are not travelling unless you are going on a pre-season tour, but that coincides with transfer season. That means being in the one place so you can be constantly on the phone, chasing stories or reacting to the many details that leak out. And yet, for all the coverage over Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Saudi Arabia, there hasn’t been a transfer saga yet that has quite created the frenzies that the Manchester United sale process has. I’ve never known anything like it, in the sense of so many times where something breaking on social has somehow escalated into a major theme. And while many of these have not developed into actual stories, the relevance for us is the amount of time spent chasing them to try and clarify that. It’s been one more element to this process, that may not even have a resolution by the time the window closes.       QUOTE OF THE WEEK "You deserved to say goodbye at the stadium with all the fans cheering you." Bruno Fernandes on David De Gea, but with a line that could be universal for many such players in football   Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz Since the advent of squad numbers in 1993-94, only eight players have won the Premier League golden boot while wearing the number-nine. Name them. ([You can find out the answers here](. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too) Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   [INDYBEST]( /BEST BUYS]( [Best men’s summer shoes and sandals, for holidays, weddings and more]( From [sandals]( and [slides]( to [clogs]( and [trainers](, we’ve tested the [best men’s summer shoes](. 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