I really feel like ppl are discounting how this sunmer has slowed transfers in general.
1) Big tournaments- Olympics, Euros, Copa America
- Most managers worth their paycheck slow or stop transfers during tournaments. Noted moron Marc Wilmots is an exception that proves the rule.
2) Boom Year for the Premier League
- With the influx of TV money the league is flush. This is an opportune time for clubs to inflate transfer fees and for players and agents to inflate wages. With some control being placed on this the clubs are also fighting to
keep expenses down. This has to lend some stickness to the market. [This also goes double for us since we have new ownership. Agents, clubs and players are all testing how desperate (or "ambitious" for the tabloid readers) we are by peering into our wallets.]
3) Managerial Changeover at Moneyed Clubs
- City, Man U, Chelsea, Bayern, PSG and even Zidane at Real are seeing their first summer windows with new managers. This slows the market because it takes time for the backroom to get sorted and identify targets then slowing the trickle down economic ball from rolling for the less well off. Think how many clubs were effected by the sales of Bale and Suarez, both in money moving through the market but also players being acquired and transferred as replacements were sought out.