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The way transfer business is done has changed drastically over the years.
Stories of managers making deals themselves are long gone and season-defining blockbuster transfers like Eric Cantona’s from Leeds to Manchester United no longer happen just by chance. In that case, it was because Sir Alex Ferguson received a call “from Leeds chairman Bill Fotherby, who called him to ask about Dennis Irwin, but after any idea of a move was rejected, Cantona was mentioned.”
The modern football transfer window has become almost as big a business as what happens on the pitch.
Journalists like Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein have become staples for anyone interested in what’s going on in the crazy world of football transfers.
Consequently, the way clubs conduct transfer business is incredibly different and much more interconnected than in the past.
As an example, The Daily Mail has highlighted the Transfer Room’s Virtual Offer Day which took place yesterday.
It is described as “where the football version of speed dating brings together representatives from up to 500 clubs from around the world to try to sell their wares. The likes of Manchester United, Southampton, Roma, Montpellier and PSV Eindhoven are expected to be among those represented as they join an online Zoom for around six hours from 12.30pm to share who they have available and what positions they are looking for.”
An example of how this process can be applied in the real world is when “the Transfer Room process has been cited as key to Southampton signing Carlos Alcaraz from Argentina’s Racing Club for £12 million last year.”
According to transferroom.com, the organization’s goal is to “empower football clubs, agents and players to succeed in the transfer market by providing them with real-time market intelligence and direct access to a global network of decision makers.” .
They claim to be trusted by over 700 clubs around the world and offer clubs a host of benefits needed to be successful in the transfer market.
Real-time access, global network and market intelligence are opportunities that can be unlocked by utilizing the enterprise.
Transferroom claims to support clubs throughout the transfer process by pre-scoping, identifying needs, sharing requirements, identifying potential players, negotiating terms and finalizing deals.
It seems unlikely that a club the size of United would give so much power to an organization like this, but it is interesting that the Mancunian team are trying to take a different approach.
The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at the club has been plagued by poor transfer decisions and overspending is the norm. It’s certainly something new parts owners INEOS will try to change.
