Arsenal: So, should we worry about Sokratis delay or not?

Per a report from German publication Kicker, there is a perfectly good reason as to why Arsenal are delaying the signing of Sokratis. But is it enough to dispel any worries?

This BBC Sport report, by David Ornstein, stating that Arsenal are ‘close to signing centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £16 million’ was published on May 28th. That is, as of the morning of June 11th, 14 days ago, or two weeks.

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BBC Sport, for those that are unaware, is extremely conservative in their reporting of transfers. They are often the last to explicitly mention a move in a report, they do not tend to entertain the modern-day gossip of many other media outlets, and when they do publish a piece, it tends to have been certified by many other sources and is rarely proven false.

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It is unusual, then, for a BBC Sport reports to not have been confirmed two weeks’ after its publication. And yet, with Arsenal and Sokratis, here we are. I have expressed my concern regarding this delay, stating that it is a troubling trait to have in a truncated transfer market thanks to the World Cup and an earlier deadline, August 9th, with Premier League and EFL clubs having voted for it to be moved to before the commencement of the season.

However, it now seems that there is a genuine reason for the delay, one that does not stem from the Gunners’ hesitance or inability to complete a transfer. Per German publication Kicker, it is Borussia Dortmund who are delaying the official announcement as they want the transfer to count in the next financial season, which does not start until July 1st.

Now, I do not have any reason to believe or disbelieve this report. It certainly makes a degree of sense: there has been fairly concrete talk of a medical being completed, of a fee having been agreed, of personal terms having been thrashed out. Why else would there be a delay?

And while I do not know the financial position of Dortmund, it is not unusual for clubs to shift around their finances a little to recognise assets against different periods to help with cash flow, release funds for the present or save for future investments and costs. It would not be all that surprising if Dortmund were wanting to do that in this scenario.

So, should we still be concerned with the delay in the official announcement? Well, maybe. Certainly, many worries are largely comforted with the revelation that it is Dortmund and not Arsenal who are slowing the process, and for a good reason. But that does not completely irradicate the fact that it could take over a month to complete a signing. That is still a little troubling.

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I think, at this point, fans just want the saga to come to an end, whatever that end may be. Unfortunately, if this report is true, it will not be coming any time soon.