Arsenal: Another theorised reason for delayed sales

Arsenal are still yet to sell any player this summer window. And yet they have signed five. I have another reason for this delay: the change in transfer deadline.

So far this summer, Arsenal have made five first-team additions: Stephan Lichtsteiner, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi. Of the five, four could very feasibly be significant contributors to the starting XI, with the fifth, Guendouzi, likely to feature in the lesser cup competitions and early Europa League matches.

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That is very efficient work. We are only halfway through July. But while acquisitions have been completed swiftly and effectively, there has not yet been one official sale. Jack Wilshere chose not to renew his contract, Santi Cazorla was not offered a new deal, Per Mertesacker retired, and a whole myriad of youth players was released after not being offered professional deals. But none were sales.

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I have previously speculated as to why Arsenal have delayed their sales this summer. From the presence of the World Cup complicating everything this summer to Unai Emery not having the time to properly evaluate the players in the squad and thereby recognise which players he wants to keep and which he wants to sell, there are, I believe, a number of factors for the delay.

And I have continued to think about the disparity in the club’s speed at signing and selling and theorised on another possible reason for the distinction. It is something that is completely new for all clubs this summer, a rule that was implemented earlier this year, one that shifts the very structure and rhythm of the usual summer transfer window. I am, of course, referring to the change in the transfer deadline.

Typically, the transfer deadline has been August 31st — it has not always been that precise date, but it has come, invariably, within a day or two of the end of August. That gives teams roughly three weeks after the start of the season to finalise their transfer business.

But in September 2017, Premier League clubs voted to shut the window before the start of the new season. In February, EFL clubs followed the Premier League’s move and also voted to have the window shut before the start of the new season. It is, I believe, the right decision. But it does pose a disparity in the need to buy and the patience to sell.

Foreign teams do not need to sign players before the August 9th deadline. They have until their country’s respective deadline, typically the end of the August. That means that Arsenal, and all other English clubs, have an extra three weeks or so to sell players abroad than they do to buy players. Perhaps that is factoring into the Gunners’ thinking in their delaying of sales. They have more time.

Next: Arsenal: 3 most likely sale candidates this summer

It is only a theory. It may have no significance whatsoever. But what is important is that Arsenal have time on their side to prune the squad and trim the deadwood. Sales will come. That is inevitable. We just have to be patient as we wait for them.