The Athletic

Hello, I'm Mark Chapman, welcome to the Athletic Football podcast.

Later in the pod, we'll discuss Watford struggles with Adam Leventhal,

and our investigations writer

Joey Dursso will detail the story of a bookmaker receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds

with a bet on a player receiving a yellow card in a Premier League game. First up, though,

Adam Crafton and David Ornstein are with us to talk about the transfer window as it enters

its final week. Will there be any big

deals? David, not that I'm quite sure what a big deal is nowadays, but will there be any?

I think there will be a lot of movements or attempted movements in a loan form, in loans with

options or obligations to buy.

We know that some swap deals are being explored.

But in terms of headline grabbing permanent big money transfers,

you know, of course, the likes of Newcastle will try.

Aston Villa have done a bit already and might do some more.

Arsenal could look to bring in a striker on a permanent basis. So that would be high value. However, from people I speak to in the industry, it's more, as ever with January,

some stopgap solutions, plastering over wounds, some emergency recruitment. It's not an opportune

time to recruit. Values are not fair, to be honest.

Clubs are only making players available if they're surplus to requirements at their own place,

which should be caused for concern. Yeah, there are opportunities, players with six months to go,

players with 18 months to go, players who have fallen out of favour.

But I feel a lot of groundwork is already being done for the summer.

...