1. Executive Overview: Core Theses & Key Revelations
The final seven days of any transfer window routinely generate intense speculation, but the late-summer landscape of the current campaign represents a structural inflection point in modern football administration and tactical engineering. On the latest edition of The Athletic FC Podcast, football correspondent David Ornstein and European football specialist James Horncastle, alongside host Emma Payton, laid bare an industry operating under unprecedented systemic pressure. The dominant narrative centers on Manchester City’s aggressive, multi-layered squad overhaul following the departure of Pep Guardiola and the coronation of Enzo Maresca. Facing the exit of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri to Spanish football after contract negotiations stalled, City have embarked on a staggering midfield expenditure—headlined by the £116 million acquisition of Elliott Anderson from Nottingham Forest and an £81.4 million (€100 million total package) transaction for Lille’s 17-year-old prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Beyond the Etihad Stadium, the conversation revealed a transfer ecosystem characterized by extreme strategic realignments and financial necessity. Arsenal have signaled a willingness to move on from long-serving winger Gabriel Martinelli, reflecting Mikel Arteta's relentless tactical iteration. Concurrently, Aston Villa find themselves defending star striker Ollie Watkins against a lucrative bid from Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal—a move the England international is actively open to pursuing. Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez has closed the door on a Premier League return, holding out exclusively for FC Barcelona. Meanwhile, Liverpool's high-probability pursuit of Bradley Barcola—rated at a 90 percent likelihood by Ornstein—highlights how Arne Slot is balancing immediate market elite additions with the mandate to extract superior production from the previous year's transfer cohort.
Underpinning these player movements is a radical shift in executive behavior driven by regulatory evolution. As European football transitions from traditional Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to UEFA’s and the Premier League’s strict Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) frameworks, clubs are forced into complex financial gymnastics. With up to 70 percent of total market business backloaded into the final fortnight, the window has become a high-stakes arena where tactical necessity, squad age profiling, and balance-sheet liquidity collide in real time.
2. Context & Background: The Landscape Leading to This Conversation
To fully grasp the magnitude of the revelations shared by Ornstein and Horncastle, one must analyze the macroeconomic and regulatory environment governing the sport. The departure of Pep Guardiola from Manchester City ended an era of unprecedented tactical stability, leaving new manager Enzo Maresca with the monumental task of reshaping a squad whose core engine had grown vulnerable. The midfield vacuum was exacerbated by Rodri’s refusal to sign an extension into his final contract years. Demanding terms commensurate with a player logging 60 top-tier matches per season while recovering from a serious ACL injury, Rodri’s exit forced City into immediate, high-capital interventions. The club’s decision to commit combined funds exceeding £197 million for Anderson and Bouaddi underscores the existential importance of central control in Maresca's system.
Simultaneously, the regulatory transition from PSR to SCR has fundamental operational ramifications. SCR caps a club's total expenditure on player and head coach wages, transfers, and agent fees at a defined percentage of club revenues (scaling down to 70 percent under UEFA guidelines). This regulatory framework penalizes static squads and rewards fluid asset management. Consequently, elite clubs are no longer merely shopping for talent; they are engaging in perpetual portfolio rebalancing. This dynamic explains why high earners or players with substantial amortized market values—such as Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal or Tijjani Reijnders, who was abruptly sold by City to Al Qadsiah after just a single season—are placed on the trading block despite their proven talent.
Furthermore, the Saudi Pro League continues to exert strong gravitational pull on European talent. Rather than focusing solely on veteran superstars in the twilight of their careers, Saudi recruitment has matured into targeting prime international assets like Ollie Watkins and Reijnders. This sustained capital infusion provides European clubs with liquidity while simultaneously destabilizing squad continuity late in the window, creating a domino effect across domestic leagues.
3. Deep-Dive Thematic Breakdown
3.1 Manchester City’s Midfield Reconstruction: The Post-Rodri Vacuum and Maresca’s Tactical Gambit
The central tactical conundrum occupying Manchester City this summer is the replacement of Rodri—a player who functioned not merely as a defensive shield, but as a pitch-side manager dictating tempo and structural positioning. The acquisition of 17-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille represents a fascinating, high-risk profile shift. As James Horncastle observed during his analysis of Bouaddi’s performances at the Club World Cup against Brazil, the young Frenchman is fundamentally distinct from Rodri. Rather than acting as a metronomic passer who distributes from static deep positions, Bouaddi is an extraordinarily agile, press-resistant dribbler who breaks opposition structures by driving directly through central lanes.
Horncastle issued a clear warning regarding the weight of expectation placed upon a teenager carrying a €100 million total price tag (€95 million guaranteed plus €5 million in add-ons, with a contract running through 2031). Historical precedents—such as Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United or Alexander Isak’s adjustment period at Liverpool after a late transfer—demonstrate how extreme transfer fees and missed pre-seasons can impair a player's initial integration. Bouaddi, who remarkably balances professional football with studying mathematics at the University of Marseille, possesses immense intellectual and technical capacity. However, his physical frame requires development to endure the physical demands of the Premier League.
Maresca’s immediate tactical adaptations have been equally intriguing. Deploying central defender Marc Guéhi in midfield against Bournemouth was an opportunistic move that Horncastle likened to classic Italian management, evoking Fabio Capello’s historic reinvention of Marcel Desailly at AC Milan in the 1990s. Yet, Ornstein confirmed that this temporary measure will not suffice long-term. City remain actively engaged in securing secondary midfield targets. Enzo Maresca is pushing aggressively for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, while alternative profiles—including Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Roma’s Manu Koné—remain under active review. With Nico González nearing a permanent move to Newcastle United and Reijnders departed to Saudi Arabia, City’s midfield remains in a state of active construction.
3.2 Elite Migrations and Market Friction: Martinelli, Watkins, Alvarez, and the Barcola Pursuit
The podcast highlighted several high-profile transfer sagas that illustrate the cold calculus of modern squad construction. Most striking was David Ornstein’s disclosure regarding Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal have communicated to the Brazilian forward that he is no longer considered a central pillar of Mikel Arteta’s long-term tactical vision. As Arteta shifts toward more dominant, possession-heavy wide play demanding precise spatial control over explosive counter-attacking transitions, Martinelli’s direct style has seen his standing diminish. Arsenal’s willingness to monetize Martinelli reflects their commitment to continuous squad evolution under strict financial parameters.
In the Midlands, Aston Villa face an operational dilemma with Al Hilal’s aggressive pursuit of Ollie Watkins. With Watkins expressing clear interest in the move, Villa must balance the competitive detriment of losing their primary goalscorer against the transformative capital an elite Saudi transfer fee provides. This situation highlights how player agency and Middle Eastern capital can force even ambitious Champions League contenders to re-evaluate their squad retention strategies late in the window.
Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez’s position at Atlético Madrid underscores the limitations of pure financial muscle when set against strong player preferences. Despite substantial interest from Premier League suitors offering lucrative terms, Ornstein reported that Álvarez has rejected any return to English football. The Argentine international is singular in his ambition: he desires exclusively a move to FC Barcelona. Unless Barcelona can navigate their ongoing economic constraints to present a viable structure, Álvarez will remain in Madrid, proving that elite player motivation remains a pivotal variable in transfer negotiations.
Finally, Liverpool’s ongoing pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola represents one of the window's most significant potential moves. Ornstein expressed strong confidence in the deal’s completion, assigning it a 90 percent probability. This maneuver fits seamlessly into Arne Slot’s broader strategy. While Slot has been tasked with maximizing the performance of last summer's substantial investments, the opportunity to acquire a dynamic, elite-level winger like Barcola offers Liverpool the explosive wide threat required to sustain a title challenge on multiple fronts.
3.3 The Brentford Paradigm: Data, Delivery, and Mamadou Sangaré’s Instant Impact
While blue-chip clubs command media headlines with nine-figure transactions, Brentford’s signing of Mamadou Sangaré stands as a masterclass in modern recruitment strategy and player persuasion. Sangaré’s dominant early performances—comfortably outshining Tottenham Hotspur’s high-cost midfield acquisitions—have validated Brentford’s long-term talent identification model.
Ornstein detailed how recruitment director Lee Dykes and chief executive Phil Giles secured Sangaré’s signature despite intense competition from elite global clubs. Brentford’s success did not stem merely from algorithmic data mining—though their analytical framework under owner Matthew Benham remains top-tier. Rather, it was driven by relentless, hands-on scouting and a pitch presentation crafted by Dykes and former manager Thomas Frank. By providing Sangaré with a comprehensive breakdown of his tactical fit, technical development goals, and future career pathway, Brentford demonstrated an acute awareness of their position in football's hierarchy.
By framing the club as a high-performance environment designed to elevate top talent to the absolute peak of the game, Brentford align their institutional goals with the player's personal ambition. This transparent strategy enables the club to consistently win competitive recruitment battles against wealthier rivals while securing assets that generate immense sporting and financial returns.
3.4 Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso Era: The 'JP Morgan' Attack vs. The Goalkeeping Dilemma
Chelsea’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage provided an initial glimpse into life under new manager Xabi Alonso. Reporting from the stadium, Liam Twomey highlighted the immediate tactical cohesion displayed by Chelsea’s frontline—wittily labeled the "JP Morgan" line by Horncastle, in reference to João Pedro, Cole Palmer, and £100 million-plus summer addition Morgan Rogers, alongside Chelsea's institutional backing.
The operational chemistry between Rogers and Palmer, rooted in their shared history within England’s youth setups, paid immediate dividends. Supported by the physical presence of defender Maxence Lacroix—who set up Rogers' goal—Palmer delivered a masterclass reminiscent of his peak form under Mauricio Pochettino, capping his display with an audacious nutmeg finish. Alonso’s tactical framework appears to give these creative attackers freedom to interchange seamlessly, restoring swagger to Chelsea's forward play.
However, both Ornstein and Horncastle identified a glaring structural flaw: Chelsea’s persistent failure to upgrade the goalkeeping position. Despite committing vast capital across every outfield area, Chelsea continue to rely on Robert Sanchez, whose costly errors against Fulham exposed ongoing vulnerability. While the club attempted to secure AC Milan’s Mike Maignan in January, that deal collapsed, leaving the hierarchy to rely on internal development and future prospects like Mike Penders. Ornstein expressed amazement that a club so meticulous in data collection and market execution continues to ignore a top-tier goalkeeping upgrade—a decision that could ultimately cap their ceiling as potential title contenders.
3.5 Fulham’s Spanish Gamble: Arbeloa’s Trial by Fire and Squad Modernization
Fulham’s transition into the post-Marco Silva era under Álvaro Arbeloa represents one of the Premier League's most intriguing managerial appointments. Arbeloa’s arrival, leveraged in part by his Real Madrid pedigree, helped secure promising talent such as Real Madrid Castilla graduate Gonzalo García, who scored on his debut against Chelsea. However, as Horncastle noted, appointing a manager whose head coaching experience was largely confined to Real Madrid’s youth academy carries inherent volatility.
Fulham are simultaneously managing a dramatic squad modernization program. The departure of experienced stalwarts like Raúl Jiménez, Adama Traoré, and Sasa Lukić (who joined Ipswich Town) has forced the club to lower its overall age profile rapidly. Target profiles such as Brest defender Luc Zogbe and Southampton's Shay Charles signal a clear shift toward youth and resale value. While owner Shahid Khan’s presence in London promises further activity before the deadline, Arbeloa faces an immediate challenge: integrating raw talent into a cohesive defensive unit capable of surviving the rigorous demands of Premier League football.
4. Speaker Perspectives & Analytical Contrast
The dynamic between the panel members on The Athletic FC Podcast illuminated the complementary forces driving modern football journalism: hard investigative reporting paired with deep tactical analysis. David Ornstein served as the primary source of boardroom intelligence, providing precise probabilistic assessments and structural insights. His reporting on Arsenal’s communication to Martinelli, the 90 percent likelihood of Barcola joining Liverpool, and the intricate mechanics of SCR regulations anchored the discussion in concrete operational reality.
In contrast, James Horncastle evaluated these developments through an analytical and historical lens. Horncastle contextualized Bouaddi’s arrival not merely as an expensive signing, but as a fundamental shift in central midfield dynamics, drawing parallels to historical player development trajectories and tactical precedent. His skepticism regarding raw price tags—referencing Pogba and Isak—balanced Ornstein’s market updates with a reminder of the physical and psychological friction involved in elite player integration.
| Topic / Saga |
David Ornstein’s Report & Market Intelligence |
James Horncastle’s Tactical & Historical Synthesis |
| Man City Midfield Rebuild |
Confirmed £197m+ outlay on Anderson & Bouaddi; reported active pursuit of Enzo Fernández, Wharton, and Koné amid Rodri exit. |
Identified Bouaddi as a press-resistant dribbler rather than a Rodri-style metronome; warned of physical acclimation risks. |
| Liverpool & Bradley Barcola |
Assigned a 90% probability to Liverpool closing the deal before the deadline. |
Highlighted Arne Slot’s dual directive: integrating elite wide arrivals while raising the floor of last season's signings. |
| Chelsea’s Goalkeeping Strategy |
Noted failed January pursuit of Mike Maignan and absence of active goalkeeper targets despite Sanchez's volatility. |
Questioned the decision to overlook top-tier goalkeepers as the sole barrier separating Chelsea from true title contention. |
| Brentford & Mamadou Sangaré |
Detailed how Lee Dykes and Phil Giles won the recruitment battle via meticulously personalized pathway presentations. |
Emphasized Brentford's mastery of self-awareness within the football food chain, optimizing player growth and resale value. |
| Fulham under Álvaro Arbeloa |
Reported squad age reduction efforts and owner Shahid Khan's active presence in London for late window business. |
Framed Arbeloa’s appointment as a high-volatility gamble, transitioning rapidly from academy coaching to Premier League pressure. |
5. Strategic & Industry Implications
The developments discussed during the episode underscore several macro trends that are reshaping professional football administration:
- The Primacy of Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) Compliance: The industry-wide transition toward SCR is fundamentally altering contract negotiations and asset liquidity. Clubs can no longer afford to carry highly-paid squad players whose tactical fit has diminished. Arsenal’s stance on Martinelli and City’s quick turnaround on Reijnders reflect a zero-tolerance policy for capital inefficiency under strict squad cost limits.
- The Death of the Static Midfield Anchor: Manchester City’s shift from Rodri to dynamic, ball-carrying profiles like Bouaddi signals a broader tactical evolution. As high-pressing schemes become more sophisticated, top managers increasingly value press resistance and direct ball transport over traditional static distribution from deep positions.
- Saudi Pro League as a Maturing Secondary Market: The Saudi Pro League’s targeted moves for prime talent like Ollie Watkins demonstrate that Middle Eastern clubs have evolved beyond signing aging stars. This sustained buying power provides European clubs with an essential source of late-window liquidity, while simultaneously forcing European sporting directors to maintain active contingency targets right up to deadline day.
- The Vulnerability of Unbalanced Overhauls: Chelsea’s impressive attacking assembly under Xabi Alonso contrasted sharply with their unaddressed goalkeeping weaknesses. Modern squad building requires holistic balance; committing hundreds of millions to outfield positions while leaving fundamental defensive positions vulnerable creates structural fragilities that opponents easily exploit.
6. Looking Ahead: Unresolved Questions & Next Milestones
As the clock ticks down toward the September 1 deadline at 11 PM, several critical storylines will determine the competitive landscape for the remainder of the season:
First, will Manchester City succeed in securing Enzo Fernández from Chelsea, or will they be forced to turn to alternative targets like Adam Wharton or Manu Koné to complete Maresca’s midfield engine? The resolution of this pursuit will directly impact City's ability to maintain central control in high-stakes domestic and European fixtures.
Second, can Liverpool finalize the acquisition of Bradley Barcola to complete the 90 percent probability forecast by Ornstein? Securing Barcola would provide Arne Slot with an extraordinary attacking unit, while failure to finalize the deal could leave Liverpool reliant on tactical tweaks within their existing roster.
Third, how will Arsenal execute Gabriel Martinelli’s departure, and which suitors will emerge to meet their valuation before the window shuts? Simultaneously, Aston Villa must determine whether to hold firm on Ollie Watkins or accept Al Hilal’s massive offer and rapidly reinvest the capital into replacement forwards.
Finally, as experts predict that up to 70 percent of total summer transaction volume will occur in these frantic closing days, executive teams across Europe face an intense test of operational endurance. Navigating financial regulations, managerial demands, and player preferences under strict time constraints will separate well-administered institutions from those left behind in an increasingly unforgiving landscape.
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Hello and welcome to Athletic FC Podcast with me, Emma Payton. Manchester City have been busy overhauling their squad after Pep Guardiola's exit, but with just a week left of the window, or can they get all of their business done in time? And what other major transfers can we expect over the next seven days? Joining me from the Athletic is our football correspondent David Ornstein and James Horncastle, Gents, brilliant to see you. This is our usual Tuesday club now. We're finally together. Glad to be part of the club, the breakfast club. It's going to be a good club, okay? Now today we're going to get into the latest edition of the Deal Sheet Athletics Weekly One Stop Shop for the latest transfer window development plus we'll discuss Chelsea's three-two win at Fulham as well, but let's start with Manchester City and their major rebuilds under new boss, Enzo Morescar. They have spent £116 million on Elliott Anderson and agreed an £81.4 million deal to sign Ayah Buwadi from Leo. David, I mean, ever since Roderie's departure, it sort of feels like the window has been revolving around Manchester City. It feels like every day there's a new story. Is that how you feel as well? Is that a fair assessment? Yeah, it's been a mad summer for Manchester City. They've really been one of the key stories, I would say Tottenham as well and a couple of others, but right from, I'll take you further back then, Roderie and Elliott Anderson. I mean, we were out in the States at the World Cup when his deal got done from Nottingham Forest, a British record at the time soon to be surpassed by Morgan Rodgers. But what it showed you was that midfield was that major focus, whether it be in or out for Man City in this market. And we got a lot of noises that Roderie wasn't going to be willing to sign a new contract that he wanted to go, that it was Real Madrid initially and then Barcelona. But in fact, you know, City couldn't let him go into his last year, especially when they were being offered that sort of money. And so that deal, your right, has sort of set the wheels in motion for other actions because Ayah Buwadi was a key target for theirs, but it kind of needed Roderie to go. It's massive money, 100 million euros package, 95 million euros plus five in add-ons contract 2031 with an option to extend. I saw and spoke to him at the World Cup, after Morocco's game against Brazil, where he was fantastic as a player and spoke well, good English. Young boy still got a bit of spots on his face. He's very endearing and I think that's going to be an amazing signing for Man City. But it doesn't stop there because of course, to Johnny Reinders, headed to our Cazir in the Saudi pro league. Not many people saw that one coming after just one season. Nico Gonzales is subject to a pursuit from Newcastle United club to club talks is heading towards an agreement. I don't think it's there quite yet the time of recording. And then what's going to come in in the other direction to replace them? Of course, there's that interest in Enzo Fernandez. Could there be some others as well because it feels like they need they need a couple in there. So yeah, really remarkable summer for Manchester City for Enzo Morescar and specifically that midfield department. Right. We will talk more about Enzo Fernandez in a little bit, but just back to Boadi for a moment because Enzo Morescar saying that last week City are going to try and find the new Rodry. Is that what he is? Does he have the potential to be there? I don't think he's the new Rodry because I mean, he's a teenager. That's a big responsibility put on his shoulders. Yeah, Rodry's a ball on door winner. Has won the Euros won the World Cup won everything with City. So, you know, I'm always a little bit cautious when you look at a player like that as David said, it's very young. I mean, the first World Cup game we did together was that Brazil Morocco game. And I was like, I've lost David. Where is it? He was being the mix on my straw with with with. And and I mean, his performance in that game, I think, set the tone for what City fans might expect. It's just extraordinary nimble player who instead of passing him passing the ball around teams, he dribbles past players. Yeah, that's how he gets out of pressure. So he's not really sort of tempo setting midfield metronome in the way that Rodry always felt like a coach on the pitch. So I think he's going to need protecting. It's going to it's going to come to Man City without having spent preseason with Man City, without knowing what Enzo Moresca's demands of him are going to be. You know, I've spoken to some other people in the game who who really rate him, but look at his physique now. And as David said, he's still still a teenager. Yeah, he's going to have to grow into his body, bulk up a little bit, particularly in in a in a league as physical as the Premier League. And you look at these signings. I think they've been 13 signings in the Premier League over 100 million. And not many of them have worked out. Some of them because of the expectations rust upon those players. You think of Pogba, you know, when Pogba moved to Manchester United, people started judging him in the way that you think Pogba needs to be scoring 15, 20 goals to justify that price. Now, yeah, EZAC last year, unlucky with injury, but still it kind of shows the risk of putting all your eggs in in a basket. EZAC also joined late as Buaddi did and it didn't really facilitate him settling in at Liverpool. So look, I'm really excited to see the player in England. He's a very smart boy. I think as David got that impression. I mean, very precocious sort of straight A student in school. We're studying maths at the University of Marseille in his spare time. He was a France youth international up until the the World Cup. You know, played with a lot of guys in that France in the 21 squad who are now in the Premier League and have made that jump. But I think, you know, as with cities, business generally over the last two and a half years, it's not necessarily, it's not guaranteed that this, that's, this is a success. How do you see Manchester City's midfield moving forward then because they've had this rebuild this summer. I mean, Matt Gays started in midfield against Bournemouth. Was that more a bit of a message sent out from Enzo Maresco? I'm curious what David made of that, the Gahee decision, because it's something that fans always like to talk about in terms of is this coach sending a message to the board. And we know Maresco has been at City in the past. That's why he's been brought back. But it would still be a bold move for him to do that. I kind of just looked at him and saying, classic Italian. He's doing, he's doing what the fellow did with Desi in the 90s with AC Milan. And yeah, he's just, he's showing off a bit in terms of trying to reinvent a player that we all thought we knew about, but maybe Enzo Maresco sees something different in that we don't. I think he's been sending messages from the moment he arrived by private jet flashing his sunglasses. I know the Manchester City video output. I thought that was quite extraordinary. And entering the pitch after the game of the weekend and and almost performing a Pep Guardiola style appraisal of Rianne Cherke's performance. But on this particular decision, it felt more functional operational to me in terms of the resources available to him. I mean, we've not seen Marge play there. And a huge respect to Bournemouth. They were leading and we'll feel disappointed not to have won. They're a top team. But I've seen worse solutions. You know, John Stones has played in midfield for City in the past. And you know, it's not a long term thing. I don't think that Maresco is quite in the business yet of sending out barbs to the hierarchy. This is a position he coveted. He was part of the club twice before. You know, it's early days there for him. And I'm sure the relationship is greater at this point. So I don't think he needs to tell the hierarchy to get a move on in the market. But we definitely know he does want Enzo Fernandez. You know, there was some inquiries to Crystal Palace about Adam Wartum. It gives you an indication of their thinking on their list. I think has been Manucone of Roma. Another player James knows really well. So they're clearly toying with different profiles for midfield, different players, different nationalities. And at the moment, they haven't got enough of them into the building. So Mark Gahie or somebody was needed there. It did a pretty decent job. But as soon as possible, they need to get their recruits in and settled. And those that are going out in terms of Sanico Gonzales out of the building. And then they can move forward because that's such a crucial part of the pitch. Although Roderie wasn't at his best last season and post ACL and wanted the sort of contract that you would expect to give to somebody from what I heard who, you know, is playing 60 games a season at top levels. So, you know, it's a massive loss in terms of leadership and quality. What they're bringing in, you know, is not to be sniffed out in terms of Anderson Bawadi. What they might get before the window shots is potentially exciting for their fans. But Enzo Morescar will know that this is absolutely fundamental to his chances this season. So they need to get it right. Well, on the topic of midfielders, Brentford's club record signing, Mamadu Sangare comfortably outperform the big money signings against Spurs. Jay Harris has written a piece titled introducing Mamadu Sangare, the Premier League's absolutely unbelievable new midfield star. And David, I don't know with what feels like sort of all the big six clubs looking for midfielders this summer. I think the question a lot of people have is, well, how did Brentford get him then ahead of them? Yeah, I'll throw the technical side over to James because I've not seen enough of him. But I have heard plenty about how many teams were looking at him from all over the world top clubs. So in that sense, he's not a great discovery from Brentford because every one of the clubs that were looking to strengthen in that position, I'm sure would have considered him the season he had and the attributes that he brings. What's most impressive is that Brentford managed to win that race. And having conversations around the topic and it's sort of reflected in Jay's article, Lee Dykes who heads up the recruitment at Brentford and obviously there's Phil Giles who's in charge of all the strategy. He's Matthew Benham's right hand man that they're massive on the data and the number crunching the analytics and that has served them so well with so many players. But I don't think that would have led them to this player. What would have led them to this player was the way that they had watched him religiously more times than anybody else from what I have learned. The presentation that they put on for him and Dykes in particular has been renowned for that. I think when Brian and Burma gave an interview and he talked about how Brentford won him over with the presentation that Thomas Franken and Lee Dykes gave to him Burma and it was so detailed and analytical and they knew him inside out and they knew his future pathway and trajectory, which I think is a really important thing in this when you're going to somebody like Sangare, with total respect to Brentford, almost like knowing your place in the food chain and that's not meant to be insulting at all. It's complimentary to understand not a stepping stone but you know come to Brentford, excel, shine, help them succeed and if all goes to plan you will get a move to an even bigger club that will suit all parties and you'll go on and say play Champions League football even though Brentford might have designs on that themselves at this rate and it seems the same has happened with Sangare and I can't wait to see how it unfolds. It's only one game so we need to keep a lid on it but the early signs are promising and what we saw at his previous club was as well and I think this could be another gem unearthed by that club and one that many so-called bigger clubs might be looking at and say how did we miss out on that one again. I do think just quickly you've got to understand that it's not always that we should be cursing the the man United Liverpool Arsenal man cities of this world you know they knew about somebody like Kaiseido before he went to Brighton for such a minimal fee what it was it 4.5 million pounds had a loan spell ends up going for Chelsea for over a hundred million pounds because those are often the right moves for them at that point in time and at that stage in their trajectory and that's where they will develop best and their representatives and they and the selling club may feel is right and and then the next move goes to the higher level when they've got the experience under their belt and yeah it comes at a much higher price but sometimes that's just how this works and maybe that will be replicated with Sangare and I think Brentford's pitch I mean they benefit it's strange to say this because they're Brentford but they benefit from being in London people want to to play in London want to live in London and you know I think what you were just alluding to there Emma is that players now see a established Premier League team that has kind of got better year on year even when Thomas Frank left they they've got better and if you look at the team that um Sangare went into it by the weekend I think he was the only new signing in that team it's very settled I think that made it easier for him to come into that team and make the impact that he has done whereas you look at the spurs team that they were playing against I think they're four new signings new manager relatively new-ish given how late deserved became in last season um players still trying to find chemistry so all of these things just worked for for Sangare and again David mentioned the Caesado deal you know him moving from Brighton to Chelsea for a hundred million that has sort of you have to now think that a Premier League midfield player costs a hundred million or in excess once they're in the Premier League so you then look at the the price that Brentford have paid and yes it's a club record it's 48 million but it's like half the price of what what some of these other clubs are paying so I'm sure they'll get a big win from Sangare I know it's very early to already start projecting that but it just does remind you yeah two of the biggest winners the weekend were Brighton and Brentford yeah they they keep doing it yeah will he be a star of the future talking of stars this brings us on nicely to your new role where you're going to be keeping it a close eye on on the biggest stars in football tell us more yeah Sangare he's one now yeah yeah no no on the back of the world cup you know David a group of us we had we have a fantastic time sort of covering some of the biggest names in not only sport but the kind of kind of media sport entertainment sector and so yeah I will be sort of transitioning while I'll be following a bit more messy a bit more in Bappé a bit more Harlan what a life yeah yeah can't wait I will have hardships of the athletic you can come to Madrid with me Miami with me we can record the podcast there I'm sure there's budget for it I'm probably putting everyone under pressure now we're saying that but you know it's got to happen it's got to happen with that in mind what did you make a early Harlan take up talking I thought the way that the way he actually went about it was genius yeah did you choose exactly getting pep on the phone is that and and that time you know cut his hair and that time had been someone who said you know if you cut your hair airling you will lose your powers but I think I think when Zlatan did it maybe it gave her a little bit of encouragement that back okay you know if if he can still perform like you did for Fox mixed reviews on that but like then you know maybe I can get it right is the question our listeners are all asking now will James take inspiration and follow suit exactly that exactly that it can maybe be arranged you know maybe maybe need a refresh at some stage for the new role so let's see we cannot lose your luscious locks this is the athletic FC podcast with Emma Payton all right time now for ask on steam this is the part where yeah I did where we had more me about that no no no no no don't worry we've we've filtered some of the questions but there are still some some good ones and decent somewhat yeah decent we this this part of the show is where we hand the floor over to you the audience so across YouTube and the athletic we have asked you to send in questions for David so let's get to a few of them shall we first up this is coming from Tim B who says Will Man City make Enzo Fernandez the most expensive midfielder in Premier League history before the transfer window shots I think there's a very good chance still that Enzo Fernandez ends up at Manchester City because their interest and that of Enzo Moresca the head coach at Man City is strong he didn't look the happiest of bunnies at the end of the full-on Chelsea game Enzo Fernandez Chelsea will need a fee that they deem suitable and they'll want to come out of it with their squad in a stronger position doesn't necessarily mean a like for like replacement but they'll need to get reinforcement I could still see it happening not guaranteed don't hold me to it but for another world record for a midfielder I'm going to say yes but please everybody this is lighthearted tongue in cheek I didn't even know the question was coming so it's not my fault if it doesn't happen no we'll take that brilliant question from Tim B so thank you very much for sending that in we've got another one or two really two in one from SP who says if the transfer market ended today who is your signing of the summer and also who do you expect to be the most active going forward from here right until the end of the window next Tuesday it's different because signing of the summer in in terms of like just the best player the hidden gem we've talked about sangare with sport for choice that there's been some amazing work and I really like some of the work done by the promoted clubs in terms of Ipswich and and whole city I was there on Saturday and and a few of their players took me by surprise they've also got players still to come in who I'm excited to see but just because midfield was the area of focus we've already touched upon it on this pod really of the entire summer the one I'm impressed given some values have gone so high in the market so the value for money could turn out to be decent and I've really liked what I've seen of him last season and can't wait to see how he unfolds is Matthias Fernandez following his 85 million pound move from from West Ham to Tottenham busiest team before the deadline well given I said tongue in cheek on this very podcast I think before the market opened that Manchester United would be the busiest in the window and their fans have used it as a stick to beat me with I was basically outlining that they needed to do more work than most others because they were moving into champions league football and they had a lot of ins and outs that I still think could could happen to an extent but I better be careful with my words here busiest let's go for Liverpool because they need a number of wingers like one or two and that could have you know elicit the departure as well so I think there'll be a lot of activity at Liverpool before the deadline still a bit to do at Tottenham Chelsea are always busy Arsenal perhaps less so uh Everton need to do a lot newcast a little bit let's just say Liverpool and then their fans can get angry at me in the same way that my United fans have when they don't end up doing it I got we are going to come back we'll talk a bit more about Liverpool in a bit but just just to continue this theme of sticking with the questions I mean just firstly what do you think about that in terms of Liverpool being we're still quite a bit worried to do in the next week it's all right we we heard that right picked up on the mic filler as well we're also going to talk about that everyone in the Premier League is what you should have said David it feels like everyone's busy say Liverpool for the purposes of the script come on that's playable no I think I saw Jamie Caragro on Monday night football saying that the transfer window that Liverpool did last summer was in the running for the worst transfer window in Premier League history and I think there are two reactions to that one is I think one of the reasons Andonia Euraro has been hired is to work with that transfer window as though it was this year's transfer window you have to get more out of those players that we bought last year but another reaction to that is somehow that transfer window at last summer where they signed loads of plays for loads of money has left them short so you know it feels like they they really have a lot to do yeah just last question then from from one of our viewers this is from Ryan F the the real hard hitting stuff actually high David after a long day of chasing the big stories and breaking transfer news what is your go to dinner spread food is for the week come on you don't get much time to actually sit down and have a nice meal but he's amazing he's just going for me but body's a temple Amiko absolutely not so I think it was like a food of choice a top like Japanese sushi but yeah I'm I'm bit of a chameleon I love all foods I'm a bit of I'm a walking dustbin actually I love I love pretty much everything and then I sort of balance it out by going to the gym and playing a lot of paddle to make myself feel slightly less bad I was going to say yeah you do play a lot of paddle are you at your sushi fan would that be up there as you're yeah I love sushi I love kind of omakase you know sort of them handing your sushi that's good miss good it's the process as much as the yeah right we are going to stick with transfers actually but less of the salmon macchi we are obviously you all know about the deal sheet by now but you can also check out our handy transfer tracker which is basically a running list of the latest talks rejections and agreements over on the athletics so David this is this is something that seems like it's a really developing situation at the moment because we've obviously been talking about Manchester City's midfield rebuild but they're also in the market for attacking players aren't they because just yesterday you reported the deal that they have struck for Alan at Palmeras but as well as holding an interest in in cozy gagpo I mean tell us more about that how how likely how realistic is that yeah I don't know in terms of the chances truth be told because our reporting is that you know he's on the list he's a potential target there's interest there it doesn't appear that that has gone club to club yet between man city and Liverpool probably it's been expressed to the representatives and and of course Tottenham had sort of made the most inroads on that initially and it's quite complicated Emma because you've got the Bradley Barclays situation and and he has emerged as Liverpool's prime target for the wing positions and let's see if they can reach an agreement because there's been this price gap hasn't been bridged yet I suspect it could well before the deadline maybe even a few days before it and in theory that would free up gagpo to leave subject to suitable offers arriving and given that PSG are asking huge money for Barclay Liverpool are entitled to do the same for gagpo I suspect that Tottenham are the the most ready to pay that because they had this vision of I think it sort of Savigno Marmouche gagpo in whatever sort of order and positioning but yeah man city having a look at it I don't know how Liverpool would feel about doing business with with man city for for Cody gagpo Cody gagpo is a player who is really impressed and and only Eriola from what I hear so far I guess he is very much an Eriola player in terms of his work rate and quality in both attacking and defensive areas it's why I loved somebody like Ryan when he was at Bournemouth and it'd be interesting to see what the longer term future holds for him I don't expect him to live Bournemouth this summer so yeah it's a really interesting one and it's not guarantee gagpo will leave he's at a good start to the season as well but I think when you know it does feel like that and Barclay are interdependent and Liverpool also you know pursuing work on on the right wing with their offers of 50 and then 60 million pounds for Yankuba Minte Brighton rejecting them interest on going they'll have other options as well so yeah really key work for Liverpool to do before the market shuts so what sort of percentage are we saying for Barclay to Liverpool at the moment with a week left in the window this podcast is really changing I love I love the sort of added impetus you've got the anti-ema of Barclay did you say yeah I would give that like 85 90 percent chance I think that's going to happen I really do I don't think Liverpool would have come this far to walk away from it and also PSG have recruited in the attacking positions he's got two years to go on his contract he's not signing a new deal he wants to go to Liverpool that's his choice I think a transaction will happen so the percentage is very high for me yeah famous last words but maybe sort of 90 percent well that is high that is very high but you know sorry if somebody knows David knows yeah I'm going to crush my reputation no no no no you can have some sushi David if you know if it all goes wrong yeah I'm like a a comfort meal of sushi now right I want to ask you about something else because this is something that has has transpired just this morning so yesterday we had Jacob Tantwell on the show talking about the uncertainty around Oli Watkins future Aston Villa just this morning you have reported that they've made a move for Crystal Palace's Jean Philippe Matetta so tell us more about that yeah I think the interest dates back to January Emma I think Villa had a look at Matetta his his future was really uncertain wasn't it there's then been this emergence in the media I think it was Sammy Mockberg the BBC first to report it of a sort of contract dispute between Matetta and Palace him try and take legal action over how and the validity of the one year option that Palace exercised in his deal Palace of one on that front but clearly all is not well I don't think he featured at all or barely in preseason and yeah Aston Villa obviously dealing with a major situation of their own the Al Hilau pursuit of Oli Watkins and Watkins is in favour of the move I think it's four bids rejected the interest remain so they need to find contingency plans I think the money will be sorted okay with Al Hilau and Villa but what about the replacement and they're looking at all manner of options Nicholas Jackson has been well documented there's been an indicative offer that we've also reported for Rafael Leau I'd be interested for James is take on that Acing a land but yeah we've revealed that actually an offer has now been made from Villa to Matetta sorry from Villa to Palace for Matetta which falls well short of the sort of figure Palace would want if they're to consider his sale so if that's going to change is going to have to take a much higher offer from Villa will they make it can they make it let's see but clearly they are pursuing so many different options in that position in defense as well less we forget because as we cons has gone they've targeted Taylor Harwood Bellis we've done a lot of reporting on that no agreement with Southampton looked at Joel or Dones at Club Rouge again no agreement on that so really I shouldn't have identified Liverpool as the busiest club because Villa have got so much to sort out yeah I'm working my way through the Premier League table at this point it's all good we love it what what your thoughts on Leau I mean probably the most valuable player in Celia when Milan won the league a few years ago I had a credible kind of three months where everyone thought wow this is the next big name player in Italy and and since then he's not really lived up to expectations at all you know he is naturally very talented but you know he's often been injured he's often been kind of distracted he's dropped a few albums rather more albums than assists and goals lately but you know Milan had been very clear with him I mean he was very clear with them before going off to the World Cup he said I'm out you know I want to move this is my last year AC Milan and then he came back from the World Cup and he was like ah Ruben Amarins here quite fancy staying now but the club have been firm yeah they've been soliciting kind of bids so far the only well up until the last 48 hours the only ones that have been coming in were from Turkey Turkey's been spending a lot of money in this transfer window but there's some optimism that a move to the Premier League move to a Champions League club might be enough to convince him that okay I I went back on my word to to Lee but maybe this is an opportunity that would suit me and I think if when I am Marie it could sort of get him on the straight and narrow and help him fulfill his potential that would be a very good signing for Villa but a lot of coaches have tried to get layout for this potential in the last few years and have not been successful okay so wait wait and see on that one yeah um the last one on transfers then David let's talk Arsenal and the Gabrielle Martinelli situation you've reported that Al Hilal are pursuing a deal to sign the Brazilian Winger I'm just wondering if this has any impact on Michaela Teta's interest in Julian Alvarez no not directly the Alvarez interest has been long term and is ongoing but it's incredibly complex because although I think Atlético would do a deal with Arsenal at around 150 million euros because they have completely shut doors to Barcelona they just won't do that this summer from what we're told Alvarez is not keen on a return to the Premier League he only wants Barcelona and so unless that changes and you know we've heard talk of it softening his stance but we need concrete indication that that he would be willing to return to the Premier League and join Arsenal then it appears to be that he'll stay at Atlético Madrid irrespective of that Arsenal willing to let Gabrielle Martinelli go we saw that Galatasaray made some moves for him and then we revealed that he had informed Arsenal that he didn't want to make that move so it's back to the drawing board and Al Hilal have come to the fore they are in direct talks with Arsenal over a deal Arsenal one around 60 million pounds and there's no agreement on that front yet they're also in talks with the player camp and I do understand that Martinelli would be open to this opportunity I think he's on board with it compared to how he wasn't with Galatasaray and so that would make you think personal terms shouldn't be a problem it's just down to the club to club the direction of travel is for this to happen of course Al Hilal looked at Pedro Neto Chelsea's valuation was more around 100 million euros they weren't willing to go to that level so this would appear to be the more sort of cost effective value for money deal in Al Hilal's eyes and it sounds from Arsenal's end like they've made clear now to Gabrielle Martinelli that he's perhaps not part of Michaela Tetis plans going forward so I could see an exit there but of course they've bought in solace you could say that that was to replace Trossard so who's going to replace Martinelli and that's why you suspect Arsenal remain active in the market whether it's Alvarez or somebody else but at this point in time we don't have any firm information on whether they will do something and if they do who it will be I mean my goodness is first world problems they look in fantastic shape already this season but it is interesting because we all saw in that Champions League final and at parts of last season if there was one area of Arsenal's team that really could do with a bit of upgrading to real world class level it was that front line and perhaps you could argue they've not done that so far this summer with no disrespect to solace who looks really good and if the window closes without them doing it will that hamper them at all going forward on the flip side they will say look we tried to do that with Vinnie Jr it didn't work we've tried to do Alvarez it hasn't worked there's only so many players that can help us make that step up and really take us to a new level if we can't get them now we don't want to waste money we would use it in a subsequent market this is not a fine science or an easy task the fact that they were prepared to fund Vinnie Jr which would have been extortionate suggests in the absence of that there is some finance and maneuverability and wiggle room there to do something and that's why they could do say in Alvarez but if it's not right they're not going to and so of course that's the situation to watch in these days ahead with no guarantee of how it will finish you're listening to the athletic FC podcast with Emma Payton we're talking there about front lines let's finish up by talking about Chelsea with their new look front line showing exactly what they can do with that win over full of a Monday night we'll get into it in the studio but first the athletics Chelsea correspondent Liam Toome was at Craven Cottage and centers this I'm outside Craven Cottage where you'd have to say Chelsea got the Chabby Alonso era off to a pretty encouraging start it was three goals one for each of the big three of Schrao Pedro Cole Palmer and Marquis Somersign in Morgan Rogers a score line which probably would have been more convincing where it not for some very familiar errors from Robert Sanchez and most important of all a win a win in a feisty West London derby where full and we're looking to get their own new era under Alvaro are belower off to a good start and the kind of game honestly which Chelsea probably would have lost last season they showed fight as well as quality and the two new signings that actually started the game Rogers and Maxance Laquois were both excellent in different ways Laquois dominant in defense a real powerful presence and even getting forward to set up a goal for Rogers Chelsea second and Rogers really dovetailing well with Schrao Pedro and Cole Palmer looking like he's played for this team for many many years but it was Palmer who was the most impressive this looks like the Palmer that we saw on the Marisio Pochettino he's confident he's got that swaggering nonchalance back and most important of all he appears to be fit although he did seem to get some cramp in his calf towards the end but not before he'd essentially created Chelsea's first two goals and scored their third with a typically impudent nutmeg if Cole Palmer really is back then Chelsea can be quite serious this season Chabielonzo is not looking that far ahead it's a process it's all about learning he says in his post match press conference but it's easier to learn with a win and Chelsea got that yeah much nicer to learn with the winners and what were our first impressions then of this new era for Chelsea under Chabielonzo yeah the JP Morgan front line up front for the institutional finance club of choice no I mean that front three the way it works together is really encouraging it's maybe not a great surprise given how much football Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers played together at England youth level you know they were talking about being sort of best mates and it was always a dream of theirs to play together and you know it's a dream for Chelsea fans to watch at the moment I mean I thought the shall Pedro he had a really good preseason and I don't think that's a surprise what we saw at Craven Cottage because shall Pedro surprisingly not called up from Brazil remember Carlo and Shrotti made that controversial decision to name are instead of him but that's been to Chelsea's benefit I have Thomas Tuckle decided not to take Cole Palmer so he's had preseason to get his body right and at the moment you know sort of it looks like they could be it's very very early days but it looks like they could be a challenger already and David I'm going to throw a question to you why did why did Chelsea keep ignoring the goalkeeper position they they sign players for every other position I know they bought like 20 goalkeepers over the last two years and that sort of thing but now why did they continue to to sort of think okay Sanchez is our man when you know as Liam was saying familiar mistakes that's my burning question to James I don't have an answer to it I mean they would argue that they've got penders coming through and they like Sanchez is qualities for their game model and that their goalkeeping coach is clearly fan of him and and they've had other options come and go I've always felt that that's the one oversight so far and I mean you'll remember that they made a push for Mike Maignon of AC Milan and it didn't come to fruition I think that was in January and you can understand that and it was it was as if they had realized and then it's back to Sanchez and no disrespect to Sanchez but but you're sort of seeing goals like last night and sort of thinking to yourself that's the one thing they're missing now because I do think they're not necessarily title challenges this season but I could see them making a real good push for second place or the Champions League sports they've got strength and depth in every area and that's the one position that just seems to be lacking and given how active Chelsea are in the market and how diligent they appear to be on everything from their recruitment, scouting data, willingness to do deals. It doesn't seem to make a great deal of sense and I've thought it for a long time and again no disrespect to Sanchez but there are definitely better high level goalkeepers out there and I wondered when you know Aston Villa signs the on Suzuki and they're willing to part with Emmy Martin as he didn't go to Juventus could they look at somebody like him but it doesn't seem they are and I'm not aware of goalkeeping sorry I'm not aware of a goalkeeper being on the agenda before this market shuts. A word on on Fulham because new manager for them too in Alvaro Arbeloa, a debut goal for Gonzalo Garcia who you said last week put him in your fantasy team. Absolutely. So that was a good shout but three goals conceded I think I mean question to both of you it's going to be interesting to see how they got to get on this season Fulham. Yeah definitely because as much as Arbeloa has been able to kind of parlay his real Madrid credentials to get signings like Gonzalo in at Craven Cottage he's still a very young coach with very little experience you know I mean he came in to replace Chabby Alonso last year and you know before that he'd only been working within Madrid's academy so this is quite a big jump you think of Chabby Alonso for example Chabby worked at Real Sociedad Academy he then went to buy a levercuse and he could have left levercuse an early chose to stay because he felt he wasn't ready to go to Real Madrid when he did and Alvaro has kind of jumped forward very quickly and look I mean to be fair to him there were other clubs looking to appoint him I know that for example AC Milan sort of considered him he wasn't anywhere near the top of their list but he was on a list so people were clearly impressed by what he did with Madrid in the second half of last season but I think it's it's a bet Fulham have made there that that he's got what it takes to be one of this very large cohort of very good Spanish managers David agree with that yeah I do think he's got some ingredients there to to do well and quite a lot of good will behind him again with these things it largely comes down to recruitment and Fulham have had quite a big job on their hands post silver to try and bring the age profile down we saw the likes of Rao Jimenez of Adamitri Aure that you know that they had expiring contracts Harry Wilson they had an aging group and and they've been really keen to reduce that so we've seen the Madrid signings we saw the likes of Dior and Sassaloukich depart I think Loukich might be a blow in a real boon to to Ibswich town and you know I hear of them looking at Laguan of of Breast who's meant to be one the up and coming young defenders in world football so that that comes with a bit of risk attached of course I like Shay Charles who's come in from Southampton he was a player that some of the very biggest clubs were looking at not necessarily as a starting midfielder but to add to their options and so yeah there's a lot of people that are skeptical about Arbaloa think he could be one of the managers to be in trouble early doors and and could Fulham be a candidate to go down I look at the quality they've got and how they perform last night and the potential that Arbaloa has even though it's quite an embryonic coaching career so far and and I don't agree with that that sort of pessimism I think they can do something but I also think they've still got a bit of work to do before the deadline to get themselves in in adequate shape to to have a strong season so nervously optimistic about Fulham and Arbaloa I'd like to see them do well Chad Khan's over here in London the owner and so you would expect some more business when when he's on the ground I think it was at the game last night they're very attentive and and I think pretty ambitious as a club and so yeah I don't want to be the the doomsday I don't want to be the the the the conveyor of doom but yeah it's a bit of a knife edge season for them I think maybe David going into the final week of the transfer window from everything that you've told us in this episode do you anticipate this would be the busiest final week of a transfer window you've ever covered because it does feel like everyone in the Premier League has a lot to do so I'm just yeah I'm curious you know how you're going to nourish yourself how many paddle games you're going to be able to get in this final week feels like you're not going to be my all-play paddle my body clock and aura ring are certainly hoping that you're your pessimism is confounded there's a lot of people I speak to and I think this was sort of written somewhere a few days ago that experts expect 70% of the entire markets business to be done in the final two weeks and often and often there's a sort of anti-climax people say that and it doesn't materialize I do feel like and I think I've covered every January and summer transfer window since turning professional in about 2006 that's how sad my life is and this it feels like there's never been more sort of conversations negotiations talks possibilities being explored that's largely induced by the financial regulations and need to trade and balance the books now we're moving from PSR to SCR the squad cost ratio um both at UEFA and and Premier League level people have to find solutions and and so there is tons going on we're also becoming more experienced long in the tooth better connected so we hear about more than ever um but yeah it's going to be frenzied and frantic um permanent loans loans with options and obligations and um it's stuff that materializes that we're not expecting that we do that um that sort of emerges and then falls away and collapses that there'll be there'll be everything that there's a Premier League match a big one asked and Bill arson on the eve of of transfer deadline um and uh finish uh they they last summer didn't they bring the deadline forward to like 7 pm it was glorious we managed to get our dominoes pizza other pizza brands are available like a reasonable time now it's gone back to 11 pm like yeah I don't anticipate much sleep uh I need to keep my phone juiced and with signal um uh which is hard when you're traveling to games as well uh you don't want to socialise with me around this time of the year it doesn't sort of exist like don't talk to me because I feel bad I'm looking at my phone not into your eyes um but come 11 pm on september the first normal life insanity and matches of paddle can return because actually paddle matches have had to be paused so about two weeks ago I just put paddle to one side and say guys I'll see you in september wow september second september the september the september yeah paddle will always be there um please look after yourself over the next week because you're going to be here with us in the studio next Tuesday and we don't want you to disheveled all right just take care of yourself over the next absolutely be raring to go be raring to go thank you to both of you you've been brilliant company we might even get some sushi in for you see how we feel see what the budget's saying yeah instead of the pizza David instead of the pizza we'll have time to eat it that's the problem thanks to Liam as well for sending his piece in from Craven Cossage last night remember to like and subscribe over on youtube i'll be back with more tomorrow see you then
