James stays as Isco considers
The transfer market closes tonight. Although I'm not expecting to see anything like the triple somersault without a safety net that we saw from Florentino just a year ago with the De Gea move, nor a display similar to that of Lendoiro when he went to the Canary Islands to buy him an extra hour, but it'll be an emotional evening nonetheless. The vast majority of clubs in the Spanish first and second divisions have still have some business to finalise. Yesterday was a turbulent day in offices around the country and a stressful one for agents. Non-stop calls, offers, counter offers, pressuring, enquiries, irritation and apologies. It's always the same around the 31 August these days.
Bring forward deadline day
Nobody has ever managed to explain to me why we don't do this a month earlier; why does it not close on July 31. There would be, as there is now, a mad clamour in the final twenty four hours, but just a month earlier. It would give more validity to the work done by managers during preseason, much of which is currently undertaken with incomplete squads. In some cases - see the tormented Pako Ayestaran in Valencia as an example - they are working in unstable and extremely anxious conditions. He has just lost Alcácer, brought in Munir, and is searching for central defenders all while watching the first six points disappear.
More out than in
Barça have already secured what they wanted, a fourth striker. Simeone is still hoping to get another wide player, but I don't think it will happen. Sevilla are after Nasri... And Madrid? Madrid are only looking to remove the surpluss. With it being confirmed that James will not leave the club, quietly Isco is being pushed out. On hand for him are Malaga and Tottenham. Very different destinations but both rather agreeable. In either side he would have a much clearer role than he does at Madrid and Spanish national coach Lopetegui would appreciate that. It also wouldn't be a bad idea for Mariano to leave to get some playing time elsewhere, but Zidane wouldn't enjoy that. He wants to keep him close.