Buying spree sweeps the English league
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): In the five weeks since Oliver Bierhoff's telling contribution to Euro '96, England has been awash with all manner of sporting drama. Barely had the trophy been presented than thoughts were already turning to the second week of Wimbledon. Hot on the last double fault and baseline rally came the 125th British Open Golf Championships on the links of Royal Lytham and St Anne's. The whole sporting kaleidoscope concluding with hour- upon-hour of television coverage from Atlanta.
It is rare for such a brief passage of time to offer this kind of relentless barrage of top sporting action. Yet, even Atlanta took second place to news of the 15 million pound (US$23.4 million) world-record transfer of Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United.
Despite the riches on offer in Euro '96, Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan, in what can now be seen as the lull before the storm, declined to enter the transfer market. As a result, media speculation pointed towards Shearer moving to near-neighbors, Manchester United.
However, few had bargained on Blackburn's reluctance to entertain a 12 million pound bid from Alex Ferguson or indeed with Shearer's desire to return home to his beloved North East.
This was not the only shock in a summer that has at various times appeared all but out of control. Take a bow, unfashionable Middlesbrough.
Not satisfied with adding three Brazilians to its squad in the space of 12 months, "Boro" shook the game to its foundations with news that it had signed Fabrizio Ravanelli from Juventus.
One can understand players like Gianluca Vialli and Roberto di Matteo of Italy and Frank Leboeuf of France wanting to play for Chelsea under Ruud Gullit, but with due respect to Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson, the idea of one of the top strikers in Serie A plying his trade on Teeside takes some getting used to, as do Ravanelli's wages of 42,000 pounds per week.
Buying power
The reality of the Premiership having more purchasing power than the Italian League is also sinking slowly, even if the initial worry is that clubs might be spending a dangerous and disproportionate amount of new-found wealth on players.
On the positive side, early fears that England would merely become the dumping ground for over-aged and over-paid foreign stars appears to be receding. Italy might have had the best of Vialli, but Ravanelli, at 27, is in his prime, and di Matteo is a year younger with arguably his best seasons still ahead.
Indication
Florin Radicioiu, the Rumanian striker West Ham has signed from Espanyol for a club record 2.4 million pounds, is also 26, and Karel Poborsky of the Czech Republic, newly-signed by Manchester United, is only 24.
The capture of Poborsky is a clear indication that the balance of power is indeed changing. As one of the few undisputed stars of Euro '96 with youth on his side, Poborsky could have had his choice of European clubs.
The more players of his quality the Premiership attracts, the weaker the Italian hold on successive generations of new talent will become. The pick of the Dutch and French squads, for instance, had signed up for Serie A clubs before Euro '96 kicked off. Italy's combination of money, excellence and kudos once appeared unbeatable but if the money can be matched, there is no reason why the other two elements should not ultimately follow.
Indeed, it was the pursuit of excellence that saw Newcastle bring Shearer home to St James' Park. A move, allied to Keegan's desire to play him alongside Les Ferdinand, that could spell the end for last season's seven million pound buy from Palma, Faustino Asprilla.
Rumors emanating from North London suggest that if Arsenal can find the asking price of around five million pounds then Asprilla could be set to team up with Dutch star Dennis Bergkamp. A partnership, aided and abetted by Ian Wright, that would give the Gunners one of the most charismatic forwardlines in the country.
The failure to sign Shearer has not deterred reigning champions Manchester United from seeking to strengthen its squad. Dutch international Jordi Cruyff, will soon be a United player. There is talk too for a daring raid on Ajax to secure the services of Dutch wonder kid, Patrick Kluivert. An eight million pound transfer, massive signing-on fee and wages in the region of 20,000 pounds a week may well persuade both club and player to part company.
All of which makes Liverpool's purchase of talented Czech International, Patrick Berger, for a fee of 3.5 million pounds, something of a bargain.
A sobering thought amid all this money madness is that cheque book soccer rarely guarantees success. In the last four years Newcastle has spent a staggering 59,645,000 pounds on new players and won nothing.
In the same period, Manchester United, with a thriving youth policy upon which to draw, has spent a more modest 17,165,000 pounds and yet has a procession of titles and trophies to its name.
With the new season but a week away, the time is fast approaching when soccer rather than finance will grab the headlines. As to whether the big money-buys will make an impact, only time will tell.