Clubs likely to miss out on a window of opportunity as the recession bites

WHEN the two most high profile deals of a transfer window involve thirty-somethings whose best days are firmly behind them, it says a lot about the current financial state of English football.

The global recession may have taken longer to impact on the game than it did the rest of society but there can be little doubt with 2010 just over a fortnight old that there are plenty of furrowed brows in boardrooms up and down the country.

Manchester City apart, it seems, even at the top level, there is a paucity of available cash with Arsene Wenger's pre-Christmas prediction that this January would be the quietest transfer window yet seeming justified in light of Sol Campbell's possible return to

the Premier League and Manchester City's capture of Patrick Vieira.

In the latter's defence, Roberto Mancini, possibly the only manager with a few bob to spend this month, clearly believes in him as there are plenty of more expensive and attainable targets out there. But, even so, if these two players are the most exciting English football can attract then is it really worth the deadline for signings being extended to 5.00pm on February 1 once again this year?

It is a similar story in Yorkshire with no high-profile transfers expected unless Jermaine Beckford is sold by Leeds United.

The 'will he, won't he go?' saga has dragged on at Elland Road since last summer but it seems Wolves and Sunderland belatedly joining Newcastle United in tracking the 26-year-old could finally see progress being made.

Magpies manager Chris Hughton has steadfastly refused to go above a 1.5m bid for a player who will be available on a free come this summer but it seems the interest from Molineux, in particular, has galvanised minds at St James' Park.

The upshot is that, while Beckford remains a Leeds player and is likely to feature at the other St James' Park tomorrow against Exeter City, United's valuation of 2m-plus seems a lot closer to being met.

If that proves to be the case, then Leeds will plunge straight back into the transfer market to sign a replacement.

Even with Wealdstone due 20 per cent of the fee as part of the 95,000 deal that brought Beckford to Yorkshire in 2006, United manager Simon Grayson will still have a sizeable sum to land one of his main targets as Billy Sharp, Gary Hooper and Simeon Jackson continue to be linked with the club.

Even if Beckford fails to secure his dream move from Elland Road, Leeds are expected to move into the transfer market in the next 48 hours or so to sign Max Gradel.

The pacey 22-year-old has been a big hit with supporters since joining on loan from Leicester City in October.

That deal is due to end after the game at Exeter and with Leicester keen to do a permanent deal, the Ivory Coast-born wideman could be a United player very soon.

Elsewhere in the county, the talk is also largely of departures as Matthew Kilgallon continues to be tracked by several Premier League outfits.

The former Leeds defender – who insists he is happy to stay with the Blades – has matured into a fine player and it would be a major surprise if at least one from Everton, Wigan, Burnley and Bolton do not do business with a 1.5m bid.

Another with just a few months left to run on his deal is Adam Johnson, though Middlesbrough's hand is strengthened by the player being under 22 and, therefore, liable to a fee even if he leaves in the summer.

Any permanent transfers at Hull are also likely to be through the exit door as Adam Pearson continues to wrestle with a 39m wage bill.

Nathan Doyle this week became the first to leave after agreeing a switch to Barnsley but a far more pressing concern is moving on several of the high-earners at the club.

With that in mind, manager Phil Brown has banished Peter Halmosi, Bryan Hughes and Caleb Folan to train with the youth team in the hope that the trio, who collectively earn in the region of 50,000 per week, can be persuaded to leave.

Unfortunately, there seems little chance of out-of-favour Ibrahima Sonko desparting due to his loan deal from Stoke City not containing a clause whereby the Senegalese defender can be sent back.

The biggest worry for supporters if this quartet cannot be moved on is that the Tigers may have to sacrifice one of their high-earning regulars with Stephen Hunt wanted by Wolves and Geovanni understood to be attracting interest from Spain.

Of the two, Hunt's influence would be more acutely missed if they had to tackle the final four months of the season without him. Not only has the Republic of Ireland international netted five times, a decent tally for a striker in the unforgiving world that is the Premier League never mind a winger, since joining from Reading, his workrate is also a shining example of why Hull may yet avoid the drop.

Clearly, City, who are tracking Manchester City striker Vladimir Weiss over a possible loan deal, feel the 29-year-old would be too much of a loss, as proved yesterday when they released a blunt statement stressing he was not for sale.

The news was greeted with relief by Tigers fans, though it is not yet known if Wolves intend testing that resolve further by increasing their 3.5m bid.

In the rest of the county, the transfer window looks like being a much less fraught affair with a lack of funds meaning activity will be minimal.

That is not to say, however, that as the clock ticks towards the closing of the window, that at least a couple of chairmen will not be being badgered into making one last signing that, according to their manager, "will make all the difference".