So, there’ll be no Kylian Mbappe in the Premier League – not for a few years anyway.
Today’s announcement that the French whizz is heading to the Spanish capital and Real Madrid has seemed destined for some time and will give extra kudos to La Liga at a time when even its spending power has been dwarfed by that of the English Premier League.
Instead, the focus in England is on seemingly less glamorous matters such as points deductions and moves for football recruitment experts.
You see, even in midweeks where top-flight league games are few and far between, the soap opera of the top flight rarely eases with Premier League 2024 highlights and posers aplenty.
Among the latest questions and challenges are those facing the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Both clubs were recently referred to an independent commission over alleged spending breaches. Should they be found guilty and docked points, the drop surely beckons and the SBOTOP Premier League 2024 betting odds may change dramatically.
Every point counts more than ever, and last weekend brought a very welcome win for Forest when, if there was a perfect time to score a goal, they managed it twice – in stoppage time at the end of each half.
How must Everton, who rescued a home point against Crystal Palace on Monday night, also feel. They are already awaiting the outcome of their appeal against a 10 point sanction imposed in November.
The club anticipates a decision this week from the independent commission that heard its appeal for breaching profit and sustainability rules by £19.5 million up to 2021-22.
The manager, Sean Dyche, has called for the uncertainty over the club’s position to be lifted as a matter of urgency and tried to focus his players on what they can influence since the punishment was handed down in November.
The Toffees would be 12th in the table but for the deduction. Instead, they are above the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of Luton Town, who have played a game fewer and without a win in eight Premier League matches.
I read a few days ago that a senior figure at Luton has a league table in his office which does not account for the points Everton have been docked.
It is a wise move and the position could well change a number of times regardless of what happens on the football pitch.
Yes, there is no shortage of stars in the Premier League, but they only provide half of the story right now.
The times are changing in the boardrooms too it appears.
It’s hard not to feel some sympathy for Brighton who, once again appear to be about to lose one of their key men.
It’s reported Chelsea have agreed a deal to appoint Sam Jewell to a senior position in their recruitment team.
Jewell has resigned as Brighton’s head of recruitment, a position he landed when Paul Winstanley left for Stamford Bridge 16 months ago and is expected to serve out his notice period before starting his new role in November.
The 34- year-old is supposedly tempted to take up a new challenge after being offered a global role in Chelsea’s multi-club operation.
Brighton have made plenty of money from Chelsea in recent years.
They have sold them Marc Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo, and Robert Sánchez for big fees and, of course, also received compensation when their boss Graham Potter was lured to west London for what proved to be a short term partnership.
And what of another man who was initially at Brighton and has made impressive progress through the ranks.
That is Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth who the Magpies have placed on gardening leave.
He has been in the role at St James’ Park for just under two years, and Newcastle’s majority Saudi Arabian owners will not allow a man they poached from the south coast to depart easily or cheaply.
Yet the lure of Manchester United is hard for most to resist and if Real are getting one of, if not, the best player in the world, United could be getting the best sporting director in the world.
The Premier League continues to attract headlines everywhere you look.
What happens next is anyone’s guess.
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