What is transfer hijacking?
Footballers often switch teams twice a year. These transfers usually involve long negotiations that can be disrupted by many factors. Journalists follow an unwritten rule: «A transfer is not final until the player wears the new kit on the pitch. Official announcements are not enough». This is especially true for key players who can have an impact on the odds offered by the best bookmakers. Sometimes, a rival club makes a last-minute bid to snatch a player who was about to sign with another club. This is called a «transfer hijack».
What influences a transfer decision
Many people think that money is the main factor. The club that pays more gets the player. But there are other things that matter to footballers when choosing a team. For example, Erling Haaland chose Manchester City because his father played there before, even though he had better offers from other clubs. Players who failed to impress at big clubs sometimes go to lower leagues to revive their careers and then try again at top teams.
Other factors that can sway a player are the manager’s personality and style, the presence or absence of a certain teammate (this can be a positive or negative influence), and the prospects of playing in prestigious competitions. Some players prefer to join smaller teams that qualify for the Champions League rather than bigger teams that miss out on European tournaments.
Some famous examples of hijacks
The most recent case is Cody Gakpo. He was supposed to join Manchester United as Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement. But he was not convinced by either coach Ten Haag’s arguments or his character. So, when Liverpool made an offer at the last moment, Gakpo decided to go with them. The 50-million-pound deal did not seem like a big incentive.
Mo Salah’s story is even more dramatic. In 2014, Liverpool and Tottenham were competing for him. But Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho persuaded him to join them instead, despite having an agreement with Spurs. However, he did not stay long at Stamford Bridge and after playing for Fiorentina and Roma, he ended up at Anfield, where he became a star.
Players who could be hijacked
The summer transfer window will see many players become free agents. Some of them are very popular and have attracted a lot of attention from different clubs. Jude Bellingham’s value has skyrocketed after his World Cup performance and he has at least three admirers. Alexis Mac Allister and Sofyan Amrabat also impressed at the tournament and have drawn interest from big clubs.
It is natural that teams will compete for players who have a bright future ahead of them. Even if the top football betting software and sports reports seem to point to a clear favorite for a player, there might be a surprise bid at the last minute to change the outcome. The final decision will depend on many factors that will influence where the player will sign.
