Podcast Summary: The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Ornstein latest: Summer transfers & managerial market
Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Ayo Akimolere
Featured Guests: David Ornstein, Tim Spears, Jay Harris

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the relatively quiet January transfer window across the Premier League, assessing key moves, emerging strategies, and what it all means for an already blockbuster summer transfer and managerial market ahead. The panel, led by Ayo Akimolere and featuring top tier journalists Ornstein, Spears, and Harris, dissects everything from Crystal Palace’s drama, Liverpool’s squad plans, big six shake-ups, the frenzy around managerial futures, and the ripple effects of youth investment in the English top flight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. January Window Recap: “Solid, if Unspectacular”

• Spending Statistics: £397m spent this January vs. £403m last year, dwarfed by last summer’s £3.1bn outlay.
• Major Transfers:
  • Semenyo, Gahey to City
  • Brennan Johnson, Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace
• Window Character:
  • Ornstein called it “a bit underwhelming from a purist point of view... solid, if unspectacular.” (02:52)
  • January is increasingly viewed as an “emergency period,” with insiders suggesting the window should be shortened to 10–14 days.
  • “To have it over the course of… a month… was excessive and it was attritional… I’m not that sad to see the end of it.” —David Ornstein (03:50)

2. Major Clubs’ Activity & Transfer Strategies

• Many big clubs inactive, but not for lack of trying; notable attempts and failures (e.g., Spurs’ efforts on Robertson and Semenyo).
• “Just because clubs didn’t sign anybody doesn’t mean that they weren’t trying to be active. But January is always a very difficult time.” —Jay Harris (05:11)

3. Evaluating The Top January Signings

Tim Spears’ Top Three:

1. Marc Gahey to City:
   • “£20 million quid. He’s an excellent signing… Liverpool will surely be wishing they’d done [this deal] in the summer for maybe double that price.” (07:33)
2. Douglas Luiz to Villa (loan):
   • Critical cover for injuries, “just a fantastic addition for not much money at a really important time.” (08:34)
3. Antoine Semenyo to Man City:
   • “Ready made star… instant impact… fits Guardiola’s system… feels like the next superstar on the wing.” (07:57)

Honorable Mention: Angel Gomes (Wolves)

• “He gets a few months in the Premier League… If Wolves get relegated, he’s only on loan; if they stay up, he stays permanent. For Gomez… it’s almost like a try before you buy.” —Jay Harris (09:48)

4. Crystal Palace: Ambition and Chaos

• Broke club record twice (Strand Larsen, Brennan Johnson).
• Failed deals (Dwight McNeil), and uncertainty around players (Mateta’s failed move, medical collapse).
• “A lot of mudslinging behind the scenes… a lot of heartache for McNeil… traumatic few weeks and months.” —David Ornstein (11:32)
• “I asked a fan this morning how he was feeling and he said ‘confused,’ which probably sums it up.” —Tim Spears (14:20)
• Palace’s signings mostly “ready made Premier League players” for immediate needs (avoiding relegation, Conference League contribution), but with underwhelming or questionable profiles.

On Strand Larsen:

• “He was afflicted by an Achilles injury… legitimate reason [for form dip]… Crystal Palace were not the only suitors… Should be given the opportunity to prove many people wrong.” —David Ornstein (16:23)

5. Arsenal’s Midfield Search & Rumors

• Mikel Marino’s injury led to speculation.
• Sandro Tonali offered to Arsenal by agent; “no talks club to club with Newcastle… Arsenal looking but nothing ever close to serious… They have depth to cope.” —David Ornstein (20:30)

6. Liverpool’s Planning for Tomorrow

• Early summer signing: Jeremy Jacquet (Rennes) for £55m+5m add-ons.
• “They tried for Marc Gahey at the end of the summer… perhaps you would have expected them to bolster in central defense in this market, especially given how the season has unfolded.” (29:45)
• Big focus on youth:
  • “This is a squad now coming down in age profile… building around Arne Slot… Michael Edwards back as CEO of football.” (30:41)
• Salah’s future still a massive summer question.

Youth Spending Trends:

• “Just over £3.5bn was spent by Premier League clubs in the season; of that, £2.3bn on under 24s.” —Chris Weatherspoon stat cited by Jay Harris (32:41)
• “The best example is Arsenal… they were allowed to develop and grow together.”
• Potential risk of “aggressively signing a lot of young players all at once…” and not managing development well. (33:07)

7. The “Big Six”: Who Needs the Most Work?

• Tim Spears:
  • “You can’t look at any of the big six and say they’ve got a bad squad… but especially Man United and Spurs — stuck on a merry-go-round of head coaches and confusion over club structure, recruitment, and style.” (34:34)
• Both United’s and Spurs’ vision and leadership (above the coach level) are highlighted as ongoing weak points.

Spurs’ Internal Drama:

• Romero repeatedly criticising Spurs’ hierarchy on social media.
• “No matter who’s in charge, Romero is firing a shot at them… which just underlines why spurs are in the position they’re in.” —Jay Harris (36:24)
• “Lots of work at spurs to be done in the summer: not just on the squad but fixing that structure at the top, which has been an issue for some time.” (38:00)

8. Managerial Market: “About to Explode”

• Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid all changed managers in a month.
• Michael Carrick’s 3 wins as Man United caretaker: could he repeat the “Solskjaer effect”? Panel urge caution:
  • “He can play himself in… But he shouldn’t be subject to a coronation. Man United need a proper and thorough and diligent process… so many mistakes since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.” —David Ornstein (41:39)
• Carrick vs. Solskjaer eras:
  • “With Carrick… what he’s inherited feels pretty exciting… if those players believe in him, he’ll certainly be in the conversation to get the job.” —Tim Spears (43:50)
• Caution that Carrick’s wins came from “obvious fixes”; summer complication remains club vision and recruitment.

The Guardiola Domino:

• Widespread industry expectation Pep Guardiola will leave City (“not confirmed”)—club preparing for all possibilities.
• “If he goes, Manchester City will need to bring somebody in. That takes a top option away from others and has major ramifications.” —David Ornstein (48:20)
• Potential managerial merry-go-round: Alonso, Maresca, Tuchel, Nagelsmann, Glasner all in play.

World Cup Effects:

• World Cup final is July 19—clubs hiring managers may see late moves, limiting new manager preparation for domestic season.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the January Window:

  • “It was solid, if unspectacular… To summarize my thoughts: the summer is becoming ever more important… the January market should be condensed to just a couple of weeks.”
    —David Ornstein (02:52–03:36)

• On Crystal Palace’s chaos:

  • “[It’s] been pretty traumatic few weeks and months… A lot of heartache on behalf of McNeil who had completed a medical… a lot of mudslinging going on behind the scenes.”
    —David Ornstein (11:32)

• On Marc Gahey to City:

  • “One that Liverpool will surely be wishing they’d done in the summer for maybe double that price… For City to get a player of his quality for £20 million just looks outstanding.”
    —Tim Spears (08:19)

• On youth spending:

  • “Over £2.3 billion was spent on under 24s. Some might say Spurs have spent some of that… but the issue is you have to be patient and sometimes it takes a couple of years to truly bear fruit.”
    —Jay Harris (33:07)

• On the managerial market:

  • “I really think the managerial market is about to explode.”
    —David Ornstein (41:10)
  • “So much upheaval, so much change, there’s no consistency in what they’re doing… which just underlines why Spurs are in the position they’re in.”
    —Jay Harris (36:24)
  • “The way things are going, I don’t see how Michael Carrick isn’t in the frame. However, that can change in one or two results… It’s an absolutely massive call.”
    —David Ornstein (41:39)
  • “Of all the potential movements, [Guardiola] is undoubtedly at the core of the potential activity… perhaps for once even more so than the player market.”
    —David Ornstein (48:20)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Intro and January Window overview – [02:04–05:01]
• Major deals & transfer activity analysis – [05:01–09:38]
• Crystal Palace transfer drama – [11:12–18:56]
• Arsenal’s deadline day & Tonali rumors – [20:13–24:04]
• Liverpool’s future planning & youth focus – [27:54–32:41]
• Big six summer needs – [34:22–38:00]
• Managerial market shake-up – [41:10–49:51]

Takeaways

• Unprecedented summer ahead: The January lull has only amplified anticipation for an “explosive” managerial and transfer summer, with focus on youth, long-term squad planning, and the domino effects of major coaching departures.
• Crystal Palace, Spurs, and Manchester United are case studies in how off-pitch instability, urgent transfers, and coaching merry-go-rounds can stymie progress.
• Top clubs increasingly prioritize summer recruitment for large-scale rebuilds, with January seen as strictly business for emergencies.
• The looming possibility of Guardiola’s departure from City could set off a chain reaction in both managerial moves and player signings across Europe.

For anyone tracking the trends, rumours, and strategic shifts across English football’s upper echelons, this episode delivers sharp insights and sets expectations for the fireworks to come this summer.