Twice every season, footballers move from one team to another. Usually, this is a result of negotiations that have taken some time to be completed. Time allows for many things to happen. Reporters use an unwritten rule: «No transfer is complete until the player shows up wearing a new kit on a pitch ready to play. Not even after the official announcement is made». When this refers to critical players that tend to influence the landscape of online sports betting, it should always be expected that there will be last-minute interference from a club that needs to include such players in their roster. And when this action results in success, then it is described by the term «transfer hijacking».
How can a last-minute offer change an agreed transfer?
People tend to think that it’s all about money. Whichever club offers more gets the player. However, it would appear that other issues count heavily in the decision of a footballer to wear a uniform. For Erling Haaland, for example, the fact that his father wore the colours of Manchester City was enough for him to turn down offers from other clubs, even when the money was more. Players that did not make it when they were first included in the rosters of big names, tend to choose 2nd tier leagues trying to revive their careers and then make another attempt to re-introduce themselves to a top-class team.
Sometimes it’s the manager that makes the difference, in others it’s the existence of a specific player in the same roster (this actually works more as a deterrent rather than an incentive) and for a good number, the crucial factor is the prospects that a certain program offers. Many players have chosen to sign with a lesser team rather than a big name, just because the former would participate in the group stage of the Champions League will the latter, after a bad season, would appear in the Europa League, or even not have qualified for European competition.
Some historic hijacks
The latest one is Cody Gakpo. He was originally slated for Manchester United as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. However, it would seem that he was not convinced either by the arguments used by coach Ten Haag, or by the manager himself as a personality. So, when Liverpool stepped in at the last moment, either because of Jurgen Klopp, or because of the club’s name, Gakpo decided to join the Reds. The 50-million-pound contract does not seem like that much incentive to switch clubs.
Mo Salah’s story is an even more fantastic hack. Back in 2014, Liverpool again locked horns with Tottenham for the Egyptian. The presence of Jose Mourinho in Chelsea at the time made all the difference and he ended up with the Blues despite having agreed with the Spurs. However, he didn’t last at Stamford Bridge and after a brief trip to Fiorentina and Roma, he found his port at Anfield, where his achievements are well known.
Players subject to such hijacking
There is a number of players that will become available for the summer transfers. Some of them are pretty hot and there has already been a lot of debate and discussion on which club they will attend. Jude Bellingham has increased his worth through his appearances at the World Cup tenfold and there are at least three teams interested. So did the Argentine Alexis Mac Allister and the Moroccan Sofyan Amrabat, and now there is a number of big names interested in signing them up.
Whenever there is a player that shows promise for the future, it is certain that there will be many teams that would want to add them to their rosters. And it should be expected that, even if all the reports point in one direction, there will be one that will try a last-minute tactic to snatch the signature. It’s the answers to a long list of questions that will determine on which contract will that signature be placed.