Closing of transfer window means normal service can resume

THEY think it’s all over — it will be tonight. Then we can all get back to our lives.

Even if you’ve no interest in sport in general but you’ve watched or listened to any kind of broadcasting device over the last while, and are partial to a bit of news, you may not have been able to avoid it.

Perhaps you weren’t quick enough to change station before you heard yet another “football transfer window” story: “And the main news tonight: Speculation about [insert footballer’s name] increases as he is spotted today in [insert name of city of possible destination club] buying ferns .” In a sport full of replica cloaks and daggers at the best of times, the transfer window is a particular orgy of speculation. You have to feel sorry for the reporters who stand around outside the football stadia waiting for something to happen like royal reporters waiting for a baby to be born. Imagine if royal babies were being born all over the UK and you didn’t know for sure which princess was pregnant or indeed if she was pregnant and you get the picture of transfer window night.