Hello everyone, Joe Thomas here checking in from ECHO Towers. This is early, isn't it? I've only really just got over the hangover of Newcastle United away, a long day but a happy one given that impressive three points earned there just eight days ago.
Yes, just eight days ago. The close season was not even a week old when the transfer window opened and, well, it has opened with a bang.
Last year we saw activity unusually early, with Everton selling Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin (and signing Tim Iroegbunam) in the opening fortnight of the window in order to get ahead of the PSR deadline in June 30.
Well, expect that chaos of an early 'PSR transfer deadline' again this year - a whirlpool Everton could get pulled into, depening on who needs what and how desperate they are.
But with the Club World Cup this summer we have an even earlier start to the transfer window and that is where we stand, with an "exceptional registration" period open until June 10. The it closes for less than a week and reopens on June 16. Not sure why it closes to be honest but, yes, the football Gods have achieved their apparent heaven of a 12-month round rumour mill.
I'll be with you through the summer to help dissect what to pay attention to and ignore!