In the odd years when there are no World Cups or European championships to be played, the football transfer market grabs the full attention of the media in the summer months, as teams plan for the following season in a bid to make it better for them than the previous one.

Each day, newspapers and internet sites are full of reports about possible moves from one team to another. Often, the reports are full of speculation, as journalists try to beat each other with the latest rumours. But sometimes these rumours then turn out to be true and, one way or another, the deal is finally confirmed. Many other times, these reports are too wild and fizzle out immediately.

What clearly emerges in these circumstances is that today, very few teams have the money to invest in their clubs. These few teams upstage the market with their millions, and put others in difficulty, as most players seem to look at financial security first, before they look at the strength or history of the club which has an interest in them.

Other clubs are clever enough to wait out until contracts expire to sign players who are free to join others without there being a need of paying a transfer fee. These days, it is a big bargain for both the club and the player – the clubs save their transfer money and often the player then gets a better salary.

The clubs with the most money are not the traditional top teams, but have been taken over by millionaires who are willing to spend their money on their new toy as they seek quick glory. They soon realise that it is much more difficult than they think to build a team. It is not only big names that make up a great squad – these have to be coupled with good organisation, professional management and discipline, and this is hard to come by in teams that do not have these qualities in their DNA.

Other teams have a different philosophy. They prefer to be patient and look within their nurseries, or at players who are still virtually unknown but who have the potential of a great future, and build their squad over several years. They save money, but they are not always successful.

What is sure is that today football has become an industry more than a sport. It is a business concern that seeks the best competitive results and, if possible, these are to be obtained with the least of expenses. With financial regulations coming into force as from 2014, clubs need to start planning as from now to be able to fit within the strict structures that UEFA will be imposing.