Hello and welcome to sportsday im gavin ramjaun. Its transfer deadline day but not as we know it, with one of the quiestest days in history. Well tell you whos been in business. Pressure on social Media Companies to stamp out racism. We hear what more needs to be done, with Marcus Rashford the latest target of online abuse. And big names from the Lgbt Community help the bbc kick off a month long celebration. Hello and welcome to sportsday. The January Transfer Window closes at 11pm tonight for efl and and Premier League clubs so were into the final few hours for new signings for the final stretch of the season. Last years Winter Window was massive Bruno Fernandes the headline deal, going to Manchester United for nearly £70 million. Almost quarter of a billion was spent in all there. In 2018, it was even higher. 430 million spent then, which included Pierre Emerick aubameyangs Big Money Move to arsenal. Its very different this time in 2021. And Austin Halewood is in the studio for us to explain. Austin, the pandemic, and the uncertainty for clubs a huge part of why its so quiet this time . Yes, absolutely right. Maybe sad seeing these big name signing behind you. Brilliantjanuary seeing these big name signing behind you. Brilliant january windows of the year, but this one does not look like its going to have any of those big names like you mentioned there. Not much money at all being spent around the world, this is all because of the Global Pandemic and to the Covid Situation that has wreaked havoc to Football Finances and so much uncertainty. Im just going to bring this up, only five permanent signings made at this point in the Premier League for all of the January Transfer Windows. Not just deadline day with the entire window in the Premier League. 0n the five permanent signings, show shows just how all the clouds are looking to loan players and just not take that risk, because theres just so much uncertainty around at the moment. ,. ,. , moment. You look at what is happening moment. You look at what is happening on moment. You look at what is happening on the moment. You look at what is happening on the continent l moment. You look at what is i happening on the continent and moment. You look at what is happening on the continent and what happens in spain and germany, particularly in spain. All of that reflects on whats happening here. Absolutely. All of in the same position because of the pandemic. Throughout europe as mentioned, but also throughout the world. Spain is also throughout the world. Spain is a particularly interesting example, because of the big sides. Real madrid and barcelona particularly. Barcelonas financial records have been released in the last week we have found out how much debt the club is in. Now this really is hard to wrap your head around, they are in debt by more than 1 billion euros, so they are not willing to spend much money at the moment. They dont want to bring in any of these big signings that we have seen over the years. You might rememberjunior from liverpool for £100 million, and deliverable in a similar situation. They dont have that much money to spend they have not brought in those big signings we have seen over the years. Of course that has an effect on the rest of the Football Pyramid, not just on the rest of the Football Pyramid, notjust in spain but around the globe and europe. Ive been sticking to a football finance expert, rob wilson, about all of this and i just wanted to start by asking him about the pandemic but also whether the lack of spending in the Transfer Window is notjust a result of that. I dont think its very surprising idont think its very surprising really i dont think its very surprising really because we seen such a reduction really because we seen such a reduction in spending. And whilst i think reduction in spending. And whilst i think its reduction in spending. And whilst i think its really easy to Pinpoint Covid think its really easy to Pinpoint Covid is think its really easy to Pinpoint Covid is the reason for that, its pretty covid is the reason for that, its pretty huge amount of pressure onto that finances, particularly cash flows that finances, particularly cash flows with no matched a revenue going flows with no matched a revenue going in. Flows with no matched a revenue going in, what i think its also done going in, what i think its also done is going in, what i think its also done is really unmask the frailty of the finances and perhaps we are seeing the finances and perhaps we are seeing now is notjust a response to covid seeing now is notjust a response to covid but seeing now is notjust a response to covid but a seeing now is notjust a response to covid but a response to that years and years covid but a response to that years and years of overspending which would and years of overspending which would make them look more resilient into their would make them look more resilient into their budgeting process, and we have seen into their budgeting process, and we have seen the manifestation in the market have seen the manifestation in the market now. A have seen the manifestation in the market nova have seen the manifestation in the market now. � ,. ,. ,. ,. , market now. A bit of a perfect storm with Covid Happening Market now. A bit of a perfect storm with covid happening as market now. A bit of a perfect storm with covid happening as well market now. A bit of a perfect storm with covid happening as well but with covid happening as well but will this be the case for a few years with the lower level of spending . Years with the lower level of spending . Years with the lower level of sendin . , spending . Players are in a very stranue spending . Players are in a very strange place spending . Players are in a very strange place and spending . Players are in a very strange place and it spending . Players are in a very strange place and it cannot strange place and it cannot negotiate really large contracts. We will see negotiate really large contracts. We will see a negotiate really large contracts. We will see a suppression of Wage Expenditure and i think that ultimately will lead to players seeing ultimately will lead to players seeing for the contracts in their home seeing for the contracts in their home clubs water readily. Reduction in transfer home clubs water readily. Reduction in Transfer Value and fewer players moving in Transfer Value and fewer players moving around the market full term. A trend moving around the market full term. A trend with moving around the market full term. A trend with the likes of real madrid and barcelona in sprain to the mac spain. Has them not be able to pay the big fees affected the rest of the Football Pyramid . Fees affected the rest of the Football Pyramid . Fees affected the rest of the Football Ramid . , ,. , Football Pyramid . They spent years and ears Football Pyramid . They spent years and years with Football Pyramid . They spent years and years with the Football Pyramid . They spent years and years with the debts Football Pyramid . They spent years and years with the debts and Football Pyramid . They spent years j and years with the debts and levers this been and years with the debts and levers this been building up thats been calculating. Because of the Sporting Performance is been so good theres not been performance is been so good theres not been a performance is been so good theres not been a spotlight of whats really not been a spotlight of whats really going on there. With an exacerbation now through the pandemic and the fact of those matched pandemic and the fact of those matched a revenues going through, and its matched a revenues going through, and its difficult to sign commercial contracts. Theyve not been commercial contracts. Theyve not been able commercial contracts. Theyve not been able to sound those players like they been able to sound those players like they would in the past. Its like they would in the past. Its like a like they would in the past. Its like a game of dominoes, as soon as you move like a game of dominoes, as soon as you move one like a game of dominoes, as soon as you move one player is likely to see a number you move one player is likely to see a number of you move one player is likely to see a number of other players move as well a number of other players move as well the a number of other players move as well. The questions that first domino well. The questions that first Domino Overand well. The questions that first domino over and that naturally means Less Movement in the market. As he was saying, every quite window now but could be more as well to come in the next few years. So used to being really frantic. So what deals have been done today . . Liverpool have been one of the busiest teams in the Premier League. Its well documented how difficult their defensive issues are at the moment. We know theyve got virgil and all at it from the heart of defence. Sojurgen klopp has been looking there. Ben davies, i seen him play in the championship a number of times committees a very good player and could surprise a lot of liverpool fans atjust how good he is. Hesjoining and that should be confirmed for £2 million. He not the defenderjoining. This is only a loan until the end of the season where theres an option to buy. Thats liverpools defensive recruits in his window trying to get them through to the end of the season. But that if we go to the bottom of the league is a few clubs around looking to roll the dice and get a few players in and boost their hopes of survival. In brighton have made a permanent signing, but hes only young. 19 years old. Meant it be known to many out there, hes come from ecuador but as i say hes young and hes joined come from ecuador but as i say hes young and hesjoined on a permanent signing. And then this just could be one of the most interesting stories in the final few hours of deadline day, josh king, we know hes a very good player and played a lot in the Premier League. Lots of interest in him, full and Premier League. Lots of interest in him, fulland are Premier League. Lots of interest in him, full and are after him but everton and southampton as well. That could be one of the really interesting stories of the last couple of hours. Interesting stories of the last couple of hours. Interesting stories of the last coule of hours. ,. ,. , couple of hours. Secretly hoping for dieao couple of hours. Secretly hoping for diego costa couple of hours. Secretly hoping for diego costa for couple of hours. Secretly hoping for diego costa for so couple of hours. Secretly hoping for diego costa for so many. Discussions are continuing on how to tackle racism online following events over the weekend. The Manchester United manager 0le Gunnar Solskjaer has called on social Media Companies to be stronger in tackling online racist abuse. Greater Manchester Police opened an investigation after Marcus Rashford became the latest player to be targeted following his sides draw with arsenal on saturday. We cannot do a lot, can we . So we have we cannot do a lot, can we . So we have to we cannot do a lot, can we . So we have to work we cannot do a lot, can we . So we have to work with the platforms. Theyve have to work with the platforms. Theyve got to be stronger to make sure that theyve got to be stronger to make sure that we stop this. It� s theyve got to be stronger to make sure that we stop this. Sure that we stop this. Its got to be the social sure that we stop this. Its got to be the social media sure that we stop this. Its got to be the social Media Companies. Sure that we stop this. Its got to i be the social Media Companies that find a way of stopping this. And Police Forces helping explain away of certain people doing it. Strong words there. Platforms very much in the line of fire at the moment. The Premier League and the fa of those calling for more action from them to eradicate racism from their networks. The bbc� s social media and disinformation reporter Marianna Spring joins me now. How feasible is it for outlets like twitter and facebook to monitor and police racist abuse . They would argue that its not very easy, and is a member of salamis policing them. A lot of people who Abuse Footballers or other celebrities on social media, orjust others in general, particularly those who send racist abuse tend to use anonymous accounts and names, or different twitter handles. So its hard to recover they are. Today people of suggesting that when you sign up to a social media site why dont you have to show id or demonstrate who you are . They could be a solution but on the other hand its pretty hard to enforce and especially in countries where people are persecuted for their identities for the who they are. And theres theissue for the who they are. And theres the issue of how explicit this is. Racist abuse and abuse in any form everyone agrees should not be tolerated in any way, but unfortunately a lot of people have very subtle ways of getting around the rules when it comes to abuse. These particular emojese or these particular emo jese or phrases, these particular emojese or phrases, and when you ban a certain hashtag or a certain phrase or emoji or way of using it they tend to evolve and adapt. That then changes in its nature. A difficult issue that they face. Social media sites say they are facing other problems liked its information and construes the theories. 0ther liked its information and construes the theories. Other forms of threats and abuse in the platforms. This all feeds into the same ecosystem and i think we are on the agreement that something needs to be done about it. And Identification Verification they say has not been very forthcoming to find out who has been saying what and why do you think that is . I think we have to remember that Social Media Sites are effectively companies that want to make money. And clicks users, lots of people wanting to engage in conversation, those are good for Social Media Sites. The Bad Reputation that comes from racist abuse or other forms of disinformation is obesity not good for them, and the overall aims of the platforms is not them using it as much as possible. That would limit the number of people making accounts, people often write multiple accounts that may not be allowed any more. It poses an existential threat for some of the Social Media Sites, and that might explain in part what theyre reluctant to enforce it along with the fact that it could be very difficult to enforce. The fact that it could be very difficult to enforce. Thank you very much indeed difficult to enforce. Thank you very much indeed for difficult to enforce. Thank you very much indeed for that. Well lets take a look at some of the days other Sports Stories now. The japanese government are planning to extend the State Of Emergency Covering Tokyo and other regions struggling to contain coronavirus outbreaks by one month until march 7. That would be just 4 and half months before the olympics are due to begin. Englands cricketers have been allowed out of quarantine in india, after the players whod arrived from sri lanka returned negative covid i9 test results. Theyll be able to train together as a full group for the first time tomorrow, with the opening test starting on friday. And Katie Boulter was the only british Tennis Player to win, in the various warm up events, ahead of next weeks australian open. After a long spell out with a back injury, she won in straight sets against anna kalinskaya, whos ranked 264 places above her. One month down into 2021 now. So we are now into february, and that is lgbt history month. Its an annual month long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and Tra Nsgender History and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. Bbc sport is marking the month with a range of content. Younger people today look at me like what was the big deal . It was a big deal. It what was the big deal . It was a big deal. , what was the big deal . It was a big deal. ,. , what was the big deal . It was a big deal. ,. ,. , what was the big deal . It was a big deal. ,. ,. , deal. It was really hard. It was inconceivable deal. It was really hard. It was inconceivable for deal. It was really hard. It was inconceivable for me deal. It was really hard. It was inconceivable for me to deal. It was really hard. It was inconceivable for me to think i deal. 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