The Lehman brother-styled financial breakdown has been avoided, Manchester City and Aston Villa have agreed the transfer of Gareth Barry.
No sign of Liverpool and...more tellingly...no sign of Arsenal.
An England international, who has declared his desire to play Champions League football, joining a team who are not even in Europe when it would seem he is the perfect foil to Cesc Fabregas.
Has Arsene Wenger been left in the blocks by one of his rival managers? Has the Arsenal board whacked the handcuffs on their manager? Only they know. Maybe Wenger does not want Barry anymore.
But 12 months ago he most definitely did.
Back then the £18-20 million price tag seemed too hefty to pay. This time the price seems right, and it seems Arsenal – more than Liverpool (who clearly do not need Barry) – have missed the boat.
Last summer I wrote a blog lambasting Liverpool’s pursuit of Barry, based purely on the fact that Benitez would be wrong to attempt to pair Mascherano with the Villa man – at the expense of the more creative Xabi Alonso.
Wenger did not want to do that. He wanted Barry as the deeper-lying midfielder to Fabregas, providing the foundation on which Arsenal would play. Such an idea would have prompted a significantly more positive blog.
Value for money is a subjective matter. Is Barry worth £12 million? Probably. He’s an England midfielder, he’s versatile, he puts his foot in and has the ability to bring energy to a game. Everything Arsenal need.
Throw in the fact that Tottenham turned their season around by spending £14 million on a central midfielder of their own...Wilson Palacios...and £11 million for Barry sounds right.
It will be interesting to know how Arsenal fans feel about missing out on Barry.
Manchester City claim they are targeting the top four next season. The very fact that they convinced Barry to join in a World Cup year shows the midfielder was lured by something more than just money. He knows good players will follow and, right now, fourth-placed Arsenal are most at risk of losing their place at Europe’s top table.
The signing of Barry is a marker for City. Unlike the Craig Bellamys and Wayne Bridges of this world, they have signed a player who could easily slot into Arsenal’s team. They have signed a player Arsene Wenger once wanted.
Maybe the Arsenal boss is eyeing somebody better. Maybe he has earmarked the new Patrick Vieira.
But right now, it appears Arsenal have missed out on a player that would surely have strengthened one of the weakest areas in their side.