The owners of Manchester City have shaken the world with their £100 million bid for AC Milan star Kaka. With Premiership clubs being forced into FIFA's transfer windows system, Europe's winter market has taken on a whole new dimension. tribalfootball.com caught up with player agent Marlon Fleischman about what life is like inside the market during the January window.

Fleischman is a licensed Players Agent (FIFA & FA) working with FN Sports Management. FN Sports acts on behalf of a number of high profile clients currently playing in England at clubs such as Arsenal, Newcastle and Fulham as well as maintaining a strong agent network across Europe.

1) How busy do you expect to be between now and February 2?

Hopefully quite busy! But with football you can never really predict what's going to happen, nothing is ever 100% until the contracts are lodged. We have a few things on the cards, we'll have to wait and see but as long as all of my players are happy come 2nd February then I've done my job!

2) What's your view of the winter transfer window? Do you think FIFA's transfer windows fit into the culture of English football?

It is obviously restrictive, it has put more pressure on trading conditions, you now have a set time limit within which to finalise a deal, and because of that people sometimes dig their heels in over prices, wages, fees etc.as they know the clock is ticking. So it has made the transfer process that bit more challenging.

With all changes there are going to be those who support it and those who favour the old system. But as I see it you just have to get on with it, you have to adapt to new rules and regulations just as in any other profession. The culture of English football was that if your team wasn't performing, or you were short of a player in a particular position you had the freedom to get someone in. Now though, especially at the top end, managers have to look harder at their squads and ensure they have enough quality and cover to last half a season without changing it; and in my eyes that has led to quite a few managers losing their jobs earlier than they would have done previously, simply because they can't freshen things up.

3) Take us through what's involved for an agent when doing a deal ... contract & transfer negotiations, accommodation, etc.

You have to look at every deal on an individual basis, every player is different so every deal is bespoke, different salaries, bonus structures etc. Some can be concluded inside a day, whilst others may take weeks of discussions.

When a player moves from one club to another the agent can't actually start negotiations with the buying club until there has been a formal bid accepted and the player given permission to discuss terms. Once that's happened I will then meet the club with the player, sit down and discuss the elements that form the player's contract such as duration, wage, bonuses and image rights etc. The player will need to undergo a medical examination to ensure he is in good shape and isn't going to be a risk to the club. Once that has been passed and the personal terms have been agreed the contracts are sent off to the FA along with the relevant transfer documents. The clubs are then informed by the FA once it's all been processed and then finally the deal can be announced.

It's quite a drawn out affair and you have to remain switched on, you need to ensure you get the best possible deal for your player and that he can see that you've done a good job on his behalf.

4) How easy/difficult is it to bring players from abroad into English football during the winter market? Is there a difference compared to the summer window?

Generally if the club hasn't scouted or heard of the player you'll have a hard job trying to get a club to commit to buying him in the winter transfer window. In the summer when there are pre season games clubs will be more open to offering trials to players based on their playing history etc.

Football is a global market now and with clubs operating to strict financial budgets it has become a more attractive proposition to source talent from abroad, as the players will mostly cost less than a home grown or domestic based player. The Premiership led the way and even if you look down at clubs in Leagues 1 and 2 you now see players from all over the world plying their trade in England.

5) With the transfer speculation moving into top gear, is there pressure from some of your players to get them moves in January?

Every player is ambitious and wants to play at the highest level they can, so there is always pressure to make sure your player is happy, committed and can see that his career is being managed effectively.

But a move may not always be the answer; it may be a case of re-negotiating his current contract to ensure he is on par with other players of the same ability etc. As long as you are being proactive and your player knows you are working hard for them then you don't feel the pressure.

6) Have you ever encountered problems with unlicensed agents promising your clients the world if they went with them?

Unlicensed agents can cause all sorts of problems, but if you look after your players properly then there is no reason for them to go with anyone else. I came into sports management after a long career in the sports marketing industry, I take my job very seriously which is why I studied and gained my Players' Agent Licence. If someone wants to be involved in this industry for the correct reasons and wants to conduct themselves professionally then why would you trade as an unlicensed agent? You have to look at the motivations of these people, are they in it for the long term? I don't blame the players so much, because they are ambitious people and sometimes the lies they are fed can be very convincing, but time and time again I see players being mis-led and lied to regarding transfers that will never happen.

7) Do you think that agents have suffered from their public reputation?

There is no doubting that agent's reputations have been damaged by cases of alleged corruption. Because of a few mindless individuals the majority of good, decent, genuine agents have been tarred with the same brush, which isn't right or fair.

Football is a lucrative industry and because of that it does unfortunately attract people who may not have the correct intentions. But with the new regulations introduced by The FA and FIFA it does make it harder for these guys to cut corners. Players also are starting to realise the pitfalls of working with agents who are more interested in their own fees, rather than whether the deal is actually any good for the player.

8) Do you expect there to be many big money moves in the winter window?

I'm sure we will see some money being spent, but prices are always pushed up during the January window, clubs are very reluctant to let their best performers leave, simply as there is very little time to find quality replacements. All eyes are on Manchester City, if they start putting money down then it will allow the clubs they are buying players from to start spending, which will then spark the rest of the transfers. It will be interesting, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that FN Sports plays a part in some of those winter transfers!