The former England, Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder writes exclusively for Yahoo as our Football Ambassador



Saido Berahino's omission from West Brom's squad on Sunday, amid a backdrop of frenzied speculation about him signing for Tottenham, is a sign that the rumours have got to him. Tony Pulis hinted as much when he became the latest boss to express his anger about the way the transfer window can disrupt a team's start to the season. Earlier this month, Everton's Roberto Martinez - facing a similar battle with John Stones - voiced the same opinion.



I agree with them both: the timing of the window needs to be reviewed, but for the sake of the players and not just the managers.



Every time I signed for a new club it was on deadline day, and I always found the process unhealthy. The biggest - and most frustrating - transfer of my career was when I moved from Newcastle to Tottenham. Not only did the timing of it affect my form at St James's Park; it also hampered the start of my Spurs career.













View photos LONDON - FEBRUARY 24: Jermaine Jenas of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates victory following the Carling Cup Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on February 24, 2008 in London, England. Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 after extra time. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) More



At the time, I'd decided I couldn't stay at Newcastle under the Graeme Souness regime - I was being played out of position and I didn't like the way I was being managed as a young player. Once the season began, my head wasn't in the right place because I didn't know whether I'd be staying or leaving. One minute it was, "You're going to Arsenal," then it was "You're going to Tottenham". I was sick of it. And it meant the last thing I was focusing on was my football. Sometimes I sulked - I even walked out of training on one occasion - all due to confusion about what was going on with my career.



But if the window had been closed when that season started, I would have been in a very different place. I actually began the campaign lining up in an excellent midfield alongside Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer. It was a prospect that excited me, but once the Arsenal and Tottenham talk started, my head was turned. I thought playing for either of those teams would give me a better opportunity of going to that summer's World Cup, because I felt I couldn't trust the management at Newcastle.



In that situation you also come into contact with players from the clubs chasing you, and obviously players will talk. When I was on England duty as a Newcastle player, the Tottenham boys like Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe were telling me good things about the club and saying it would be great if I signed.













I tried to maintain professionalism, but it's difficult. And Stones will be going through something similar now, while Chelsea chase him.



Unlike Berahino, he is still in the team and apparently unfazed. But in the back of his mind, he's probably thinking, 'I would love to go and play for Chelsea'. For Stones and his family, everything about going to Chelsea is positive. He'll be at a bigger club, competing to win the league and Champions League and - let's not beat around the bush - he'll be getting more money. That's the way the game is. So in every aspect it's a step up.







[Premier League - Baggies turn down Berahino request]



There are reasons for him to stay at Everton too. Firstly, his England place - we still don't know if he would start every week at Chelsea. Plus he may feel some loyalty to Martinez, who broke up the strong Phil Jagielka-Sylvain Distin defensive partnership to give Stones his chance. But loyalty is a rare commodity in modern football. Really it all depends on how far Chelsea push it and what Stones actually wants.



It reminds of when Chelsea made repeated bids for a team-mate of mine at Tottenham, Luka Modric. He was adamant that he wanted to go, but after Daniel Levy refused to sell him he got over it very quickly and it didn't affect his form at all. He remained professional, stayed the whole season and played a key role - finally getting his move to Real Madrid the following year. But it takes a certain type of person to be able to do that, and it's also a risk. You're relying on making it through that season unscathed and maintaining your form.









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