For football fans around Britain, the three-month transfer window brings an annual dose of tension, frustration and thwarted desire.
Now, a long running saga over England captain Harry Kane’s potential transfer to German champions Bayern Munich has sparked an outburst of antisemitism online.
The England striker is set to undertake a medical examination in Munich to complete a €100 million move that would bring an end to his 19-year Tottenham career.
As the deal hovers on the brink of completion, supporters and rival fans have begun abusing the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, over his hardball negotiation tactics.
Levy, a lifelong Spurs supporter, was born in Essex to Jewish parents. He was appointed to the north London club's board in 2000 after ENIC, a company he part-owns alongside Jewish businessman Joe Lewis, bought a 27 per cent stake.
On X, the website formerly known as Twitter, one anonymous account wrote on Friday: "Levy is such a Jew."
"Daniel Levy is the worst owner ever, just f***in move on & accept the current conditions you fat bald jew,” another said.
Other accounts posted: "Daniel Levy what a Jew,” “This is the Jew in Levy coming out,” and "Levy my friend this is prime Jew."
User Geraldine said she had also experienced casual antisemitism towards the Tottenham part-owner in person.
“One of my customers who isn't a raging antisemite called Daniel Levy a Jew boy & that why he was tight when we discussing Tottenham I work at pub with lot of Tottenham fan [sic],” she wrote on X.
“The guy apologised after I said I had Jewish family members.”
A Bayern Munich supporter account added: “Kane wants to join us. We would never sent the bid to that Jew had Kane not cleared to Bayern bosses that he wants to join.
“Even [football journalists] Plettenberg and Fabrizio have confirmed that personal terms are clear. It's just Levy being a p***k now [sic].”
The summer is not the first time Levy has faced abuse over his reluctance to let Kane go for less than his full value.
Two years ago, a TalkSPORT caller said: “Levy, he’s a Jew. He’s not going to let him go for nothing, is he?”
The radio station subsequently apologised for broadcasting the remark on YouTube after Tottenham said they were "appalled" that neither presenter challenged the comment.
Tottenham Hotspur were approached for comment.