Footballers contracts are by tradition July 1st until June 30th. If he signed a 5 year contract in january, that will come into effect on July 1st. The club will probably increase the wage from the date of signing.
Maybe they needed CL qualification to confirm they make the extra money? Or Lemar wanted to go a CL team only, so they waited to attempt?
They were already trying to buy van Dijk from May, and Keita long time I think. They dont pay keita until 2018.
The deadline from Barca feels like it is so they can say they are the ones who ended their interest.
Like when a girl tries to dump you..."Well you can't dump me, because I'm dumping you first. So there. Ha!"
It's embarrassing!