EPL to shut transfer window before season starts

LONDON — The transfer window will shut before the start of the season under sweeping new changes expected to be approved by the Premier League (EPL) next month, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Representatives from the 20 top-flight clubs are to attend a shareholders’ meeting on Sept 7 with the majority pushing for a new transfer deadline to be introduced, preventing managers from buying players after the season has got under way.

According to the English newspaper, moves are at “approval level”, in a potentially huge development for English football likely to be implemented next year. It will be proposed that the deadline is brought forward to the week before the start of the 2018-19 season and almost all of the 20 clubs are understood to be behind the idea.

This year’s summer transfer window closes on Aug 31, nearly three weeks after the season started, and is threatening to become another chaotic finale of last-minute deals.

Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson’s protracted £50  million (S$88.3 million) move to Everton has been one of the sagas of the summer, while Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk’s future remains uncertain amid interest from rival clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Sigurdsson and van Dijk did not feature for their respective clubs in their opening games this season due to the uncertainty. Sigurdsson was left at home during Swansea’s tour of the United States as he was not “in the right frame of mind”, while van Dijk has submitted a transfer request in an attempt to force a move, following Liverpool’s pursuit.

Ross Barkley’s situation at Everton remains under scrutiny and it is thought that Spurs, notoriously late operators in transfer windows, are set to make a move for the midfielder.

Many managers have criticised the current set-up and the mood for change is shared in most boardrooms.

After the 0-0 draw with Southampton on Saturday, Swansea manager Paul Clement said: “There’s frustration here and I’m sure Southampton are frustrated, too. That’s why I think if the window is shut before the season starts everything is sorted out and we can get on with the football.

“At our managers’ meeting at the Premier League last week, we spoke about it. The majority of clubs are in favour, but maybe all have to be for it to go through.”

Under the proposals, it is understood that top-flight clubs will be permitted to sell players to clubs abroad, but transfer deals from one EPL club to another will be off limits when the season starts. The Premier League does not require approval from overseas leagues to sign off the changes.

Mr Jonathan Barnett, the chairman of football agency Stellar Group, said the changes would have little effect: “It could make clubs more focused to do their deals early, but there will still be a deadline which creates panic. Selling clubs will still hold out for more money. I don’t like the idea of last-minute pushing and shoving, but even with the deadline brought forward, there will be ridiculous things happening before the window closes. It doesn’t seem to affect other countries like it does with England.” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH