The Premier League and the EFL will both be seeking thoughts from member clubs on whether or not to close the summer transfer window before the season kicks off in coming years.
The current window, like many other major European leagues, closes on August 31 which is a full three weeks into the start of the Premier League campaign, and almost a full month into the campaign for sides in the EFL.
The Premier League shareholders meet on September 7 and a vote will be held on the subject then, and the EFL will also be tabling discussions and a vote next month.
The BBC quote an EFL spokesperson on the topic.
‘The EFL board and its clubs have previously expressed the opinion that closing the window in advance of the season commencing would be an improvement on the current position. It will be important that all the consequences of such a decision are fully considered, as the requirements of our clubs are different to those in Europe’s top flight leagues.’
With staggered windows across Europe, for example this season saw the French Ligue 1 window open a week before England, with Spain, Italy and Germany following a week after, European wide change is not on the cards and even if Premier League and EFL clubs support the change, it would have no effect to foreign sides attempting to sign players whilst their window remains open and ours would be shut.
ie Barcelona’s move for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho would remain legal within the rules, but Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk would know for sure he was not moving to Liverpool or Chelsea. They certainly aren’t the only sides with protracted deals this summer either.
A change could see those clubs against it or even agents potentially launch legal challenges, so it’s far from cut and dry, but many would see the sense in having squad’s and transfer speculation culled before the first kick off.
Wow,so much ground covered in a single article,to reply properly would take an age.I don’t agree with the transfer window shutting early.In an ideal world every team would like their squad’s assembled before the start of the season.It’s surely obvious the advantages however there are issues that should be considered.Many players have their seasons extended,it could be by way of the play off’s which add an extra three weeks to a season,others will be called upon to play in international tournaments such as the World Cup/European Cup,by the time they have finished they go on holiday and then pre season is upon us again.In these circumstances it gives managers/head coaches very little time to recruit and we know many deals form part of a chain,just like house buying,they can be very protracted and for these reasons I think having the extra weeks is vital to allow those in charge to have enough time to sign new additions. Of course it can be debated either way and at the end of the day our opinions won’t be taken into consideration.Another point against the change is giving the European clubs the opportunity to poach whilst we would have our hands tied not allowing us to replace anyone enticed away…I can only see disadvantages to this move that probably will happen.
Wow,so much ground covered in a single article,to reply properly would take an age.I don’t agree with the transfer window shutting early.In an ideal world every team would like their squad’s assembled before the start of the season.It’s surely obvious the advantages however there are issues that should be considered.Many players have their seasons extended,it could be by way of the play off’s which add an extra three weeks to a season,others will be called upon to play in international tournaments such as the World Cup/European Cup,by the time they have finished they go on holiday and then pre season is upon us again.In these circumstances it gives managers/head coaches very little time to recruit and we know many deals form part of a chain,just like house buying,they can be very protracted and for these reasons I think having the extra weeks is vital to allow those in charge to have enough time to sign new additions. Of course it can be debated either way and at the end of the day our opinions won’t be taken into consideration.Another point against the change is giving the European clubs the opportunity to poach whilst we would have our hands tied not allowing us to replace anyone enticed away…I can only see disadvantages to this move that probably will happen.