Premier League Clubs to Discuss Changes to Summer Transfer Window

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Europe was meant to follow England in moving the summer window. They didn’t, and now England will likely shift back.

Moving up the transfer window in the Premier League, the two-month summer window when clubs could register new players, seemed like a good idea at the time, allowing teams to have their squads set and settled before the start of the season.

The problem, though, was that it was a change made on the assumption that the Premier League would set a new standard that the rest of Europe would follow. And the rest of Europe hasn’t followed. Now, English clubs appear at a disadvantage.

As a result, Sky report several clubs are eager to change back to the old approach of having the window close at the end of August. While they don’t say if Liverpool are one of those sides, based on past statements by Jürgen Klopp it seems likely.

“I don’t care when it closes, I only think it must close at the same time,” he said earlier in the month. “I don’t understand why this decision is not already reviewed at least. At first it was a good idea but it didn’t work out so let’s change it again.”

When the change to shift the window earlier was made in 2017, Swansea, Watford, Crystal Palace, and the two Manchester clubs voted against it while Burnley abstained—meaning 14 other clubs, including the Reds, voted for the earlier window.

Initial talks about changing it back to line up with the rest of Europe are reportedly expected to take place during the September international break, when representatives of the Premier League clubs are scheduled to meet to discuss league issues.

A vote would then likely take place in November and any agreed changes would be implemented immediately such that the 2020 summer window would, depending on the vote outcome, again close at the end of August.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com