Next season’s summer transfer window will close at 5pm on the Thursday before the Premier League campaign begins, putting an end to the deadline day drama that - in the eyes of some - has disrupted the start of their league campaigns.
Speaking a couple of hours before the vote was taken yesterday afternoon, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said a shortening of the window would end the confusion. “I believe it’s important that we change that and close all that stuff before the championship starts,” he said.
“You sit there before the games and even in players’ minds they have no clarity. Are they in? Are they out? Are they half in? Are they half out? Are they tapped up in the afternoon of the game by people who want to get them out? It’s not the way to work and it’s uncomfortable.”
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Wenger was clearly not alone in his view and although the vote was not unanimous the change will come into effect on August 9 next year, two days before the 2018-19 Premier League season kicks-off.
However, clubs will still be able to sell players until the end of the normal window, and for the moment the Premier League remain at odds with their European counterparts, who will continue to buy and sell until August 31.
But that could change in the coming months, certainly if Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, has any say in the matter.
In an interview with German broadcasters ARD, Ceferin was asked if he thought the summer window should be shut earlier.
“Yes, I think that it is open for too long,” he said. “It is strange that you play for one club when the season starts and then that you can simply play for another one. That is not good for the competition. We are in serious discussions over shortening the transfer window.”
Asked when he would like to see the window close, Ceferin said: “It is no bad idea to close the window at the end of July.”
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Premier League vote, which took place in a London hotel, was supported by 14 clubs.
Five were against and one, believed to be Burnley, abstained. According to the Telegraph the five rebels were the two Manchester clubs, Crystal Palace, Watford and Swansea City.
United's objection was led by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who allegedly defied the wishes of manager Jose Mourinho, who is in favour of the early window closure.
It’s reported that Football League clubs could emulate the Premier League’s decision but further discussions are planned before an announcement is made.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore echoed Wenger’s comments in explaining that the August 31 deadlined created a “degree of uncertainty” within clubs.
He then said of the final vote: “It wasn’t unanimous but nobody was pathologically angry about the situation. But there were some concerns by some clubs that, although they wouldn’t be able to buy any more players, their players could still be picked off by those who haven’t closed their windows. It just meant they couldn’t support it.”
