Radical changes in Premier League as transfer window is shortened

Bengaluru, September 7: The Premier League will usher radical changes from next year with the transfer window set to close before the start of the season.

In a major break from tradition, Premier League clubs backed a controversial rule ammendment that will see the summer window close at 5pm local time on the Thursday before the start of the season.

The clubs voted to bring forward the deadline for buying players from next season, a Premier League statement said.

Premier League Clubs have today agreed to a rule amendment that will see the summer transfer window close earlier: https://t.co/den3cSuWiX pic.twitter.com/8Dr7fBXdUm

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 7, 2017

This season the window closed on August 31 while the season had begun 20 days earlier.

The new date applies only to clubs in the Premier League and relates only to purchasing of players.

Premier League clubs will still be able to sell players to clubs in other leagues, such as those in Europe, whose window is still open.

Some European clubs have also expressed support for shortening the window in similar fashion but the Premier League is so far the only league to have made the move.

The Football League, which includes the second, third and fourth tiers of English football, has not yet changed their window but a similar change is on the agenda for their meeting of clubs on Sept 21.

Meanwhile, the Twitterati reacted with mixed emotions to the latest decision.

Well done @premierleague, about time the transfer window farce was ended!

Get the business done, numbers handed out, season starts!

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) September 7, 2017

Dreadful decision from the Premier League and one they will regret - they will change it back within a few years. https://t.co/w3bjqct0Ye

— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) September 7, 2017

Earlier, UEFA President Aleksander Caferin backed the new radical proposal to shorten the transfer window.

"In my view, it is not good when footballers play for one club when the league starts and another club when the transfer window closes. There is a lot of uncertainty for a long time.

"Therefore I would say that the window might be too long and I would support it being shorter."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was another staunch proponent of the move.

Wenger believes that want-away players and fringe squad members will not be fully committed to their clubs as they try to negotiate their next transfers.

"The players who do not play or the players who are tapped up in October they already start again to think: 'Where do I go in January?'. That's not a way to be on board with a football club..." Wenger told beIN Sports.

"We are here to entertain people and you can do that with people who are really on board together, to achieve something together and not every minute that it doesn't go well to think: 'Where can I go next?'"

The Premier League will resume after the international break on Saturday (September 9).

(With inputs from Agencies)