PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are reportedly considering scaling back on planned summer transfer sprees over fears they could face a major backlash from hard-up fans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Deadly bug COVID-19 continues to sweep the globe with over 13,000 deaths worldwide as major sporting events – including Europe’s top leagues and Euro 2020 – have been postponed.
Prem clubs are reportedly considering scaling back on planned summer transfer sprees in the fear of facing major backlash amid coronavirusCredit: Getty
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The outbreak in the killer virus threatens to affect the economy with jobs already at risk with Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraging social distancing and self isolation.
And according to The Mirror, top Prem clubs are fearing the potential backlash they could face if they were to begin signing players for excessive amounts of money once the transfer window opens.
A club administrator told the paper: “It won’t be a good look if after all that’s happening clubs immediately start paying huge transfer fees for new players.
“I would imagine that conversation is already being had at many clubs who were planning on substantial investments in the market during the summer window.
“Paying over £100million for a player when the world emerges from the COVID-19 crisis would seem to be inviting trouble.
“What the transfer window will look like when it does operate again is anyone’s guess but you can be certain club’s will be treading cautiously.
“We could even see this being the moment that the transfer market is recalibrated with many in football believing it’s lost all sense of reality in the last few years.
“Players salaries in the future may also come under review by some clubs as football counts the cost of an unprecedented shutdown of the sport.”
It could leave Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all second guessing in their pursuit for Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho.
The winger – who turns 20 next week – is believed to be pushing for a move back to England having left City for Germany in 2017.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke already admitted it would be hard to keep hold of the wideman, with the Bundesliga side said to be holding out for £120million.
The chase for 16-year-old whizkid Jude Bellingham could also be affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with the player understood to be torn between United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Dortmund.
The chase for 16-year-old whizkid Jude Bellingham could also be affected by the coronavirus outbreakCredit: Rex Features
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
