EUROPEAN clubs could operate in a three-month transfer window running until October, in new plans unveiled by Uefa.
Each country’s association determines its exact markets dates but the coronavirus pandemic has forced a re-think of how players can be bought and sold.
Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba are set to feature in two of the window’s biggest sagas
On Thursday, Uefa called on the continent’s top leagues to align behind a transfer deadline of October 5.
That will be followed by the deadline for clubs to register their 25-man squads for the Champions League and Europa League.
A statement read: “The deadline for player registration for the group stage of the 2020/21 UEFA club competitions has been set to 6 October 2020.
“As a result, the UEFA Executive Committee called on all member associations to adopt a harmonised end date to the upcoming summer transfer window, with this date set as 5 October 2020.”
It seems likely that Premier League club chiefs will agree at next Tuesday’s meeting of the 20 shareholder clubs to open the summer window at the start of next month, even though players who swap clubs will not be registered until August and cannot play in the remainder of this campaign.
A July 6 opening would fit the maximum 12-week period that the summer window can be open for.
WERN TO WATCH
Earlier on today, Chelsea confirmed their capture of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and stated that the forward will be arriving in July.
The Blues are set to battle it out with Real Madrid and Manchester United for Kai Havertz when the window opens.
Rated at £90million by Bayer Leverkusen, the attacking midfielder is one of many big names thought to be desired despite the pandemic’s financial crisis.
Jadon Sancho is another wanted man, chiefly by United who themselves are suffering a cash-flow problem that will be emphasised if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
However Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could add to his transfer budget by allowing Paul Pogba to leave, with Madrid and Juventus keen on his services.
European qualification will also hold considerable sway over Arsenal’s autumn business.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future remains very much up in the air ahead of his contract expiring in 2021.
And free agents may be the order of the day for many with the likes of Ryan Fraser, Willian and Thiago Silva all reportedly being eyed by the Gunners ahead of their contracts expiring.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ‘very happy at the club’ amid transfer speculation
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
