THERE is light at the end of the tunnel in regards to top-level football returning in England.
After more than three months away, Premier League chiefs are now ready to enact their ‘Project Restart’ initiative.
Manchester City are the defending Premier League championsCredit: Reuters
Fans are eager for the league to resume and complete the 2019/20 season, although it remains to be seen if the EFL can do the same.
When does the transfer window open?
After such a lengthy suspension, Premier League football looks set to return on June 17.
The league is aiming to resume where it left off in March, with Man City vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Sheffield United kicking off six weeks of frantic competition.
Originally, the summer transfer window was set to open on June 10.
But with the Premier League primed to resume after that date, it will have to be moved later into the summer months.
According to the Daily Mail, Premier League clubs are discussing the idea that the summer transfer window can open on Thursday, September 3.
Arsenal will face Man City behind closed doors on June 17Credit: PA:Press Association
It is then proposed that the window would close on October 5, giving clubs just over one month to conduct their business.
Currently, no dates are confirmed although the Premier League has put in place an extension for clubs to negotiate with players who are out of contract on June 30.
This will keep the integrity of the competition intact, with clubs able to keep hold of players who would otherwise become free agents at the end of June.
They have until June 23 to offer either a new deal or an extension to out of contract players.
What is the situation in the EFL?
It is essential for the survival of EFL clubs that money seeps down the pyramid from above.
Huddersfield chairman Phil Hodgkison has revealed that ’50 to 60′ clubs could go BUST due to the coronavirus crisis.
With matches set to be played behind closed doors at least until the autumn and possibly for the next 12 months – the “worst-case scenario” for EFL clubs – a large proportion of the income for lower-league sides is set to be wiped out which could have catastrophic consequences.
Currently, there are no set transfer window dates for the EFL, but an announcement is expected soon.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
