Manchester United and Manchester City led failed bid to block Premier League closing summer transfer window before season starts
MANCHESTER UNITED and Manchester City led the charge against the Premier League’s revolutionary idea to close the summer transfer window early.
The 20 top-flight clubs voted on the controversial subject, with 14 votes to five in favour of the window ending before the season begins and Burnley abstaining.
Premier League powerhouses United and City were joined by relegation battlers Watford, Crystal Palace and Swansea in voting against the move.
The new summer format will mean the closed-season window ends on August 9 next summer, the night before the action kicks off.
European clubs will still be able to poach targets after that date but there is hope they will soon follow suit and safeguard their talent.
Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta said: “The Premier League’s decision to end the transfer window early is wise.
“Now we have to extend the discussion to a European level.”
The Old Trafford and Etihad sides attempted to kybosh the change as they do not want to be held to ransom by the European giants still able to trade after the early August deadline.
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League’s executive chairman, said: “Some clubs absolutely believe that you should kick off the season at least with the players you have got.
“They all fully understand that this is about buying, you can only stop people from signing, you can’t stop people selling if other leagues have a different window.
“More importantly was the integrity of the competition between each other.
“So when the 20 are playing each other the idea that you could have a person in your team one week and playing against him the next, or, even worse, the player not playing because of speculation about him going to another Premier League team so he’s not available for a week or two weeks of the season while the window is open.”
Southampton have had the start of their season hampered by Virgil van Dijk’s desire to move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was allowed to play for Arsenal in their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool before moving to Anfield just days later.
Liverpool currently have Philippe Coutinho ruled out through injury but fit enough to play for Brazil as he fight for a move top Barcelona.
And Diego Costa has walked out on Chelsea and downed tools as he fights for a move to Atletico Madrid.
The summer transfer window was one the craziest we have ever seen.
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