PSG loan move for Alli could lift sleepy January

AGENTS are expecting an incredibly quiet January transfer window.

Premier League clubs spent a staggering £230million in last year’s winter market which was the second highest total.

But do not expect even the big clubs to go anywhere near that this time amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.

The top-flight clubs still harbour concerns about when fans will return to normal figures, TV revenues and also the knock-on effects commercially which could massively impact upon them financially.

One leading agent insisted that normally clubs are lining up deals for January by now – and yet there has been very little interest in doing deals.

Liverpool have an obvious pressing concern after losing Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk to long-term injuries and yet they are not expected to make major waves in the market, even for a central defender.

Manchester United also o tried to do more last summer after missing out on Jason Sancho but are unlikely to revisit that until at least next summer’s window.

It has left clubs urging caution and January may be about loan moves and bargains. Whether Paris Saint-germain come back for a loan for Tottenham’s Dele Alli (above) may be one to watch after they made three attempts in the summer.

There is also deep suspicion from the Premier League clubs as to when fans will be allowed back in as next month seems unrealistic, while the next round of TV negotiations will start soon and do not be surprised if broadcasters want to rail back on recent sky-high rises.

THE Premier League protocols and strict coronavirus rules have been shown to be hugely effective purely by the recent rise in positive tests during the international break.

The basic rule of thumb which has served the top flight so well is players who test positive must self-isolate for 10 days before taking a test.

If that is negative, they take another two days later and if that is also negative they may return to training.

Rapid 60-minute tests have been brought in for players returning from international duty so they can train straight away safe in the knowledge they are virus-free after going outside the bubble.