WINDOW TO SHUT EARLY

NEXT SUMMER’S Premier League transfer window will close before the season starts – and the top-flight’s clubs expect Europe’s big leagues to follow.

Bosses voted to bring deadline day forward from next year, and the window will now shut at 5pm on the Thursday before the season starts on August 9.

The rule change means clubs won’t be able to add to squads after the first game and until the January window – but they will still be able to sell players.

The 20 Premier League chairman rubber-stamped the proposals with the majority – 14 clubs – voting in favour.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore (above) said: “I do think others will follow. It is a situation others will look at but they’ll have their own start dates.”