WINDOW MAY OPEN FOR MONTHS

FROM BACK PAGE next year, with the Premier League also looking at alternatives.

Big-money deals are likely to be put on hold, players who are out of contract on June 30 face uncertain futures and no one is sure when football will start again, let alone when the transfer market will be back in operation.

With no guarantee this season’s fixtures will be completed, the window can only realistically open ahead of the start of the next campaign, so the deadline date of August 31 would have to be changed. It could mean football ends up with one long transfer window and a free-for-all.

Premier League clubs are bound by FIFA rules on transfers and the world governing body has set up a panel to look at the window.

They will also monitor contracts, as some players could find their deals run out before the season ends.

Agents are also under the FIFA umbrella but have complained about a lack of information on how the next transfer window will work.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “On March 18 the Bureau of the FIFA Council decided to establish a

FIFA-Confederations Working Group in response to Covid-19.

“This Working Group will assess the need for amendments or temporary dispensations to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’ to protect contracts for both players and clubs and adjusting player registration periods.

“This work has already started and will be conducted in consultation with all key stakeholders, including confederations, member associations, clubs, leagues and players.”