EFL could shut window early

Talks to shut the transfer window before the start of the season across the professional game in England will take place next month after the Football League announced it would consider following the Premier League’s lead on the matter.

A day after plans emerged for the 20 top-flight clubs to vote on preventing players being bought into the division once future campaigns get under way, the EFL confirmed it would discuss doing the same.

A spokesman said: “The EFL board and its clubs have previously expressed the opinion that closing the summer transfer window in advance of the season commencing would be an improvement on the current position. We will be tabling the matter for discussion with clubs in September.”

A proposal will be put forward at next month’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting that the transfer deadline is brought forward to the week before the start of the season from 2018-19. Almost all of the 20 teams are understood to be behind the idea, with Watford believed to be one of the few to oppose it.

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates told The Daily Telegraph: “We just think it will be better if we can start the season with the window closed. It will be better for the Premier League and football in the UK.”

There were no plans yesterday for European top-flight leagues to follow suit, with a spokesman for the European Club Association confirming the matter had not been under discussion.