UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin gave his backing "to a shorter summer transfer window," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. The 20 Premier League chairs will vote on Thursday on closing the transfer window before the start of the domestic season and "supporters of the change are confident of success." Liverpool’s "steadfast refusal" to sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona has "convinced some doubters that the Premier League can go it alone from the rest of Europe." Asked about his view on the transfer window being shortened, Čeferin said, "I am aware there are serious discussions around Europe regarding the shortening of the summer transfer window and we are following them closely. In my view, it is not good when footballers play for one club when the league starts and another club when the transfer window closes. There is a lot of uncertainty for a long time. Therefore I would say that the window might be too long and I would support it being shorter." The change will need 14 votes from the 20 chairs to go through and West Ham United Vice-Chair Karren Brady said that 17 are "in favour" (LONDON TIMES, 9/6). REUTERS' Aditi Prakash reported several Premier League managers have "dismissed fears that a change would leave them vulnerable to losing players to other European leagues," whose transfer windows would close later. Football League CEO Shaun Harvey said that the league "could follow in the top tier's footsteps." He said, "The one thing our member clubs have said is they do want stability in terms of the players that are available to them from the start of the season. Shutting the transfer window before the season starts has always found favor with our clubs" (REUTERS, 9/6). The BBC reported Harvey also said that talks over closing the Premier League and EFL summer transfer windows before the start of the season are "well advanced." The EFL is "keen on the proposal." Harvey: "Generally I think the mood is that it will be an improvement. There are a number of checks and balances we need to take to make sure this decision doesn't lead to some unintended consequences" (BBC, 9/5).
ECONOMIC IMBALANCE: REUTERS' Simon Evans reported in the "wake of the record-breaking transfer window," European league officials said that they "want to see regulations brought in to address the increasing economic imbalances in the game." The European Professional Football Leagues described the recent transfer window as "characterised by overspending by clubs and inflation in players' salaries." The organization, which represents 24 national leagues, said in a statement that "there is a pressing need for the football governing bodies to intervene and implement measures aimed to create a more fair and balanced financial system for professional football." Eredivisie CEO Jacco Swart said that despite talk of dealing with the "financial gulf" in the sport, the situation was "worsening." He said, "I think if you look at the numbers that are being paid over this last summer window it shows that the differences between the biggest clubs in European football and all the others, it looks more that it is increasing rather than that the gap is getting smaller" (REUTERS, 9/6).
