Premier League clubs keen to extend summer transfer window

Premier League clubs are behind a proposal to extend the transfer window in England by a week to allow more time for transfers between top flight clubs and the EFL.

It comes after Thursday's Premier League meeting which saw a number of proposals tabled, including adjusting the dates for the final three rounds of fixtures this season to allow as many fans into games as possible.

News of the transfer window adjustment comes from PA (via the Daily Mail), and it it understood to have been brought to the table by Chelsea and met with near universal support from those in attendance. It mirrors what happened in October, and would push the window back slightly so that it runs from 16 June to 7 September, as opposed to 9 June to 31 August.

The adapted window would largely fall in line with the rest of Europe, but would provide scope for the sort of deals that took Jack Butland to Crystal Palace on 16 October, ten days after the UEFA imposed window had closed.

Plans will need to be voted through by clubs and given approval by the FA, so it may be a while before any official announcement is made, but there is not expected to be too much opposition.

As far as new dates for this season go, another prominent discussion was changing the dates of the final three rounds of Premier League games to maximise the amount of fixtures that fall after the 17 May date outlined by the government for the return of fans.

As things stand, the final three rounds of matches are due to take place on Wednesday 12 May, Saturday 15 May and Sunday 23 May, and only the latter would be allowed fans in attendance under the government's best case scenario for their route out of lockdown.

But it has been suggested that schedule could be collapsed somewhat. Matchweek 37, due to take place on 15 May, could be moved forward to midweek (Tues 18/Weds 19) so that each team in the league would be allowed a home game with fans in attendance.

Matchweek 36 would then be moved forward to Saturday 15 May.

There is some opposition to that, however, with Newcastle in particular said to be concerned about the scheduling issues that would cause ahead of a crucial final day of the season.