Kevin Nolan: 'Premier League clubs likely to favour early summer transfer window closure'

Kevin Nolan expects the Premier League vote to shut the summer transfer window before the start of a season to be unanimously in favour.

The idea will be discussed at a shareholders' meeting next month and, with many top-flight clubs having either sold players or are still in the middle of transfer sagas, it is believed that most would prefer it to shut early.

As present, the summer window shuts on 31 August, with clubs able to buy or sell from within England and overseas.

Nolan told the Nottingham Post: “I think it was like that a few years ago (window closes before the season starts) but then lower league clubs were allowed to loan players from the Premier League.

“That’s why they wanted it, because Premier League clubs could go 'right that’s our 25-man squad and these are the ones who can go out'.

“At the minute, though, they don’t really know what’s happening in terms of who is going where.

“You then get situations like Everton with Ross Barkley who has pulled his hamstring and is going to be out for six weeks.

“There was lots of speculation about whether he would be going or staying but if the window had been shut two weeks ago, he could have gone.

“Then you had the whole Sigurdsson thing going on which didn’t help Swansea manager Paul Clement.

“There are pros and cons, but if I was a manager at Premier League level, if I knew my squad from day one then it would benefit me.

“Down the leagues it doesn’t really make a difference unless somebody comes in for three of our players and they all end up going on the last day then you might see a different side of me.

“But, at this moment in time, we did a lot of good business in the summer.

“We’ve still got two weeks to think although this player did well for us in pre-season, this lad might need to go out and get some games.

“So there are pros and cons all round, but I understand where Premier League managers are coming from. If there is that vote then I am sure it will be unanimous.”

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