The cases of Virgil van Dijk and Philippe Coutinho perfectly embody the chaos that can descend during the summer transfer window.Both players have handed in transfer requests at their respective clubs, Southampton and Liverpool, in an attempt to leave amid interest from bigger teams.But with neither club wanting to sell, Southampton and Liverpool have entered the new season unsure of whether they can call upon their star players from September onwards, after the transfer window shuts.You only need to read Jurgen Klopp’s quotes on Coutinho, who has attracted interest from Barcelona and missed Liverpool’s season opener, to realise the confusion surrounding the Brazilian playmaker."Nothing has changed on one side or the other side," Klopp said on Monday, per Sky Sports."He's not available for us at the moment. That's the main issue. He cannot play for Liverpool in this moment. Everyone can imagine this is a blow for us.
“I work with the players I have. I don't think about the players I don't have.”
Liverpool claimed Coutinho’s absence was due to a back injury but how are we to know whether the 25-year-old is even in the right state to play football?
There could be a huge change to the transfer window
There could be a solution to such sagas, and it could arrive as early as next year.
From the summer of 2018, ahead of the 2018-19 season, the deadline for the Premier League transfer window could come before the season starts, not after it has begun.
The season got underway on August 12, but clubs are able to buy players until August 31.
The Telegraph and The Times are reporting that the 20 Premier League clubs will vote on the matter in a September shareholders’ meeting, with Telegraph Sport claiming moves are “well advanced and already at ‘approval level’.
Watford are against it
Watford are understood to be one of the few clubs against the proposals. The rule will be introduced if at least 14 clubs agree to it.
The majority of fans on Twitter are all for it. Check out the best reaction below.
Swansea's Sigurdsson saga
One images Swansea boss Paul Clement is also in favour. After Swansea’s 0-0 draw with Southampton on Sunday, Clement, whose star play Gylfi Sigurdsson is locked in a transfer saga surrounding a possible £50 million move to Everton, shared his frustration at the current set-up.
“There’s frustration here and I’m sure Southampton are frustrated, too,” he said.
“That’s why I think if the window is shut before the season starts everything is sorted out and we can get on with the football.
“At our managers’ meeting at the Premier League last week, we spoke about it. The majority of clubs are in favour, but maybe all have to be for it to go through.”