Jan Vertonghen warns that Premier League clubs at disadvantage to European rivals in summer transfer window

Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen believes that English clubs are now at a disadvantage to their European counterparts after deciding to bring forward the closure of their summer transfer window.

Premier League clubs voted unanimously in 2017 for their transfer deadline day to pass before the domestic season kicked off, in the wake of widespread complaints from managers that it caused disruption to their squads and preparations as moves were able to continue several weeks into the campaign.

Yet the rest of Europe has failed to follow suit and the transfer period for the rest of the leagues only ended on Monday, almost a month after English clubs became unable to buy players.

‘Definitely no benefit’

Vertonghen has now joined the increasing calls for something to change in order for English clubs not to be left in the position where they can lose key players to rivals across Europe but be unable to purchase replacements.

“England made that decision, expecting all the other leagues would follow,” Vertonghen said. “In the end they didn’t. Or not yet. That’s definitely no benefit for the Premier League. I’m not sure about what can change but it would be good if everyone was on the same page with it.”

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It has caused particular disruption to Spurs, who have not known if star player Christian Eriksen would secure a move to Real Madrid, after the Dane expressed a desire to leave the club at the start of the summer. The situation has forced his manager, Mauricio Pochettino, to leave him on the bench during games he would surely, in other circumstances, have started him.

Pochettino described it as “my worst period after five years in Tottenham” on Sunday and said he would celebrate when the European window closed. Pochettino has also previously revealed his frustration with the lack of synchronisation between the transfer dates for Europe’s top leagues.

Chorus of complaints

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also spoken about the need to review the situation, and Vertonghen has added his voice to the debate.

Read more: Pochettino says Spurs were not ‘settled’ during transfer window, causing defensive and concentration issues

Manchester United are the other Premier League club to have been greatly affected by the lack of cohesion between windows, with midfielder Paul Pogba repeatedly suggested as a target for Real Madrid.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Spurs and United sit eighth and ninth in the Premier League table after poor starts to the season.