Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has said that he wants the summer transfer window for English clubs to stay open longer, calling the decision to close it before the start of the Premier League season a “massive mistake.”
As of last season, the summer transfer window in England has closed before the Premier League season began due to complaints by clubs of having unsettled squads when starting the campaign. But with transfer windows around Europe closing as late as September, Premier League players, including Spurs star midfielder Christian Eriksen, who is a target for Real Madrid, could still move.
“I wasn’t in agreement [with the decision] but at that moment they believed that was best for the clubs,” Pochettino said. “But I think he [Daniel Levy] and a lot of people now realise it was a massive mistake. I hope that we fix the problem for the next season.
“We need to go back and operate in the same way that they operate in Europe because I think it’s massive when you go to compete in the Europa League or Champions League.
“Champions League teams can create a problem for a team like us and it’s so clear that I cannot be happy as a coach that in the last three weeks clubs from Europe can unsettle your team.
“For me it’s not common sense and we need to go back quick, hope they have a good conversation at the Premier League and go back quickly [to how it was].”
The window for English clubs to sign players closed on Aug. 8 but, in Spain, it remains open until Sept. 2. Should Eriksen leave the club, Spurs would not be able to sign a replacement for the until Jan 1. when the winter transfer window re-opens.
Eriksen started in Spurs’ 2-2 draw to Manchester City on Saturday and was substituted in the 92nd minute for 18-year-old midfielder Oliver Skipp.
Spurs signed midfielder Giovani Lo Celso on loan from Real Betis on the final day of the English transfer window along with Fullham left-back Ryan Sessegnon for £25 million. They also signed Tanguy Ndombele for a club-record £56.5m plus add-ons, as well as Jack Clarke from Leeds and Kion Etete from Notts County.