Shearer Says: “Early closing of transfer window would mean less hassle for managers”

The Premier League legend and Coral Ambassador has his say on the transfer window, the Costa saga and Newcastle’s aims this season

I would be in favour of the Premier League’s plan to close the summer transfer window before the season started, but one obvious problem is that the Leagues around Europe do not all start at the same time, so would this move actually mean English clubs couldn’t sell as well as buy players once the new season started?

For example, with the Spanish League not starting for another couple of weeks, the rule would have to be no ins or outs after our cut-off date.

So it might not be entirely straight forward to bring in, but I’m definitely all for it, as I’m sure it would mean less hassle for managers, and I’m sure the majority of clubs would be in favour of it.

The transfer window as it is now has not been around for that long, before that clubs had far more time to bring players in, and managers will tell you that worked both ways, it could be a nuisance trying to keep hold of your top players, but on the flip-side, if you had a spate of injuries you could bring players in.

If the transfer window was to close pre-season, it would stop the situation we have seen with a host of players this summer, with the likes of Coutinho, Sanchez, Barkeley, Sigurdsson, Van Dijk, all not playing last weekend and all holding out for a move.

Costa saga has been complete embarrassment for all involved

Another major transfer saga of this summer has been with Diego Costa and Chelsea.  Costa is a striker I admire on the pitch, but I have to say the whole situation is a complete embarrassment and mess from Chelsea’s point of view.

We don’t know how Costa behaved towards the back-end of last season, but whatever the situation I don’t agree with Antonio Conte telling him by text that his Chelsea career was over.  However it’s also wrong that the player is refusing to come back, threatening to go on strike, the whole thing is a mess.

You compare this to how Alex Ferguson used to operate, when a player was past his sell-by date, or when he didn’t want them at Old Trafford, he got rid of them, he was ruthless, but he did it in the right way.  Players at least knew where they stood with Fergie.

Big names, Stam, Ince, Beckham, Fergie sold them all, and Chelsea are fully entitled to not play Costa if they don’t believe he has a future at the club, but the situation should have been handled better. They now only have two strikers at the club, and a guy sat on a beach in Brazil!

To make matters worse Chelsea were beaten against Burnley, a win would have deflected some of the attention away from them, but that didn’t happen.  I don’t blame any one party for this, it just reflects really badly on all involved, the player, the club, the manager.

This probably started with the rumours last January that he was moving to China, for a while things looked like they were back on track but I expected Costa to be moved on in the window.

If Chelsea don’t sign players before the end of the month, and don’t sort out the Costa mess, then it could absolutely derail their title defence, as we saw with Jose Mourinho two years ago, a season can quickly unravel.

Top flight survival the aim for frustrated Rafa’s Newcastle

At my club Newcastle, I know Rafa Benitez has been frustrated by the lack of transfer activity over the summer, they have signed Joselu from Stoke this week, which is a step forward, but he still needs another two or three players in.

Watching them against Spurs last weekend, it was clear that although they might try and make themselves hard to beat, they do need some more quality in the side, and the squad that won the Championship was always going to need strengthening for the Premier League.

They signed Jacob Murphy for £12 million, but when you see the likes of West Brom, Leicester, Bournemouth, spending millions more on players, it shows you where the market is now, and where Rafa himself thought he should be, but he’s just not been able to make as many signings as he wants.

It’s early days, but Rafa himself has been honest and said it will be a long hard season, and I agree with him, watching them against Spurs, he had them well-organised and tight, but getting goals might be an issue for them.

Hopefully the signing of Joselu will help in that department, but realistically this season I think we’re looking at Premier League survival, and maybe a decent Cup run, but staying up has to be the priority, anything else will be a huge bonus.

Do you agree with what Shearer has to say? Give us your thoughts by commenting below or tweeting us @Coral.