Manchester United were outnumbered by their Premier League rivals in a vote to close next summer's Premier League transfer window before the season starts.

The Red Devils were understood to be joined by Crystal Palace, Watford and Swansea, while Burnley abstained.

Fourteen clubs were required to agree for the change to pass, as a two-thirds majority was required.

Jose Mourinho opposed his club's official stance and is in favour of the changes, which would not have affected the Red Devils this summer due to their fast business.

Premier League sides have voted in favour of bringing deadline day forward from next year and the window will now shut at 5pm on the Thursday before the season starts on August 9.

Jose Mourinho has a different belief to his club over the change (
Image:
REUTERS)
The rule will affect top clubs most, such as Manchester City (
Image:
AFP)

The rule change means clubs won't be able to add to their squad after the first game of the season and until the January window which will remain unaffected.

However they will still be able to sell players.

The 20 Premier League chairman met in London today to rubber stamp the proposals with the majority - 14 clubs - voting in favour of the switch, five against and one abstaining.

Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to Liverpool on deadline day (
Image:
Liverpool FC/Getty)
Sanches was a deadline day acquisition for Swansea (
Image:
Rex Features)

The fear from those who wanted to stick to the August 31 deadline was the advantage their European rivals will now have.

They can still be able target, unsettle and buy players from Premier League clubs who will be unable to immediately replace them.

However the consensus among top flight chiefs is that continental leagues will eventually replicate the Premier League's move by switching their deadline to before the first game of the campaign.

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The staggered league start dates cross Europe, though, would still lead to different final days of the window.

The expectation is the Bundesliga will be one of the first rival big leagues to also make a change.

Their sporting directors are meeting today and the idea of bringing the deadline day date in Germany forward to before the start of their season expected to be one item on their agenda.

Meanwhile, Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said: “The Premier League's decision to end the transfer window early is wise. Now we have to extend the discussion to a European level.

"It is a decision I waited for with great satisfaction, it is the right choice. A market this long creates turbulence, a successful organization succeeds in organizing their market. The market must be within limits. it can't be possible for players to move after the season already started.

Our league, Serie A, must address this with the Federation, as it is a strong opinion among all of the squads. The decision lies with the Federation, but it must be in sync with all of the other major leagues."

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “I do think others will follow and it is a situation others will look at but they will have their own start dates.

Coutinho is yet to feature for Liverpool this term (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
Van Dijk hasn't played for Saints this season (
Image:
PA)

“I don't see us getting to a uniform situation start date but I do see others copying and going to before the start of their season.”

This summer's window has highlighted once again the issue of having the transfer window shut after the season has begun.

A string of stars including Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Philippe Coutinho, Virgil Van Dijk, Riyad Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater, Ross Barkley, Jonny Evans all had big question marks over their futures right up until the window slammed shut last Thursday which disrupted their clubs' plans for the season.

Scudamore added: “Enough clubs wanted to do it (change the rule). Why is an interesting question.

“There is a big concern that the Premier League has been playing two or three match rounds with a degree of uncertainty, between the teams themselves.

“Nobody was pathologically angry about the situation. There were some concerns that yes they understood that they wouldn't be able to buy but they also understood their players could be picked off.

“It was a concern but wouldn't say it was an anger about that. They just felt on balance they couldn't support it.”

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