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Arsene Wenger calls for January transfer window to be scrapped to protect football's 'decency'
Arsene Wenger has called for the winter transfer window to be scrapped to help protect football’s “decency” and hinted that he expects further internal disruption ahead of the reopening of the market in January.
The wider issue will be discussed at a Premier League meeting on Thursday amid a proposal to close the summer window once the season starts but Wenger would like to go even further and wants no buying and selling of players at any stage of the competition.
At Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere are now in the final year of their contracts but Sanchez almost left on deadline day following a £60 million bid from Manchester City while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sold in the closing days of the window after also refusing a new contract.
Wenger’s message about wanting players focused even when the team struggles also felt like a coded message to some of his own players.
“The players who do not play or the players who are tapped up in October they already start again to think, ‘where do I go in January?’” said Wenger.
“That’s not a way to be on board with a football club. I believe we have to realise that. We are here to entertain people and you can do that with people who are really on board together, to achieve something together and not every minute that it doesn’t go well to think, ‘Where can I go next?’”
Of the impact of the transfer window generally, Wenger said: “The ideal situation would be to have a transfer period that is closed 48 hours before the first game of the championship and to close it completely until after the season.
“I believe that we have to bring some decency. We all complain today that it has become too much a business, but we can do something about it. We have that responsibility in the game.”
A vote is taking place at Thursday’s meeting of Premier League shareholders about shortening the summer transfer window, with the Football League apparently in support of a change.
“Generally I think the mood is that it will be an improvement,” said Shaun Harvey, the Football League’s chief executive.
"There are some significant concerns at some Premier League clubs around European competitions; the teams they are playing against being able to sign players after them.
"And from the EFL's perspective we have some real practical challenges to get over as well. Traditionally we start the season at different dates, so which start of the season are we going to use? Some of our clubs also survive on transfer income - selling players is an absolutely critical part of their business plan.
"There are a number of checks and balances we need to take to make sure this decision doesn't lead to some unintended consequences."