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EFL clubs have officially voted in favor of the proposals to shut the summer transfer window for permanent transfers on Thursday, 9 August at 17:00 BST. That brings the 72 EFL clubs in line with the top division clubs who voted in favor of closing the window before their season starts last September.   The 2018-19 EFL season is scheduled to start on Saturday, 4 August. Clubs outside the top flight will still be able to sign players on loan until 31 August.   EFL chief executive Shaun Antony Harvey said: "After discussing the options throughout the course of the last few months, I'm pleased that the matter has been determined by clubs ahead of the start of next season. "This new approach will give clubs and managers the stability they crave earlier in the season whilst also providing the flexibility to add to their squads after the traditional deadline until the end of month if required."

Andrea Bertolacci says he does not know what his future holds when his loan spell with Genoa come to an end but hopes to return back to Milan.Bertolacci is currently back on loan at Genoa after two disappointing years at Milan. “I’ve always been part of the national team, now Di Biagio will decide,” he told Premium Sport. “I always had a place in the group when Conte was CT, but I was a bit unlucky at Milan and didn’t get called up. “My future? My loan is a dry one. When it ends I’ll go back to Milan, but I’m curious to see what’ll happen.”

Arsenal defend er, Shkodran Mustafi believes the Premier League is the most intense l eague in Europe but insists he is playing with players with a lot of experience and he’s learning a lot from his team mates. "The Premier League is the most intense league in Europe. I knew that before but now that I've played a lot of games, it's just something that you feel. "When you play in the Premier League alongside players who have won a lot of trophies or who have played a lot of games, they give you this kind of experience so you make less mistakes, you react differently to different situations. "I would say that in the last year I've taken a lot of experience for myself. The German international is convinced he is working hard at the moment and will be ready for the team when it matters     "As a defender, it's really difficult to always do your job 100 per cent. As soon as you do something wrong, it gives the other team an opportunity to s...

Rochdale manager Keith John Hill believes Bamidele Jermaine Alli was right in the way he won a penalty that almost knocked his side out of the FA Cup. Referee Bobby Madley pointed to the spot after Dele Alli went down inside the penalty area under pressure from Harrison McGahey's challenge and Kane put Spurs in a a 2-1 up late in Sunday's fifth-round tie. But Steve Davies' equaliser secured a Wembley replay for the League One club. "I won't hold it against him and if he does it for England in the summer and we win the World Cup, I will certainly be supporting him," Hill said. "I'm led to believe he's looking for it but we get too involved in controversy."

Copenhagen will host Atletico Madrid today’s e Europa League game and Stale Solbakken claims his team's target is to secure a result that doesn't rule them out of the tie after just 90 minutes at the Parken Stadium and the 49-year-old declared that he has been contemplating tactical changes to counter Atleti's threat. "Our goal is to go to the second leg with an open tie," he told the press conference prior the match."It would be naive not to make any small tactical adjustments when you face a rival like Atletico." The Norwegian did praised the organisation of Lo Rojiblancos and the way their players operate in defence, as well as their pressing mentality. Solbakken also highlighted the ability of Antoine Griezmann to move between the lines and look for spaces and warned that his players have to work collectively to prevent him from circulating the ball. Copenhagen's striker Federico Santander has fully recovered from a knee injury...

AC Milan are working on a €250m refinancing deal with Elliott Management, separating Yonghong Li’s debt. The Chinese owner got a €123m loan from Elliott, an American hedge fund, to take over the Rossoneri and that must be repaid by October. As a result the Diavolo have been looking to take out another loan to repay the hedge fund, but the unclear status of Li has made it difficult to find a lender. Tuttosport is reporting that Milan are working with Merrill Lynch on a €250m refinancing deal, double the original loan. However, this would separate Li’s €180m debt from the club, reducing his exposure and making the deal easier. That would also give the Rossoneri more time to pay the debt, as they’re likely to make a loss again this season.