An earlier deadline would shield clubs from transfer sagas, such as Southampton’s stand-off with Van Dijk, impacting their start to the season

Premier League clubs are set to take a landmark decision to bring in their own transfer deadline that would ensure the window shuts before the start of the season, it can be revealed.

The issue has been put on the agenda for the next meeting of Premier League chairmen on September 7 and sources close to the negotiations are confident that the vast majority of the 20 clubs will vote for the change.

The new rule would bring the transfer deadline forward by two to three weeks so that clubs in the English top flight would not be permitted to sign players once the season has begun. Many chairmen and managers think that the uncertainty caused by the window still being open for the first