There will never be another summer transfer window quite like this one. The rest of the continent is expected to follow suit in the coming years, but for 2018 the Premier League is the only major European top flight setting its deadline before the start of the new season. Throw in the inevitable delay in deals created by the World Cup in Russia, and the unique dynamics of this off-season are especially challenging. The intentions behind the decision to close the transfer window three weeks early are earnest enough, an attempt to eradicate the bizarre mini-game of standoffs that takes place during the opening month of the season when players, managers and fans are never quite sure who they...
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