Everton and Liverpool could be left with some big decisions ahead with Premier League clubs changing their approach to transfers due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Tottenham Hotspur have followed Newcastle United in shutting down their player recruitment department as the London club were forced to put Jose Mourinho's summer transfer plans on hold.
The Daily Mail, who reported on Wednesday that Newcastle United had shut down their scouting department until further notice, say that Spurs’ recruitment team, led by chief scout Steve Hitchen, have followed suit.
Chairman Daniel Levy confirmed on Tuesday that all non-playing staff had been furloughed, which makes them eligible for Government aid during the COVID-19 crisis.
The article says there was doubt over whether Hitchen and his team would still be working towards the forthcoming window during the furloughing period.
While there are no live games to analyse, there is still work to be completed on watching unwatched footage of concrete and potential targets ahead of the next window.
But all that work has officially been put on hold in what will come as a blow to head coach Mourinho.
Sportsmail added that they had seen a blanket text message sent by Newcastle’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson to a host of his contacts outlining the decision for the recruitment department to close until further notice.
Among those scouts placed on furlough are Nickson, his assistant Mick Tait and head of academy recruitment Paul Baker.
The Magpies have furloughed staff and Nickson, in his correspondence with intermediaries, has confirmed that the club’s scouting team have closed.
