Southampton CEO Martin Semmens believes this summer's complex transfer window will work in three stages and could go on until October.
Nottingham Forest are nearing their return to action with the EFL last week providing clarity that the Championship campaign will return on June 20 - but when will the transfer window get underway?
Currently, the summer transfer window is set to begin on July 1, the date that the majority of players were set to see their contract expire.
However, Sabri Lamouchi's side will still have seven of their 46 Championship fixtures still to play at that stage and will not be allowed to add players to their squad until the 2019-20 season is completed.
So when can the Reds get down to business in the transfer market?
“When it comes to the transfer window it is quite complex. It’s a really strange time. We should be in a transfer window now so we can talk about it now, but I think we are going to get one in August too that will drag into October," Semmens told BBC Radio Solent.
“You cannot play a new player, if you buy them or loan them, during the remainder of this season. Nobody can play for you who isn’t with you already, we know that. That shuts the window down in the short term.
“I expect the window to really open at the end of the season, which should be around 25th of July, and it will be about 12 weeks so it will easily go on until the end of September or into October.”
“We are expecting a really strange, three-stage window," he continued.
"Until July, players will be having discussions with clubs but they will not be able to sign. We could do it. We could buy a player from Holland right now, bring them to the club, he could train with us and prepare for next season but he cannot play the games.
“Then there will be a full window between the end of July and early September when most of the movements will happen but I expect the window will be extended into the season which is a shame because we have done so much to reduce that in recent seasons.
“But with everything that has gone on in the country, it is something that we are going to have to put up with," he added.
