5 Ways to Make the Transfer Window More Exciting

The summer transfer window is upon us once again.

For many clubs, the success of the entire 2013-14 season will rest upon the veritable transfer frenzy between July 1 and August 31.

The destiny of teams, players, managers and even officials can be attributed to the transfer window. Big fish will always eat smaller fish in sport's version of Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

But the question remains: Could the transfer window be better or more exciting?

Here, Bleacher Report looks at five ideas that could possibly leave Jim White chomping at the bit and spice up the transfer window a little.

1. Multiple Windows

This is a simple idea, really.

As it stands the transfer window in major European leagues runs between July 1, and August 31.

The basic idea here is to split the transfer window into thirds. 

During the first segment of the window clubs must sign a designated number of under-21 players.

During the second segment teams must sign a designated number of domestic players.

And during the third window they can sign whoever they want, as long as their squad fulfills UEFA's criteria for squad size and depth.

A recent report by Opta for the BBC stated:

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The English top flight already has the lowest number of national players across all ages at 42.9%, compared to Italy (45.6%), Germany (55.4%), Spain (61.6%) and France (71.6%). Sports statisticians Opta claim the figure is 36% in the Premier League.

"

If the transfer window was set up in a way to promote the purchase of certain players, then these figures could possibly rise. The EU might have a thing or two to say about the restrictive employment of minorities, but I'm sure UEFA and Michel Platini could sort something out.

2. An Incremental Window

 This idea might actually work, but I doubt it would get backing from any of the major teams.

The idea here is that the transfer window opens at different times for different clubs, depending upon their elite ranking, and then it all closes on the same day.

For example, Manchester United won the Premier League last season and are therefore the No. 1 ranked team in the EPL. Crystal Palace were promoted after winning the Play-Off Final and are therefore ranked at No. 20 in the EPL.

From there the transfer window is split into 20 sections. With the window opening on July 1 and closing on August 31, Palace would then have 62 days to do their transfer business. Hull as the next worst-ranked team would have 59 days.

Then, every three days the next lowest-ranked team is allowed into the window. That would leave Manchester United with just three days to fulfill all their business.

The essence is that it would become easier for players and, lest we forget, agents to do business with lower-ranked teams. This, in time, could go some way towards evening the league out as a whole, whilst improving the standard of lower-placed clubs.

3. A Huge Window

There is a very good argument that the transfer window only works for the top teams. It can cause the lower sides a massive headache when a bigger team comes in and snaps up their star player with only a few hours left in the window.

Smaller clubs do not have the resources to just go out and find immediate replacements. Very often the sale of a key player, without proper replacement, can lead towards relegation.

If the window was open longer than August 31, then clubs would have more time to strengthen.

Top clubs always tend to sign their targets as soon as possible. The August 31 deadline comes just two weeks into the Premier League season. Big clubs would still have the ability to sign from the lower sides, but if the window closed maybe one or two months later they would have more time to find that all-important replacement.

4. Transfer Frenzy Days

There is no better club than Tottenham Hotspur for taking advantage of deadline day on August 31.

Over the last number of seasons, Spurs have signed and sold within the dying moments of the day. 

Just imagine if that happened two or three times a window?

Running along similar lines to the Multiple Window idea on Slide 1, agents, leagues and clubs would make it known that certain players would be available at a certain moment.

This idea is already happening in an unofficial capacity at the roving WyScout Forum. Last summer over 100 of the world's top clubs met at the Emirates Stadium with a massive group of agents to do business.

The basic idea is that this is football's version of speed-dating.

Clubs are given their designated tables and make it known which of their players is available and what type of player they are looking for. Then agents race around the room to other tables trying to cut deals.

If UEFA made this an official line into transfers, then players with certain profiles could be sold at specific times. Imagine Jim White then?

5. All-Year Loan Deals

Andy Carroll was on loan at West Ham United from Liverpool prior to his permanent switch to the Boleyn Ground.

The English international center-forward was not wanted at Anfield by new manager Brendan Rodgers and was sent packing to Sam Allardyce and the Hammers.

Carroll had signed for Liverpool the year previous to Rodgers taking over. It has hardly the giant Geordie's fault that he was not a Rodgers-style player. From being the focal point of one manager's philosophy, he became the bane of another.

Thankfully, Carroll went out on loan and it ended in a successful transfer.

But that is not always the case. Every season hundreds of players fall foul of either current or new managers. They are then forced to stay at their club without a chance of playing.

For unwanted players there should be no limit on loan deals. The loan deal window should last all season and give players a second chance.

How would you change or improve the transfer window?

Leave your comments, suggestions and thoughts on the transfer window in the section below.

You can follow me on Twitter @WillieGannon. 

And listen to me on the Hold the Back Page podcast.