Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the Premier League clubs travelling to Berlin next week to hold crunch transfer talks ahead of the summer window, Express Sport understands. Representatives from teams all over the world are attending the popular TransferRoom summit on March 16 and 17.
The summits allow high-ranking club officials to network with counterparts from all over the world. Face-to-face ‘speed-dating’ meetings take place and the event is considered the largest gathering of football’s key decision-makers.
TransferRoom CEO Jonas Ankersen previously told Express Sport that he created the platform to add “transparency” to the transfer market. The platform is largely online but the summits take place in person, helping to facilitate over 6,500 deals since the platform was launched in 2017. Clubs, leagues and agencies can pay a subscription service to access an online marketplace which tells them which players might be available and allows them to contact other clubs.
Last August’s summit in Madrid is understood to have been pivotal in helping United make progress with deals for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. The Red Devils confirmed both transfers seven days after they met with Bayern Munich officials at the TransferRoom summit.
Their former sporting director Dan Ashworth was keen on the platform and the club’s interest in attending the summits has transcended the 54-year-old’s ill-fated spell.
Ankersen previously told Express Sport: “Our in-person, speed-dating style events have grown massively in popularity and are bigger than ever. With hundreds of clubs attending, it is extremely efficient and within two days you can meet so many clubs.
“Even in a time of Zoom meetings, there will always be a place for sitting opposite someone, looking into their eyes, and getting transfer business done directly. The conversation often starts here and is continued on our platform. Clubs and agents tell us they are saving time, money, and hassle.”
Seventeen of the 20 Premier League clubs are signed up to TransferRoom. Aston Villa, Leicester and Ipswich are the only English top-flight clubs not travelling to Berlin next week. Many EFL clubs are also expected to be in attendance.
It is set to be a busy summer transfer window for several clubs. United’s underwhelming season has prompted many outsiders to speculate that major surgery could be made to Ruben Amorim’s squad. Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea could also be busy after falling behind leaders Liverpool.