Report: Clubs ‘reluctant’ to do business for unvaccinated players

European clubs are reportedly ‘reluctant’ to sign unvaccinated Premier League players this summer, ahead of a potential spike in Covid-19 infections.

A lack of vaccination status has been a deterrent for European clubs when considering transfers this summer, with both France and Italy having made the vaccination compulsory for players after a rise in infections last winter, though some exceptions were made.

The Telegraph are reporting that European clubs view unvaccinated players as ‘too much trouble to accommodate’ and are reluctant to sign those who have not had a Covid-19 vaccine, given the levels of protocol in Europe for an outbreak in cases.

Such is the reluctance, the report states that “the phone calls stop immediately” once it is discovered a potential transfer target has not been vaccinated.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante are two high-profile Premier League names who remain unvaccinated, with the duo having been left out of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States as a consequence, with vaccine status a mandate for non-US visitors.

Kante is out of contract at Chelsea next summer and could be a target for leading clubs in Europe, though a major move to the continent could be hindered due to regulations regarding vaccine status.

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