The Coronavirus has caused mayhem all over the world in terms of physical health, education and the economy. Unfortunately, this highly contagious virus has also interfered within the sports world and has brought many major sports events to a halt, such as the world-renowned Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, etc. With Europe now as the epicenter of the disease and the fact that the virus hasn’t even reached its peak yet, what’s happening regarding the Premier League?

The virus has ravaged through Europe and continues to spread very fast among the European nations. Thus, UEFA has decided to postpone its Euros until next year to allow clubs to finish their fixtures. The Premier League has the option of continuing its matches in closed stadiums with no fans or postponing until the Coronavirus subsides. Although nothing is confirmed, many things can happen due to the suspension of the Premier League.

The transfer window would have to be changed perhaps forever, the window is usually between June and August, but this outbreak would likely make the season run into June and that would mean that the transfer window would have to come later.

Contractual issues are also beginning to arise due to the delay since playing any games after 30 June could be enormously complicated because most player contracts end on that date, and questions would arise as to who was liable if a player was injured in a match played after that date. Also, players are unhappy at playing games right at the end of their contract since that would raise the issue of financial support if a player is injured at such a time.

Amidst all this crisis, many important figures in football have been tested positive for COVID-19, such as Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager. He was diagnosed last Thursday and since then the team’s London Colney training center has been closed. The Gunners are still training in self-isolation as the coronavirus pandemic takes hold of the footballing world. Arteta is recovering well though, and reports suggest the north London side could be back in training next week ahead of a possible resumption of matches.

The Premier League is set to resume on the 4th of April after which the north-Londoners will face relegation candidates Norwich City upon their return to domestic matters if all goes according to plan. In other news, Arsenal are resigned to losing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona this summer and are demanding a €55m (£51.5m) fee.

Aubameyang has been the Gunners’ standout player this season, scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions. He has 61 goals in 96 games since signing from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018. He also hailed praise from ex-Arsenal legend, Nigel Winterburn who claimed: “Without a shadow of a doubt, Aubameyang will be Arsenal’s most important player this season.”

However, the 30-year-old having rebuffed attempts to tie him down to a new contract at the Emirates Stadium is now prepared to make a move to Barca. Barcelona will seek to agree on personal terms with Aubameyang before making an approach to the Gunners, in the hope of driving down the asking price once they are certain the player wants to make the move to Camp Nou. With Arsenal facing another season without Champions League football, they are hopeful he will.