Sam Allardyce questions deadline-day Premier League fixtures

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has questioned the Premier League for scheduling matches on the evening of deadline day.

The Toffees play Leicester City on Wednesday, with a 7.45pm kickoff meaning that the clubs are unlikely to continue transfer negotiations following the fixture.

Allardyce has lamented the move, and told The Independent that the schedule could impact upon his squad on the day.

"My focus is not on the transfer window because unfortunately yet again the Premier League have decided to play a game right on the transfer window deadline," he said. "We had to suffer this last season. Clearly at the AGM they didn't think it was worthy of not doing it this time around.

"I give you an example: I pick a team today and tomorrow splashed in the paper is one of those players is going to be sold before the window shuts - how is that player going to approach that game? It certainly isn't [right] but we have to cope with it.

"I don't know why we play these fixtures at this particular time. I'll probably be [at Everton's training ground] in the morning until mid-afternoon and then I will put it all to bed and get out of it and get myself ready to meet the players and the game."

Everton's fixture against Leicester is followed by a clash with Arsenal on Sunday.