<p>Around Europe, football is waking up from the coronavirus shutdown, but it is different to before for players and supporters and it is changing behind the scenes too.</p>.<p>While the German Bundesliga returns in stadiums devoid of fans, the sport is preparing for an economic crisis which will impact all levels of the game.</p>.<p>That will be particularly visible in the transfer market, where it has become the norm to see leading clubs splash out 100 million-euro fees.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-in-india-news-live-updates-total-cases-deaths-flights-trains-today-schedule-mumbai-delhi-kolkata-bengaluru-maharashtra-gujarat-west-bengal-tamil-nadu-covid-19-tracker-today-worldometer-update-lockdown-4-latest-news-838583.html" target="_blank">For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>Damien Comolli has observed events from afar having left his role at Turkish club Fenerbahce in January.</p>.<p>The ex-Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur sporting director told AFP he foresees fees dropping by "between 30 and 50 percent compared to the usual prices, and a reduction of 70-75 percent in terms of activity."</p>.<p>In particular, the loss to clubs from matchday revenue as a result of games being played behind closed doors will impact budgets.</p>.<p>When it comes to signing players, those in charge of recruitment at clubs have also simply not been able to do their jobs.</p>.<p>"The biggest part of my job is following up on targets for the next transfer windows," says Martyn Glover, head of scouting and recruitment at English Premier League side Southampton.</p>.<p>Scouts usually spend much of their time clocking up road and air miles to watch prospective signings in action.</p>.<p>"I would expect to be abroad every week at some point," says Glover, who previously worked at Everton.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>"I might fly to Paris to watch PSG and then the next day to Germany to watch somebody else. My week would probably be three or four live games of football."</p>.<p>Robert McKenzie has a similar a role at Belgian second-tier outfit Leuven, who in 2017 were taken over by King Power, the Thai owners of Leicester City.</p>.<p>Usually he would be on the road watching up to 20 games a month, eyeing up targets.</p>.<p>"The current situation obviously has significant implications for what has historically been the most important part of the process: the assessment of players in live games," he tells AFP.</p>.<p>"I do often think to myself when will be the next time I'm actually sat in a football stadium watching a game? Who knows!"</p>.<p>However, he acknowledges that the shutdown has afforded him the luxury of time to take stock and assess options.</p>.<p>In contrast, Newcastle United made headlines when their head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, was placed on furlough along with the whole scouting department, stopping a crucial section of the club from functioning.</p>.<p>In any case, how can a Premier League club plan for the summer window without knowing if they will still be a top-flight club next season, or if this season will restart, with all the financial consequences?</p>.<p>"There are too many imponderables," says Glover.</p>.<p>"We are not a club who might spend 80 million on a player anyway.</p>.<p>"I am sure there will be some opportunities that present themselves by the nature of what has happened, both at home and abroad, but the hardest part is the finances."</p>.<p>Glover admits the way his job is done could change forever. Comolli helped introduce data use and analytics into English football and believes that approach will become more widespread.</p>.<p>"Maybe more and more clubs will use data and statistics instead of live scouting and maybe clubs will also investigate more the player himself, their families, the way they live.</p>.<p>"If I had one chance to go and watch a player live or one chance to meet him and his family, I would take the opportunity to go and meet him."</p>.<p>He believes those clubs who already placed the emphasis on video scouting and data can emerge from the crisis with their teams unscathed.</p>.<p>Even clubs lower down may emerge stronger. That includes Leuven, although they must await the outcome of a play-off in August to see which division they will be in next season.</p>.<p>"I think there may be opportunities that arise for us as a club as a result of the current situation which were previously thought not possible," insists McKenzie.</p>
<p>Around Europe, football is waking up from the coronavirus shutdown, but it is different to before for players and supporters and it is changing behind the scenes too.</p>.<p>While the German Bundesliga returns in stadiums devoid of fans, the sport is preparing for an economic crisis which will impact all levels of the game.</p>.<p>That will be particularly visible in the transfer market, where it has become the norm to see leading clubs splash out 100 million-euro fees.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-in-india-news-live-updates-total-cases-deaths-flights-trains-today-schedule-mumbai-delhi-kolkata-bengaluru-maharashtra-gujarat-west-bengal-tamil-nadu-covid-19-tracker-today-worldometer-update-lockdown-4-latest-news-838583.html" target="_blank">For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>Damien Comolli has observed events from afar having left his role at Turkish club Fenerbahce in January.</p>.<p>The ex-Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur sporting director told AFP he foresees fees dropping by "between 30 and 50 percent compared to the usual prices, and a reduction of 70-75 percent in terms of activity."</p>.<p>In particular, the loss to clubs from matchday revenue as a result of games being played behind closed doors will impact budgets.</p>.<p>When it comes to signing players, those in charge of recruitment at clubs have also simply not been able to do their jobs.</p>.<p>"The biggest part of my job is following up on targets for the next transfer windows," says Martyn Glover, head of scouting and recruitment at English Premier League side Southampton.</p>.<p>Scouts usually spend much of their time clocking up road and air miles to watch prospective signings in action.</p>.<p>"I would expect to be abroad every week at some point," says Glover, who previously worked at Everton.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>"I might fly to Paris to watch PSG and then the next day to Germany to watch somebody else. My week would probably be three or four live games of football."</p>.<p>Robert McKenzie has a similar a role at Belgian second-tier outfit Leuven, who in 2017 were taken over by King Power, the Thai owners of Leicester City.</p>.<p>Usually he would be on the road watching up to 20 games a month, eyeing up targets.</p>.<p>"The current situation obviously has significant implications for what has historically been the most important part of the process: the assessment of players in live games," he tells AFP.</p>.<p>"I do often think to myself when will be the next time I'm actually sat in a football stadium watching a game? Who knows!"</p>.<p>However, he acknowledges that the shutdown has afforded him the luxury of time to take stock and assess options.</p>.<p>In contrast, Newcastle United made headlines when their head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, was placed on furlough along with the whole scouting department, stopping a crucial section of the club from functioning.</p>.<p>In any case, how can a Premier League club plan for the summer window without knowing if they will still be a top-flight club next season, or if this season will restart, with all the financial consequences?</p>.<p>"There are too many imponderables," says Glover.</p>.<p>"We are not a club who might spend 80 million on a player anyway.</p>.<p>"I am sure there will be some opportunities that present themselves by the nature of what has happened, both at home and abroad, but the hardest part is the finances."</p>.<p>Glover admits the way his job is done could change forever. Comolli helped introduce data use and analytics into English football and believes that approach will become more widespread.</p>.<p>"Maybe more and more clubs will use data and statistics instead of live scouting and maybe clubs will also investigate more the player himself, their families, the way they live.</p>.<p>"If I had one chance to go and watch a player live or one chance to meet him and his family, I would take the opportunity to go and meet him."</p>.<p>He believes those clubs who already placed the emphasis on video scouting and data can emerge from the crisis with their teams unscathed.</p>.<p>Even clubs lower down may emerge stronger. That includes Leuven, although they must await the outcome of a play-off in August to see which division they will be in next season.</p>.<p>"I think there may be opportunities that arise for us as a club as a result of the current situation which were previously thought not possible," insists McKenzie.</p>