Premier League Spending Could Break £1bn
This summer’s spending spree by Barclays Premier League clubs could yet break the £1 billion mark this year, before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday.
On Sunday night, around £780 million had already been spent by England’s top division clubs on new signings, eclipsing the total outlay for the whole of the previous season, with more likely to come.
Last year £123 million was spent on the final day, and should a similar figure be spent today it would make 2014 the first calendar year in which more than £1 billion had been invested by Premier League teams in the market.
In the last two summer windows more than 20% of teams’ spending occurred on deadline day.
It would also put 2014/15 on course to become the first £1 billion season, providing the January window witnesses similar spending levels to last season.
Helped by a £5.5 billion broadcast deal, this summer’s figure has already comfortably passed the record £630?million spent 12 months ago.
The recent activity at Manchester United has seen the club hit almost £150 million into the market – including smashing the British transfer record to land Angel di Maria for nearly £60 million.
The club’s failure to claim a single victory from Van Gaal’s first four games in charge suggests that more reinforcements could well follow, with reports linking United with Juventus’s Chilean forward Arturo Vidal amongst others.
