Modric sale could kick start transfer window

The sale of Luka Modric  by Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for a fee of £27.8m, rising to a potential £33.3m, could kick start the transfer window as it enters what is always an increasingly frenzied last week.  Indeed, some commentators have argued that the window should close with the start of the season for the good of both clubs and players.

Premier League clubs have exchanged £200m less than they did last year, although much depends on what happens in the last 24 hours.   Chelsea are perhaps the only major club to have got their spending out of the way early, committing about £74m on attacking players.   Manchester City have failed to land any of their five targets so far.