Although it is not yet possible to give a precise estimate of how much top clubs spent in the January transfer window, it is clear that clubs threw caution to the winds as the deadline approached. £135m changed hands on deadline day. Radio 5 estimated the total in the transfer window this morning at £218m, well past the previous £175m record for the January window.
Although it is not yet possible to give a precise estimate of how much top clubs spent in the January transfer window, it is clear that clubs threw caution to the winds as the deadline approached. £135m changed hands on deadline day. Radio 5 estimated the total in the transfer window this morning at £218m, well past the previous £175m record for the January window.
The top fees included £50m for Fernando Torres as Roman Abramovich tries to ensure that Chelsea secures a Champions League place. The £35m that Liverpool spent on Andy Carroll is something of a gamble as it is based on potential rather than actual achievements. It prices each goal he has scored in the top flight at over £1m.
It’s perhaps significant that the two top clubs in the table, Arsenal and Manchester United, did not feel a need to go into the transfer market. Chelsea also spent about £25m on the defender David Luiz from Benfica while Liverpool spent £23m on Uruguay striker Luis Suárez.
Alex Byars from Deloitte’s sports business group commented, ‘Given the doom and gloom around, these figures will seem staggering to some people but football clubs’ revenues are more secure than businesses in the wider economy because of their long-term broadcast and sponsorship deals and the fact they’re still playing to largely full stadiums.’