August 31 – Premier League clubs look set to take their summer spending through the £1 billion barrier for the first time in what is expected to be the usual frenzied final day of business today before the window slams shut for six months.
Many believe spending should stop before the start of the season so that every top-flight club knows where it stands vis-a-vis the 19 others. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, for instance, says he “can’t wait for the day when the transfer window is closed,” and is surprised by the “obsession”.
But that will not stop the anticipated final-day splurge on new players.
Twelve clubs have set new transfer records for single deals, benefiting from the new bumper £5.1 billion television deal that kicked in this season. Spending has already surpassed the previous high of £870 million set last year and Arsenal’s £52 million double signing of Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi pushed top-flight summer business close to that £1 billion mark.
Going the other way is England goalkeeper Joe Hart who travelled to Torino for a medical on Monday after being released by Manchester City. The loan deal is expected to be announced formally today and once it is confirmed Hart will rejoin the England squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifying match in Slovakia.
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