Online Reporter
IT has already been a transfer window like no other. English Premier League football clubs have until September 1 to strengthen their squads and there have been huge deals every few days, with more still to come.
Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signing of Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres for £63,5 million, while his Sweden team-mate Alexander Isak revealed on Thursday he is considering leaving Newcastle.
The 25-year-old forward could cost as much as £150 million, with reigning champions Liverpool, who are the top spenders so far this summer, still maintaining an interest.
The Reds have already signed German international Florian Wirtz for a potential British record transfer of £116 million and France forward Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69 million fee, which could rise to £79 million.
A Super League in the English Premier League? Data from Transfer market, external shows English Premier League clubs have spent £1.63 billion (1.87 billion euros) on players since the transfer window first opened at the start of June.
Last season’s top four make up five of the biggest spenders this season, with Manchester United — looking to make up ground after finishing 15th — the outlier.
Of the total figure, just over £1 billion has come from six teams, the traditional so-called “big six” in the Premier League era — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Liverpool, who won the league by 10 points last season, are top of the list with £269 million spent so far this summer.
That includes the purchases of Wirtz and Ekitike, as well as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40,8 million and right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who cost almost £35 million from Bayer Leverkusen.
It has been a contrast to the 2024-2025 campaign, when the Anfield outfit’s only major signings were goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and forward Federico Chiesa, who joined for a combined total of less than £40 million.
Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League last season, have spent the second highest total this summer, with just over £212 million.
Their biggest moves have been a deal worth £60 million for Brighton forward Joao Pedro, left-winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for £56 million, and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap for £30 million.
Arsenal have been runners-up in each of the past three seasons and they would also pass the £200 million mark with the arrival of Gyokeres, having already spent £137 million. — BBC Sport
Bongani Ndlovu