Defenders see Premier League clubs break January transfer window spending record
High-profile moves are expected to raise the bar as the biggest-spending January transfer window in Premier League history concludes.
Focus is heightening as clubs look to get deals over the line before Wednesday's 11pm deadline.
Virgil van Dijk's record-breaking £75million switch from Southampton to Liverpool ignited a window that saw Aymeric Laporte join Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao in a club-record £57million deal on the penultimate day.
More big-money moves are in the pipeline, and analysis from Deloitte's Sports Business Group shows the record January outlay of £225million in 2011 has already been broken.
"We can confirm that Premier League clubs have broken through the record for total spending in a January transfer window, which was previously £225million, set in the January 2011 window," Dan Jones, partner and head of Deloitte's Sports Business Group, told Press Association Sport.
"We expect to see further significant expenditure on deadline day.
"Given the Premier League clubs' record broadcast, commercial and matchday revenues, the level of spending is not surprising and, importantly, Premier League clubs are spending within their means.
"Their ability to generate these record revenues and attract the quality playing talent from across the globe continues to drive the Premier League's status as the most commercially successful football league in the world."
