With the January transfer window just hours away from opening, all eyes are on the Premier League’s big spenders. Who will complete the biggest marquee signing this winter?
We’ll be looking at the net spends of Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United to see who is in the best position to complete a major transfer at this current moment. While they all have negative transfer net spend, huge clubs such as these can afford to go above and beyond.
Net transfer spend, when defined, refers to the amount of money a club spends on players against the amount they receive in transfer fees. Only one club has a positive transfer spend in the Premier League - Brentford. Even then, it is only by a relatively small amount, standing at around £97,000.
Additionally, the team with the highest (or lowest, depending on your point of view) net spend doesn’t necessarily make them the largest spenders. Overall, teams in the Premier League have a cumulative net transfer spend of - £4,259,558,905.56.
17. West Ham
Five year transfer net spend: - £350.4 million | Getty Images
18. Chelsea
Five year transfer net spend: - £384.96 million | Getty Images
19. Arsenal
Five year net transfer spend: - £433.83 million | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
20. Manchester United
Five year transfer net spend: £539.46 million | AFP via Getty Images