It's an excellent report on Transfer dealings by Swiss Ramble out today - this one isn't for subscribers only. We've spent peanuts really. Chelsea are just a joke. https://swissramble.substack.com/p/transfers-summer-2024
Conclusion Even though the Premier League has reduced its transfer spend this summer, it still splashed out around £2.4 bln, which is not exactly small change. This was not only more than twice as much as the next highest league, but actually more than La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A put together. In fact, 12 of the 20 clubs with the highest gross spend this summer came from England’s top flight, including the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth and Southampton, while Brighton had the highest net spend in the world with Ipswich Town in third place. Clearly, less money has been spent in the transfer market this summer, but, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the Premier League’s death would appear to have been greatly exaggerated.
Premier League – Last 5 Years The 5-year period really demonstrates the differences within the Premier League. Chelsea have been in a class of their own, at least when it comes to transfer spend, with £1.8 bln, while the rest of the top five places are also filled by the traditional elite: Manchester United £945m, Arsenal £911m, Manchester City £860m and Tottenham £857m. However, the other member of the Big Six, Liverpool, are back in ninth place with £560m, having been outspent by Aston Villa £668m, West Ham £600m and Newcastle United £574m.
It’s the same top three for player sales in the last five years as the last three years: Chelsea £844m, Manchester City £680m and Brighton £477m. Excluding newly promoted Ipswich Town, the lowest player sales were Crystal Palace £118m and Newcastle United £136m.
Aside from the large amounts spent by the Big Six, net spend in the last five years highlights the large amount of money spent by aspirational clubs in an attempt to break through the glass ceiling. In this way, Newcastle United have the fifth highest net spend of £438m, while West Ham and Aston Villa are also in the top eight with £293m and £278m respectively. The only club with net sales in this period is Everton.
I mean our issues aren’t related as such, but the fact they took them on and won could have massive repercussions. I can well imagine City’s case will be even easier to prove - but that’s the big one for me. I think there might be a number of clubs talking to lawyers this evening about anti-competition and the like.
The crux of it is that the PL tried to apply their rules to an EFL club. Their Independent Commission had no jurisdiction under PL rules and therefore acted ultra vires. A part of the judgement concerns the drafting of PL rules - criticized by two former Court of Appeal judges. Said rules are non compliant with competition law opening the floodgates to a claim that PSR rules are anti-competitive and that APT rules (the Man City case) are restraint of trade and anti-competition. PSR is finished. It's inevitable. It's whether the rules are relaxed voluntarily or removed due to a legal challenge. The latter will effectively break the cartel and bring down the PL. That is why the PL are "shocked and disappointed." They have been reigned in.
Is there anywhere to read this statement from these judges? Because if that’s true it’s game over for the PL immediately surely?
