Business analysts Deloitte revealed that Premier League clubs have spent £475M ($634M) "in the month since the summer transfer window opened" on July 1, according to the BBC. The figure compares with £515M at the same stage in '15 and an £870M outlay in the whole of the '15 summer window. Leroy Sane's £37M ($49M) move to Man City, confirmed on Tuesday, "is not included in the figures." Deloitte said that "gross outlay could rise" above £1B ($1.3B) for the first time before the window closes on Aug. 31. ManU could "bump up the spending significantly" if its reported £100M ($133M) move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba goes through. Deloitte Senior Manager Alex Thorpe said, "The prospect of increased revenue from the new broadcast deals next season has encouraged Premier League clubs to invest in this window in order to be as competitive as possible." BBC Sport estimated that £300M ($400M) had been spent "in the first week of the summer transfer window," with ManU bringing in attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal for a combined £56M ($74.7M).
BIG DEALS TO COME: France int'l Pogba's potential return to Old Trafford -- the 23-year-old left the Premier League club when his contract expired in '12 -- "could break the world transfer record" of £85.3M that Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Gareth Bale in Sept. '13. Chelsea reportedly wants "to buy back striker Romelu Lukaku, 23, from Everton" -- expected to cost the Stamford Bridge club £60M-£75M ($80M-$100M). Everton could also lose England center-back John Stones, with Man City Manager Pep Guardiola "confirming his interest in the 22-year-old," thought to be valued at £50M ($66.7M) by his current club (BBC, 8/2).
