There is "much to mull over" with England's 20 top-flight clubs heading toward "breaking their own spending record" of £1.17B in last year's window when £155M "changed hands on a frantic final day," according to Neil Robinson of REUTERS. Further riches have "since flowed into the world's most lucrative league" with champion Chelsea netting £153.2M ($197.8M) as last season's share of the record £5.14B ($6.64B) TV rights deal and Sunderland's relegation being "cushioned" by a £99.9M ($129M) prize for "finishing bottom." Only a "select few clubs across Europe can access such riches," so the Premier League, "and its inflated wages," is again looking like the "destination of choice for many players across the world." Man City has "begun the binge," lavishing £43M ($55.5M) on Ligue 1 side Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva and £34.9M ($45.1M) on Primeira Liga club Benfica's Ederson, a British record for a goalkeeper. Liverpool appears "poised to break" its own transfer record by paying Serie A side AS Roma "in excess of" £35M ($45.2M) for winger Mohamed Salah. All this comes before the "most likely" big spender, ManU, enters the market. Although Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann have "distanced themselves from moves to Old Trafford," Real Madrid player Alvaro Morata is "being linked with the club." Arsenal is also "expected to spend heavily after the disappointment of missing out on Champions League football" (REUTERS, 6/5).
