PREMIER LEAGUE
The cashed-up English Premier League led a record-breaking
raid by Europe's top clubs before the transfer window slams shut Wednesday,
with Arsenal alone paying more than €60 million for German defender Shkodran
Mustafi and Spanish striker Lucas Perez.
The Premier League's TV riches have fuelled transfer
inflation across the continent, with Inter Milan and Barcelona paying top
dollar for Brazil's exciting Olympic gold medal-winning striker Gabriel
'Gabigol' Barbosa and Valencia goal-scorer Paco Alcacer respectively.
About €50 million were spent on the pair and most analysts
predict European spending will easily be the highest yet when the two-month
transfer window closes -- between 1600 GMT for the Bundesliga to 2200 GMT for
the Premier League.
Spending by England's 20-club Premier League alone was
expected to bust the £1 billion barrier after Manchester United set a new world
record with the 89 million pound purchase this month of French midfielder Paul
Pogba.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was one of the late
big-spenders. The Gunners, eighth in the early standings, spent an estimated
£35 million to bring German international defender Mustafi from Valencia.
"He is at the right age," Wenger said of the
24-year-old, who was in Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning squad. "And he
has good experience," Wenger added of the big defender who was in the
German team that reached the semi-finals at Euro 2016.
Arsenal paid another £17 million for Deportivo La Coruna
striker Perez, according to media reports, while they have also bought
Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, Japanese forward Takuma Asano and young
English centre-back Rob Holding.
"He’s not only a goalscorer, he’s a guy who combines
well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs," said
Wenger of Perez.
Arsenal defender Serge Gnabry returned to Germany with Werder
Bremen.
PREMIER PRICES
Inter Milan confirmed the signing of Barbosa on his 20th
birthday late on Tuesday.
"Gabigol is an Inter player," the Serie A giants
said in a statement, announcing a five-year contract.
Inter did not release financial details but Gazzetta dello
Sport website reported Inter paid the Brazilian club 27.5m euros for 'Gabigol',
who has drawn comparisons with Neymar.
Spain international Alcacer joined Barcelona from Valencia in
a €30 million, five-year deal, the Catalan side announced.
The 20-year-old, who scored 13 goals in 34 appearances for
Valencia last season, will heighten competition in the Barcelona frontline
already led by Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Other big-name deals are likely as top players seek a regular
game in increasingly competitive squads. Chelsea let French international
striker Loic Remy go on loan to Crystal Palace for one season. Palace are also
among contenders to take Arsenal's England midfielder Jack Wilshere on loan.
Manchester City's out-of-favour England goalkeeper Joe Hart
was set to complete a move to Torino in Italy. In France, just six months after
signing for Monaco, Brazilian Vagner Love has moved to Alanyaspor in Turkey,
another country where clubs have become big spenders.
But the English Premier League's £5.14bn, three-season
television deal has set a pace that few other championships can keep up with.
Christian Heidel, sporting director for German club Schalke
said the Premier League has forced up prices everywhere.
"If English managers are on the phone, then the
(transfer) sums are automatically higher," Heidel said on a talk show for
Kicker magazine.
"If the negotiations are within Germany, then it is
often difficult to exclude the higher sums from England."
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