EFL CLUBS have not declared a PENNY in January transfer fees.
The astonishing lack of spending is the clearest sign yet of a collapse in the market due to coronavirus.
Derby signed Teden Mengi on loan from Manchester United in one of the most high-profile temporary deals in the EFLCredit: Rex Features
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Across Europe, as expected, deals were down markedly from this time last year, when Premier League clubs alone spent £230million.
This year top-flight deals were worth less than £100m, with similar declines across Europe.
But the change was even more graphic in the EFL.
The vast majority of signings were loans, with a number of free transfers and “undisclosed” deals.
Championship clubs spent £60m in January 2019 and £37m a year later but did not declare a single fee this time round.
Analysts at Football Index predicted the market across the Big Five leagues would be down 61 per cent, with Premier League clubs recording a transfer deficit of less than £50m.
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That comes despite Prem teams splashing £1.3billion on players in the summer, despite the Covid crisis.
Elsewhere the National League wants a Government rethink to stop clubs folding. The league’s three divisions will vote this week on abandoning the season.
It comes after clubs were told £11m in Government money will be in loans and not grants, as expected.
Dagenham and Redbridge’s Steve Thompson said: “I fear maybe a third of clubs in the National League will not be able to keep going if this money is not another grant.”
Fifa President Gianni Infantino says health is the number one priority and they will monitor the situation with regards to international games
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
