#transfer-spending

#transfer-spending

Sunderland's summer transfer activity was the talk of the town during the recent window - and for good reason. The Black Cats added an entirely new starting XI to the squad which secured a return to the top flight via the Championship play-offs last season and have hit the ground running after their nine-year Premier League hiatus. Sunderland beat rivals to a number of signings, including the 30 million capture of Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, who was high on Leeds United's list of midfield targets.

All night he had watched Marcos Llorente fly up the wing; for the last half an hour he had watched his son do so too, all clenched jaw and bulging veins, stuck on fast forward, a determination so intense it looked like he might explode. Now it was the Atletico Madrid manager's turn, who had literally been on his knees for much of the night, sprinting up the touchline in his black suit and shiny shoes, screaming and let loose again.

Wrexham's early-season defensive frailties were on show as they were beaten 3-1 by Queens Park Rangers. Defeat by Julien Stephan's side at the Stok Cae Ras means Phil Parkinson's side sit 21st in the Championship table with five games played. It comes after Wrexham spent heavily over the summer - with their net spend being among that of Europe's elite - on the back of securing an historic third successive promotion.

This summer's transfer window once more highlighted the widening financial gap between La Liga and the Premier League. English clubs splashed out more than 3bn, with Liverpool's 125m signing of Alexander Isak the headline move. Spanish sides, by comparison, spent only 592m, well behind not just England but also Italy (1bn) and Germany (739m). The numbers reflect how much financial clout La Liga has lost in recent years.