Billions exchange hands as premier league kicks off
FUELLED by a historically lavish spending spree, the Premier League returned last night when Arsenal hosted Leicester in the opening game of the hotly-anticipated new season.
Taking advantage of astronomical broadcast contracts and lucrative sponsorship deals, England’s superpowers have been splashing the cash at an unprecedented rate.
Since the end of last season, transfer records have been shattered across the country as over £1 billion (R17.4 billion) has changed hands in a frenzy that could well set a new high for a single window.
Desperate to dethrone champions Chelsea, club record fees have been paid by Manchester United, who splurged a British record £75 million (R1.31 billion) for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, Arsenal, who forked out £52 million (R909.7 million) on Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette and Liverpool, who put down £37 million (R646 million) for Roma winger Mohamed Salah.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola set the tone with a series of early deals that took his spending in this window to an eye-watering £218 million (R3.8 billion).
Guardiola’s old rival Jose Mourinho hasn’t been shy about raiding the United coffers, with the Lukaku swoop headlining a £140 million (R2.44 billion) spree that also brought Benfica defender Victor Lindelof and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic to Old Trafford.
Mourinho won the league in his second seasons at Porto, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, as well as in both of his stints at Chelsea but he expects this season’s title race to be an almighty scrap.
The no limits spending of Chelsea’s title rivals prompted a tetchy response from Stamford Bridge, where boss Antonio Conte has been grumbling about his club’s failure to land Lukaku and several other targets.
Conte has done his best to get Blues owner Roman Abramovich to throw his financial muscle behind Chelsea’s title defence.
A club record £58 million (R1.01 billion) lured Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata from the European champions, while Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger also joined Chelsea, whose spending climbed over £130 million (R2.26 billion).
Last night the league kicked off when Arsenal, fresh from their Community Shield victory over Chelsea, faced Leicester in the season opener at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger brokered a fragile truce with Arsenal’s dissenting fans by winning the FA Cup last season but the Gunners boss has no margin for error after going 13 years without Premier League glory.
The bulk of the opening weekend’s fixtures will be played today and tomorrow, with Chelsea starting at home to Burnley.
City travel to new-boys Brighton, back in the top tier after a 34-year absence, while United host West Ham. Liverpool are at Watford.
Despite finishing second last season, Tottenham, who face promoted Newcastle tomorrow, have boldly abstained from the spending and are yet to make a single signing. Fixtures: Today: Watford v Liverpool, Chelsea v Burnley, Crystal Palace v Huddersfield, Everton v Stoke, Southampton v Swansea, West Brom v Bournemouth, Brighton v Manchester City
Tomorrow: Newcastle v Tottenham, Manchester United v West Ham. — AFP