National Business Matthew Ord

Premier League clubs are expected to "comfortably surpass" the record spend for a summer transfer window, according to Deloitte, having already forked out an "extraordinary amount".

As of noon on 1 August 2017, which represents one month before deadline day brings an end to proceedings, top flight teams have spent £910m on buying players. At the same stage last year, this figure was at £480m.

Analysis by Deloitte's Sports Business Group shows that average transfer expenditure per Premier League club is £46m so far this window, compared to the £58m average for the entirety of summer 2016's dealings.

Chris Stenson, manager in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: "The combination of record broadcast, commercial and match day revenues continues to fuel extraordinary levels of transfer expenditure in the Premier League.

"Clubs have already spent more in this window than they did throughout the entire summer 2015 window. With one month still to go, we expect this summer's total to comfortably surpass the previous record of £1.165bn, set in summer 2016.

"Indeed, last summer, £685m – almost 60 per cent of total transfer expenditure – was spent in the final month of the window."

Some of the window's biggest deals include Manchester United spending £75m on Romelu Lukaku and £40m on Nemanja Matic, Manchester City buying Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy for £51m and £52m respectively, Liverpool paying £39m for Mohamed Salah, Chelsea forking out £58m for Alvaro Morata and Arsenal acquiring the services of Alexandre Lacazette for £46.4m.

Tottenham are the only team yet to sign a player.

Picture credit: Manchester United FC