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Transfer window dominated by overseas signings

David Conn observes that the transfer window has seen big signings of overseas players with England's participation in the World Cup a distant memory: Premier League financial power

Conn notes, 'The Premier League is so financially dominant now, its £8.4bn 2016-19 TV deals are double those of the next richest league, the Bundesliga, and a similar bounty is all but sealed up to 2022. So its clubs can buy and pay seductive wages to almost any player they fancy, apart from the topmost stars still residing at the rich handful of clubs in Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Paris and Turin.'

Everton, Fulham and Leicester all made big-money signings as the earliest transfer deadline in Premier League history came to life late in the day. However, the amount spent in the window by Premier League clubs fell for the first time in eight years, to £1.2bn. Tottenham and Manchester United made no signings on 9 August. Spurs became the first Premier League club to not make a summer signing since the current transfer window system was adopted in 2003.

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