The huge spending spree by Premier League clubs in the January window has upset EFL owners who are struggling to survive.
Gillingham chairman Paul Scally branded the £295m spent on transfers as “obscene and disgusting” and insisted it will only strengthen recommendations in Tracey Crouch’s report that Prem clubs should do more to help the football pyramid.
But there is an eye-catching and very surprising figure which shows Premier League clubs are putting big money into the EFL when it comes to buying players from the Championship, Leagues One and Two.
Incredibly, from the summer window of 2019, Premier League clubs have spent more than HALF A BILLION on players from the EFL which is a pretty strong counter-argument when it comes to the top flight filtering money down through the football pyramid.
There have been some huge moves during that time from Arsenal ’s £30m spent on Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United, Tottenham ’s £25m spent on Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham and James Maddison joining Leicester from Norwich for £20m.
Plus the likes of Ben Godfrey, Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma moving from the Championship into the Premier League.
It does not even include perhaps the biggest star of all, Jude Bellingham, moving from Birmingham to Borussia Dortmund for £30m.
Talks are still ongoing about implementing findings from Crouch’s review such as a bigger transfer levy from transfers filtering down into the EFL to help ailing clubs.
But Derby’s current crisis certainly does not help the argument. Prem clubs are adamant that is the worst possible example, because why should they bail out a club which has spent and been run so recklessly? Sadly, it leaves the fans caught in the middle and are the biggest victims of all.
Spurs face hidden rivals in contest for TV ratings
Tottenham's FA Cup tie with Brighton will be on ITV4 and go up against The Masked Singer on Saturday night.
That is because ITV clearly did not fancy putting the fourth-round tie in the usual teatime slot as it would have been up against the rugby when Scotland face England in the Six Nations on BBC1.
ITV did not want to disrupt their prime time Saturday night viewing by disrupting the hugely popular Masked Singer to make way for football, but the cup tie is certain to top the non-terrestrial viewing charts.
Former England striker Michael Owen was a massive hit on the Masked Singer before finally being revealed and kicked off the show last week.
Tottenham and Brighton - along with all 12 teams whose games are being shown live this weekend - will get £110,000 each - and if Kidderminster did pull off another upset by beating West Ham, they would pocket another £90,000 in prize money.
No-one should underestimate the value of the FA Cup to lower league clubs. Football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson, of Sheffield Hallam University, estimates that Kidderminster’s cup run is set to generate around £1.3m.
Giant-killing Kidderminster have earned in excess of £500,000 from prize money, broadcast fees and commercial revenues while the cup run has been worth almost £800,000 to the local economy with the West Ham tie generating almost £300,000 alone.
Top Premier League club makes capital gains with youngster
One Premier League club has been successful in appealing to the FA and Premier League to allow them to relocate one of their best young players and his family from one part of London to another.
Incentives such as buying houses and big pay-outs to family members are a strict no-no under transfer rules for clubs when it comes to acquiring young players.
But this club was able to prove word got out among the youngster’s estate that he was signing for a big club and, for the sake and safety of his family, they were able to move them.
One million fans to end Super League plans once and for all?
The Football Supporters Europe are hoping to collect one million signatures to block any form of Super League ever happening again.
The European Commission has approved a citizens’ initiative - including the FSE - entitled “win it on the pitch” which is designed to protect the future of football “based on values, solidarity, sustainability and open competition.”
They will need one million backers from at least seven member states within the next year to ensure the EC puts down legislation to stop the Super League being broached again.
