Why Premier League's £295m January transfer window is a problem for the rest of Europe and EFL

Arsenal train in Dubai during winter break

Should Arsenal Activate Alexander Isak Release Clause Ahead Of Deadline Day

Spurs sign Juventus duo

Premier League Transfer Round-up - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set for Barcelona move

Chelsea Transfer 'Target' Ousmane Dembele Profile

Thomas Tuchel praises Ousmane Dembele

So it ends with a flurry of sorts and, above all, a return to normality. On a deadline day that became more about departures than arrivals for London’s clubs, spiced up by Pierre Emerick Aubameyang's premature arrival in Barcelona, the estimated £295million in spending brought top-flight clubs back to the expected level.

Should that put an end to talk of Covid-19 threatening to burst the bubble? For the Premier League, yes. For the rest of the game, clearly not and the squeeze has remained evident around Europe, with a majority of the continent’s big clubs cutting cloth without such broadcasting riches to prop them up.

According to the BBC, France, Germany, Italy and Spain combined spent £317million. The contrast with the EFL is stark, too, with about £20million paid in fees across the 72 clubs.

Helped substantially by Newcastle's arrival as a financial player, spending had surpassed last year's by the midpoint of the month and, as remarked by Deloitte, with a week remaining the gross outlay of £105million was not only £80million higher than the amount committed at the same point last year but £35million more than that window's total spend.

More than £90million of the £295million came from Tyneside, although the domino effect was limited aside from Burnley bringing in Wout Weghout to replace Chris Wood.

"This transfer window indicates that the financial pressures of Covid on Premier League clubs are easing,