Financial football. Is Arnault kicking around an €890m deal for AC Milan?
September 17 – AC Milan are being linked with a takeover by the world’s second richest man, Bernard Arnault, though reports of a £890 million deal have been denied.
Finance
Wolves’ Chinese owners said to be seeking £70m minority investment
By David Owen
September 16 – Reports have started circulating that Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Chinese owners are open to selling 20% of the club, as they seek to build on what has so far been a successful return to English top-flight football.
Spain break $1bn in transfer spend as Big 5 account for 75% of global spend
September 13 – FIFA has released the 12th edition of its Big 5 Transfer Window Analysis report that examines the activity in the big five European markets of England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in the Summer 2019 transfer window.
Agents cashed in with $529.3m in fees in Summer transfer window
By Paul Nicholson
September 11 – Intermediaries earned a massive $529.3 million in commissions in the last transfer window, according to data from FIFA TMS (transfer match system) covering the summer transfer window.
Man City’s Billion Euro babies top club value ranking, Man Utd are 4th, Liverpool 7th
September 10 – Manchester City are the world’s first billion euro squad by transfer value, with a combined player cost of €1.014 billion following activity in the summer transfer window just closed.
Barça on course to break €1bn revenue mark but development costs rise
By Paul Nicholson
September 10 – FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that the club is on course to break the €1 billion revenue barrier for the 2019/20 season, and set a new football club record.
Unfinished business: Neymar could be back in Barcelona by Christmas
By Paul Nicholson in Edinburgh
September 5 – PSG’s €200 million star Neymar Jnr could leave the club as early January for Barcelona, though more likely at the end of the season if PSG play him in Champions League matches before the Winter transfer opens.
Bayern bounce past €750m revenue mark
September 5 –Bayern Munich joined became the second Europe’s giant clubs to announce revenues of slightly more than €750 million following on from Real Madrid’s posting of €757 million last week.
Clubs face financial risks as cost of players balloons by 31% in a year, says report
September 5 – The €6.6 billion spent in the European summer transfer window represents a 31% increase in the price of players compared to the previous year, according to figures from the CIES Football Observatory.
Bury cling to lifeline as EFL says it will discuss re-entry with member clubs
September 4 – The story of the expulsion of former English Football League club Bury may yet have another chapter, with the EFL board bowing to public pressure and saying it will discuss with other member clubs the possibility of allowing Bury re-entry at League Two level.
Record summer transfer spend in Europe as Big Four try to close gap with Premier League
By David Owen
September 3 – The early end to the transfer window may have taken the edge off summer spending by clubs in England’s Premier League, but their rivals elsewhere in Europe did not hold back from splashing the cash.
Real Madrid post €757m revenue figure and €53.5m profit
September 2 – Real Madrid have announced operating revenue of €757.3 million for the 2018/19 season, a 0.8% increase on the previous season.
Money talks, b******t walks? EFL refuse to revisit Bury expulsion after money shows up
August 30 – Within days of Bury becoming the first English professional team to go out of business for 27 years, the English Football League have been accused of acting too hastily after an investment company reportedly came up with £7 million proof of funds to take over the League One (third-tier) club.
Bolton back in business after Football Ventures finally completes acquisition
August 29 – Twenty-four hours after the demise of Bury, the first English club in 27 years to go out of business, fellow third-tier Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in the domestic game with a long and illustrious history, have avoided a similar fate by being sold at the 11th hour.
EFL ends Bury’s 125-year league history; Bolton given two-week reprieve
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – In what will go down as one of the darkest days in recent English football history, Bury, one of the country’s oldest clubs, were expelled from the Football League (EFL) on Tuesday after failing to resolve their financial problems, the first English club to go out of business for 27 years.