The gross spend was 90 per cent higher than the previous record of £430m in 2018 and almost triple the previous January window (£295m)

Clubs’ gross spend was £440m by 3pm on Tuesday.

Mr Fitzgerald's questions were aired in proceedings brought against him by Pepper Finance and receiver James Anderson of Deloitte who have brought proceedings against the Waterford senior hurling manager over a house in Co Clare

The Irish High Court also heard on Tuesday that the current Waterford senior hurling manager is fighting proceedings taken against him by a receiver and "a vulture fund" aimed at securing possession of a property, owned by Mr Fitzgerald and where his sister Helen lives

Chelsea spent more than any other Premier League club, forking out £157.8m more than they did last summer.

It is not out of the question that the all-time record in a Premier League season could be broken.

Revenues across the Premier League grew by eight per cent.