Record for transfer window total is doubled

The Premier League has once again underlined its wealth when the January transfer window saw a record £150 million spent on new players.

This figure is more than double the previous record of £70m that was established in 2006.

The highest fee is that of £18.8m Liverpool forked out for Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano. This has become the biggest deal ever to be completed during the January transfer window.

It is understood that, although Mascherano has signed a four-year deal, it will not be officially announced until next week because he is already registered with the club on an unattached basis.

Most expensive deals by Premier League clubs during January:

2008 - J. Mascherano, unattached to Liverpool, £18.8m.

2007 - A. Young, Watford to Aston Villa, £9.65m.

2006 - N. Vidic, S. Moscow to Manchester Utd; D. Ashton, Norwich to West Ham, £7m.

2005 - J.A. Boumsong, Rangers to Newcastle, £8m.

2004 - L. Saha, Fulham to Manchester United, £12.8m.

2003 - J. Woodgate, Leeds Utd to Newcastle, £9m.

Other news of interest for January:

Michael Mifsud scores a brace in Coventry City's shock 4-2 FA Cup win over Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.

Other upsets in the third round of the FA Cup: Bolton-Sheffield United 0-1, Everton-Oldham 0-1, Huddersfield-Birmingham 2-1.

Sam Allardyce, of Newcastle, becomes the eighth Premier League manager to get the sack this season.

Hibernian appoint Mixu Paatelainen as their new boss.

QPR co-owner and Renault F1 team boss Italian Flavio Briatore lauds sport in Britain for fair play.

Manchester United post stunning profits of £59.6 million for the 12 months to June 2007 to reclaim their status as the world's richest club.

Nicolas Anelka's £15m move to Chelsea makes him the most expensive player in the history of the game as his combined fees have now risen to £87m in the transfer market.

FA Cup third round replay surprise wins: Bury-Norwich 2-1, Havant and Waterlooville-Swansea 4-2, Bristol Rovers-Fulham 0-0, 5-3 on penalties.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is named coach of UEFA 2007 Top Team. Premier League players to star in the side are John Terry (Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and Didier Drogba (Chelsea).

Luton, one of the clubs in administration, sack Kevin Blackwell and appoint ex-favourite Mick Harford.

Ex-Fulham boss Chris Coleman quits Spanish side Real Sociedad.

Tottenham reach the League Cup final following a remarkable 5-1 victory (6-2 aggregate) over Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

Chelsea join London neighbours Spurs in the final after their 1-0 win (3-1 on aggregate) at Everton.

Kevin Keegan returns to Newcastle to replace Allardyce. After his presentation to the fans, Keegan says he has high hopes of bringing back stability to the club.

George Burley leaves Southampton to take up the vacant managerial job with Scotland's national side. John Gorman and Jason Dodd take over at St Mary's Stadium permanently.

In the fourth round of the FA Cup, Derby are humbled at home 4-1 by Championship side Preston. In another cup upset, Manchester City go down at home 1-2 to Sheffield United (Championship).

In the same round of the FA Cup, Michael Mifsud scores the winning goal for Coventry in the 2-1 win over Millwall at the Ricoh Arena.

Premier side Gretna are beaten by First Division side Morton at home 3-0 in a fourth round replay of the Scottish Cup.

Dennis Wise leaves Leeds to become Newcastle's executive director. Gary McAllister fills the hot seat at Elland Road.

Rangers reach League Cup final after a 2-0 win over Hearts at Hampden Park.

Brechin are thrown out of the Scottish FA Cup after fielding two ineligible players in their victory over Hamilton. The latter will take Brechin's place in the quarter-finals.