2011 was a record year for Premier League clubs in terms of transfer activity. Share Analysts revealed that £710m was spent over the course of the year. The previous record spending level was £675m in 2008.

Research by the Deloitte group showed that Premier League clubs spent £485m this summer − an increase of 33 per cent on last year’s amount − and £225m in January for a record transfer expenditure this year.

Despite the economic difficulties, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all spent over £50m on new players this year.

Chelsea forked out a British record of £50m on Fernando Torres from Liverpool while Manchester City spent £38m on Sergio Aguero.

Other items of interest for August:

• Hearts sack manager Jim Jefferies and appoint Paulo Sergio (ex-Sporting Lisbon).

• US beer company Budweiser is named as the first US sponsor of English football’s FA Cup, in a three-year deal.

• Rangers bow out of the Champions League third qualifying round, drawing at Malmo 1-1 (1-2 aggregate) after they had two players sent off.

• In the Europa League third qualifying round second legs, Hearts beat Paksi 4-1 at home for a 5-2 aggregate. Other results: Hajduk Split-Stoke 0-1 (0-2), Fulham-RNK Split 2-0 (2-0).

• Manchester United lift the Community Shield, beating Manchester City 3-2 at Wembley.

• The friendly international between England and the Netherlands, due to have taken place at Wembley, is called off because of rioting in London.

• In a European qualifier, Northern Ireland beat the Faroe Islands 4-0 at home (Hughes, Davis, McCourt 2).

• Scotland beat Denmark 2-1 (Jorgensen og, Snodgrass) in a friendly at Hampden Park. Other results: Ireland-Croatia 0-0, Wales-Australia 1-2 (Blake).

• In a Champions League play-off, first-leg tie Arsenal beat Udinese 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

• Former Wolves and Scotland defender Frank Munro dies aged 63.

• In the Europa League first leg play-off ties, Fulham beat Dnipro 3-0 away. Other outcomes: Celtic-FC Sion 0-0, FC Thun-Stoke 0-1, Hearts-Tottenham 0-5, Maribor-Rangers 2-1, Nacional-Birmingham 0-0.

• At Vicarage Road England U-21 demolish Azerbaijan 6-0 (Dawson 2, Lansbury 2, Henderson, Waghorn) in a UEFA qualifier.

Incoming transfers for British clubs