Winter transfer window uncovers La Liga's shrunken spending power

The financial standing of Spanish football during the coronavirus pandemic has been laid bare during the January transfer window.

Not even La Liga Santander's biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, have delved into the market to correct bad starts to the season.

Marca reported that clubs from Spain's top flight have spent a total of 22 million euros this winter - the least of any of Europe's big five leagues.

La Liga Santander clubs spent a total of 298 million euros in the January window of 2018, with Philippe Coutinho's move from Liverpool to Barcelona the main culprit of that figure. The previous January, Spain's top clubs had spent just 28 million euros on transfers in January. In January 2020, that number was 151 million euros.

Marca also claimed that West Ham made Said Benrahma's loan from Brentford permanent for 23 million euros, which has surpassed the total transfer fees paid by LaLiga Santander clubs. Elsewhere, Aston Villa signed Morgan Sanson from Marseille for 16 million euros, while Manchester United completed the signing of Amad Diallo from Atalanta for 21 million euros, bringing the total spending in the Premier League over the 80 million euro mark.

Serie A were not far behind, with their clubs totalling transfer fees of 77 million euros in January.

The Bundesliga completes the podium in the January spending standings, with their clubs shelling out 47 million euros on transfers.

Ligue 1 bettered LaLiga Santander for spending and Paris Saint-Germain didn't even take part. Monaco were responsible for the most expensive purchase, signing Krepin Diatta for 20 million euros.

Even the Dutch Eredivisie and the Turkish Super Lig ousted LaLiga Santander in January spending. Some 22.5 million euros were spent by Ajax on Sebastian Haller alone.