Manchester City spend most on agents

Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool were the top-spenders on agents' fees last year as the top-flight clubs shelled out a total of £71.8million, latest figures have revealed.

City, unsurprisingly, topped the payments table with a total of £9.7million paid to agents followed by Spurs on £7.6million, then Liverpool on £7million.

The total in the top flight of £71.8million is the highest since the Premier League decided in 2008 to publish club-by-club spending on agents - in 2009 it was £70.7million.

The three lowest spenders included two promoted sides Swansea (£248,000) and Norwich (£710,00), with Wigan having spent £659,000.

The amounts shown include payments made by clubs on behalf of players.

Club-by-club spending on agents' fees between October 1 2010 and September 30 2011: Man City £9.7m; Tottenham £7.6m; Liverpool £7m; Chelsea £6.5m; Newcastle £6.3m; Arsenal £4.6m; Man Utd £4.5m; Blackburn £4.2m; Sunderland £3.7m; Aston Villa £3.2m; Everton £2.9m; QPR £2.5m; Stoke £2.2m; Bolton £1.9m; West Brom £1.3m; Wolves £1.1m, Fulham £0.9m; Norwich £0.7m; Wigan £0.66m; Swansea £0.24m.

Total: £71.9m.

PA