AC Spartak Cheese have smashed the previous SFP record for a goalkeeper by parting with £18.9m for the services of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

It eclipses the £18.1m that Munson paid for Bravo in 2016 and seemingly completes Spartaks spending before the start of the season. Manager Lucchesi was delighted:

"Obviously I’m delighted to have signed one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe. We were prepared to make a higher opening bid but we didn’t have enough funds. Luckily we got our man at a snip of our own valuation."

"He has produced more saves, delivered more accurate long balls and saved more penalties than any goalkeeper ever. Some of that is mostly true."

"Kepa said he intended to stay at his boyhood club for a "long time", but the chance to provide competition at AC Spartak was evidently too good to refuse."

In other transfer news, Rob-O-Klopp seem to have got the upper hand on rival Wheeler Dealers once more, as they win the bidding for brazilian Bernard. He joins the defending champions for a fee of £15m. Manager Pegss has strengthened his attack with the signing of Rondon for £12.8m. And Jermy Senior continues to spend big on defence with the recruitment of Smalling from Wheeler Dealers. The Magicmen chief was in confident mood ahead of the new season:

"Yet again the plan has been executed and we are all confident of being there or thereabouts come May. Last season was another one full of learning. Our second best points haul of all time but with a disappointing league position. This is now by far the best squad I've ever assembled at this stage of a season. We look forward to being a true force once again."

For all transfers so far since the auction, click here >

In a slow and steady transfer window, without many new players showing up just yet, it's been two goalkeepers who've made the SFP news.

On Sunday Jordan Pickford joined Butt Kickers for a fee believed to be in the region of £4.5m from Rob-O-Klopp. Fabri also stitched to the defending SFP Champions.

A week earlier, Angus Gunn left Wheelers Dealers to join Top Heavy FC, in a deal rumoured to be in the region of £8.1m

For all transfers so far since the auction, click here >

Time for the annual poll.

Have a look at the squads, and choose your winner. This season you can PICK YOUR TOP 4, to give a better spread of results.

Who will be crowned 2018/19 SFP Champion?

Rob Dale

Adam Walters

Michael Lucchesi

Ross Peggs

Nick Jermy

Matthew Jermy

Lawrence Baynes

Martin Edwards

Adam Patterson

Adam Pritchard

Quentin Baynes

Ed McNamara

Scott Pritchard

 

pollcode.com free polls

Nine SFP clubs have launched new kits for the 2018/19 season.

1860 Münson have reverted back to their traditional white and blue. Manager Walters has gone all black with red trim. Manager Jermy Jnr has stuck with a much darker green with white.

The Top Heavy FC brand brings with it black and white stripes, while manager Patterson switches to red and white hoops instead of stripes. FC Lokomotiv Magicmen have also gone a shade darker with blue and black stripes.

Perdoc Byzeusthains have ditched their traditional tartan for a green and white outfit, while Pritch Senior has gone all out Nigeria. Finally, Butt Kicker have gone for a simple white with smiley face.

After all of the research, planning, hype and anticipation, the 24th SFP Auction has been and gone.

Manager Edwards offered up his folks home in Redenhall as the venue, with glorious sunshine, BBQ, tortoises and a lovely garden thrown into the mix. The auction itself took place on a shady deck overlooking a marshy meadow and (not so) babbling brook.

Goalkeepers kicked off proceedings and within minutes a new SFP auction record was made, when 1860 Münson signed Manchester city's Moraes for £8.7m. It beat the previous 13 season record of £8.2m paid by Adam Walters for Petr Cech in 2005. The average paid for a keeper fell season on season to £3.8m from £4.5m in 2017/18, with all but 4 managers paying less than £3.6m for their keepers. The top three spenders were:

8.7 – Moraes, Scott
7.1 – Lloris, Nick
7.0 – Alisson, Walters

Last season a record amount was spent on defence, as everyone attempted to learn from Atletico Magicmen’s title winning formula. This time around, Jermy stuck to his formula and spent a whopping £38.7m on his defence, while overall across the board defence spending went down by 4.72%. The average spend on defence this year was £12.8m compared to £14.5m last season. The top three spenders in this category were:

7.0 - Vertonghen, Matt
7.0 – Robertson, Nick
6.9 – Valencia, Matt

In midfield, spending was on a par with last season, with the average midfield costing around £16.8m. But as with keepers, a new SFP record was made immediately when Ross Peggs paid £18.2m for Liverpool ace Salah, eclipsing by £100,000 the 16 year record Jermy Senior set back in 2002 for David Beckham. The Baynes brothers spent over £30m on their midfield, while Michael (7.5) Scott (6.4) and Matt (1.5) spent under £10m on theirs. The big 3 signings were :

18.2 – Salah, Ross
15.0 - de Bruyne, Q
11.5 – Sterling, Rob

With the forwards, spending was up 6% on last year, with the average front line costing £14.6m compared to last years £12.1m. It seemed everyone saved some money back this season as 12 forwards went for over £9m. Manager McNamara saved the most, shelling out £38.2m on Kane, Aguero and Rashford. Surprisingly, Butt Kickers boss Baynes spent nothing and kept £9m of his money in the bank. Top three forwards were:

20.2 – Kane, Ed
17.6 – Aubameyang, Scott
16.6 – Firmino, Martin

So, it all set things up nicely for an interesting season. For a look at how it all went, click here.

Less than 3 weeks until Auction 2018, so time to firm up the plan.

Martin has since offered up a venue - his folks garden in Redenhall (in between Harleston/Wortwell). Decking and summer house by a brook, and large area for BBQ.

Auction to start from 1230hrs, and Martin will organise food for £5 per head.

Further details to follow.