A top football agent is tipping Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea to be the busiest Premier League clubs in a frenzied summer transfer market.
Jon Smith, "?the director of player representation agency Player First, believes clubs will act quickly to avoid prices skyrocketing following the European Championships.
He also expects the mid-table clubs to exercise caution, as they hope to receive investment from other major markets including China.
Speaking to"? Sky Sports HQ, Smith said "The interesting thing is that the Premier League have decided to pay the clubs earlier this year, partly, I guess, because of the European Championships.
"It's going to be a bit convoluted. What will happen is you'll have a spree and then a decline of activity as people wait for the European Championships, and then it will pick up again towards the end of July.
"Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City will be the busiest I suspect. Of the ones coming up, probably Middlesborough. The rest will be prudent. It's about the valuations of football clubs and how people want to build their businesses, not just about success on the field any more.
"You have the top five, six clubs very well organised and well owned, and then you have a number of very interested parties around the world looking at Premier League clubs as potential investments."
Smith goes on to discuss how the 'clubs in the middle' will be concentrating on balancing the books before splurging money and he briefly touches upon China's financial muscle.
"There's a huge market in China and don't discount other markets like India. It's not there yet; cricket is still the number one sport but football is catching on. Those markets are going to become more important to our Premier League and Championship over the coming years."