CHAMPIONSHIP MILLIONAIRES

SAM SHEPPEY LOOKS AT THE SECOND TIER'S BIG MONEY DEALS

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ENGLAND'S second tier is becoming increasingly competitive and the amount of money being splashed around highlights the desire to reach the Premier League.

In the recent summer transfer window, there was more money spent in the Championship than ever before. Newly relegated Ipswich and Southampton spent an estimated £100m combined, with newly promoted Birmingham and Wrexham also spending big.

This summer window also saw the second tier transfer record broken, with 19-year-old forward Sindre Walle Egeli joining Ipswich for £17.3m.

Here are a selection of other bumper deals involving then-Championship clubs:

RUBEN NEVES: PORTO TO WOLVES FOR £IS.SM (2017)

Eight years ago, Wolves went big in the transfer window, spending £20.7m. This gung-ho approach, fuelled largely by links to super-agent Jorge Mendes, saw an influx of Portuguese talent join a new-look Wolves side managed by Nuno Espirito Santo.

Among the signings from home and abroad were Diogo Jota, Benik Afobe, John Ruddy and Willy Boly, but the most notable was Ruben Neves.

The Portuguese centre midfielder played under Nuno at Porto, where he became the youngest player to start as captain in the Champions League at 18, and the youngest player to make 50 appearances for the club.