We knew England are in danger of failing to qualify for the World Cup.
We knew the England Under 21s failed to progress out of the group stages at the European Championship in Israel this summer – losing all three games and scoring just one goal.
We knew the England Under 20s flopped at the World Cup in Turkey – failing to win a single game before exiting at the group stages. England have not won a match at an Under 20 World Cup for sixteen years now – when Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen played in 1997.
But a calamitous summer for English football continues to get worse, as this Sportsmail study reveals the frightening lack of confidence Barclays Premier League clubs are showing in English talent.
Teams have signed a total of 150 in this summer transfer window and just thirty-four – a measly 22.66 per cent - of those transfers have been for English players.
Of greater concern is the fact that six of the sides who finished in the top seven of the Premier League last season – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool – have all failed to sign a single English player between them this summer.
Everton, the sixth-placed side, did swoop for one English player - a last-gasp loan move for Gareth Barry - but that hardly represents a commitment to allowing homegrown talent to flourish.
Similarly, Fulham, known for their multi-national look, have at least added two English players - but Darren Bent is 29 and couldn't make the Aston Villa side while Scott Parker is 32 and no longer in England contention.
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