Summer transfer window 2017: When does it open, key dates and everything you need to know

With the climax of the 2016-17 football season now visible on the horizon, the transfer rumour mill is quickly being cranked back up to full speed in preparation for a potentially busy summer that is likely to see many of the Premier League's biggest clubs seek to secure several big-money reinforcements. Here is everything you need to know about the forthcoming window.

When does the transfer window open?

Although plenty of talks, negotiations and a whole host of deals will be wrapped over the coming weeks – especially with players coming to the end of their respective contracts – English clubs can officially start trading again from Saturday 1 July 2017.

When does the transfer window close?

Chairmen and managers have until 11pm BST on Thursday 31 August – AKA deadline day – to complete any outstanding business.

How long is the summer transfer window?

The market remains open for a fraction under two months. Football League and National League clubs used to have a chance to further bolster their squads outside of the two usual windows for a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of 93 in order to help cope with the inevitable rigours of a gruelling 46+ game season. However, world governing body Fifa officially abolished the emergency loan system last year citing a need to protect the integrity of those competitions.

Who went where last year?

The 2016 summer window saw Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho installed as Louis van Gaal's replacement, smash the world transfer record to resign Paul Pogba from Juventus for a cool £89m ($113.8m). The Red Devils also spent heavily on Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in addition to snagging a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer, while rivals Manchester City gave new boss Pep Guardiola more than £170m to lavish upon the likes of John Stones, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Claudio Bravo.

Traditionally thrifty Arsenal, meanwhile, pushed the boat out on Granit Xhaka, Shokdran Mustafi and Lucas Perez. Big-spending Chelsea brought back a familiar face in David Luiz and further prepared for Antonio Conte's first season at the helm by signing off on deals for N'Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi.

Liverpool acquired Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum, Loris Karius, Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip and Tottenham Hotspur welcomed Victor Wanyama, Vincent Janssen, Moussa Sissoko, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Pau Lopez to White Hart Lane.

Andre Ayew, Joe Allen, Nacer Chadli, Borja Baston, Islam Slimani, Ahmed Musa, Ryan Mason, Ashley Williams, Yannick Bolasie, Jordon Ibe and Christian Benteke were among the other players to complete high-profile switches. Jack Wilshere and Joe Hart completed surprise loan moves to Bournemouth and Torino respectively.

How much was spent during last year's summer window?

Top-flight clubs broke the £1bn barrier for the very first time during the 2016 summer window. A final figure of £1.194bn smashed the previous record total of £870m, set 12 months earlier. Expect that figure to rise further as price tags continue to soar.

Who are the names to watch this summer?

How long have you got? In this age of non-stop news and constant rumours, it would be quicker to list which players have not been linked with a possible summer transfer.

Some of the most high-profile European-based players that could be on the move include Antoine Griezmann, Wayne Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Diego Costa, Romelu Lukaku, Kylian Mbappe, Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez, Andrea Belotti, Sead Kolasinac, Gerard Deulofeu, Virgil van Dijk, Michael Keane, Max Meyer, Arda Turan, Theo Hernandez, Wilfried Zaha, Serge Aurier, Hart, Wilshere, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Blaise Matuidi. And that's just for starters.

All eyes will also be fixed on Chelsea captain John Terry to see where he chooses to continue his career after confirmation that a trophy-laden 22-year stint at Stamford Bridge will come to end in June.