ANOTHER transfer window slammed shut yesterday amid the usual disbelief.

Laughter, incredulity, annoyance – you name it, social media had it over whopping prices, eye-watering signing-on fees and deals that died over image rights of all things.

So-called fans, experts behind the screens after judging how good a player is while glued to a console playing FIFA, poked fun at the amounts involved to sign the likes of Harry Maguire.

Granted, £80million when you think Rio Ferdinand made a similar move 17 years ago for less than half the price feels out of kilter.

Ferdinand had spent seven years at the sharp end of English football, including two seasons at Leeds (remember those Ian Harte free-kicks?) where he helped carry the fight for European glory.

Maguire’s top two seasons have come in a mid-table Leicester side.

Still, should passive football followers really be surprised by the buckets of extra cash on offer when it is them that keep feeding the beast?

Down the pub on a Saturday afternoon, watching the results roll in before taking in a few pints during the 5.30 kick-off or taking out a subscription rather than taking in a game – the cash from mass interest has created a monster that is unlikely to be tamed.

The scale of how TV rules the market came to light while covering AFC Bournemouth.

I had the privilege of helping to chronicle their ascent from Championship in 2015 and the figures involved were staggering.

The company behind the Cherries turned over £12.8million during the club’s promotion season – by far more than any other financial year.

That's everything, all in, the lot.

The consider that every Premier League club received more than £51million for its equal share of domestic and overseas TV deals – that’s without any extras or added revenue from going up.

Okay, AFC Bournemouth are no Man United but it just goes to show how the size and tradition of a club means little in the modern era.

When everyone has such a pot of cash is it any surprise clubs feel obliged to move with the market, considering the price of relegation.

As the money involved goes up every season, savvy agents and bean counters figure out just how much more a seat on the gravy train is worth to clubs.

The values rocket up for a player that is little or no better than he was before, simply because of market forces.

So before you mock Leicester for paying £30million for Ayoze Perez – a striker that has 33 Premier League goals in 143 outings – consider whether you have part funded that chunky signing-on fee which could probably fund a new stadium for Worcester City with change to spare.

They can only spend it if you hand it over.