Sheffield United: How much did Chris Wilder's Blades spend on agents fees in new figures released by Football Association?

The figure is the sixth lowest in the current Championship standings, with only Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers, Burton Albion, Ipswich Town and Millwall having spent less on registered intermediaries in the last two transfer windows.

The 24 Championship clubs spent a combined total of just over £42m on agents, averaging at around £1.75m per club - but Aston Villa led the way with a remarkable £5.51m spend.

Sunderland, still in danger of relegation to League One, remarkably spent £4.37m on agents - more than United spent on players. Wolves, who look set to win the Championship title, spent £2m - less than struggling Birmingham - while play-off chasing Bristol City and Millwall shelled out £843,000 and £311,505 respectively.

In the period concerned, United signed 14 players and extended the contacts of a number of their key players.

Nationally, Liverpool spent £26.7million on fees for intermediaries and agents - and Premier League clubs overall topped the £200million mark for the first time.

The figures showed that Liverpool paid out more than any other club, closely followed by reigning Premier League champions Chelsea and this season's table-toppers Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp's team have been strengthened by big-money signings including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain over the past year, with agents also significantly benefiting from player transfers involving the club.

Chelsea spent £25.1million for the period concerned, taking in last year's summer transfer window and the recent January window.

Manchester City had an outlay of £23.4million and Manchester United paid £18million, the FA said, with the total Premier League spend amounting to £211,011,187, up from £174,227,243 for the corresponding 2016/17 timeframe.

Watford's total of £13.3million meant the Hertfordshire club were the fifth highest spenders, forking out more than Everton and Arsenal.

Of the current Premier League sides, Huddersfield were the lowest spenders with a total of £2.4million. Four teams currently in the Sky Bet Championship paid out more, with Aston Villa spending £5.5million, Middlesbrough £2.5million, Reading £2.8million and Sunderland £4.3million.

The aggregate spend by Premier League and Football League clubs amounted to £257,680,542, with Championship sides paying £42.183million. Clubs from League One paid £3.527million, and League Two outfits spent £958,969.

Much of the spending will comprise payments made to agents for transfers completed and contracts negotiated over the 12 months, although the FA said some payments may have been made for deals agreed before last February.

League Two side Crawley were the lowest spenders of all, with a £4,680 total investment.

Full Championship league table of agent payments:

Aston Villa - £5,510180

Barnsley - £419,639

Birmingham City - £2,461,909

Bolton Wanderers - £223,432

Brentford - £1,690,415

Bristol City - £843,174

Burton Albion - £268,490

Cardiff City - £2,026,917

Derby County - £2,180,305

Fulham - £2,428,175

Hull City - £1,882,530

Ipswich Town - £241,969

Leeds United - £1,349,452

Middlesbrough - £2,538,840

Millwall - £311,505

Norwich City – £2,212410

Nottingham Forest - £1,141,512

Preston North End - £1,046,679

Queens Park Rangers - £1,817,113

Reading - £2,850,283

Sheffield United - £652,070

Sheffield Wednesday - £1,714,130

Sunderland - £4,370,897

Wolverhampton Wanderers – £2,001,023