The gap between the Premier League and Championship has always been a difficult one to gauge, not least for teams making the switch between the two. 

Promoted teams invariably come up to the top flight as relegation favourites, but the difference in outcomes between these sides means that the difference in quality between the division is murky. For example, Europe-chasing Southampton and self-destruct-button-slamming Blackpool have both come up from the Championship in the past five years, and seen their respectives fates in the top flight contrast markedly.

This summer, a record-breaking transfer window has seen the quality of players in both of the top two divisions increase. Stoke City can put out a five-a-side team of Champions League winners, while last year's defeated play-off finalists Middlesbrough brought in four internationals from three of the game's global powerhouses in England, Italy and Uruguay.

To put the gap into some sort of context, we must look at the six sides who swapped divisions over the course of the summer. Here, perception is important; a pacy and powerful attacking trident of Cameron JeromeLewis Grabban and Nathan Redmond seems downright scary in the Championship, but is unlikely to keep defences up at night in the top end of the Premier League.

However, it is undeniable that the level of players brought into the second tier this summer has been unprecedented in terms of quality, while perhaps more importantly, clubs have kept their stars. QPR pulled off the transfer coup of the summer by seemingly making everybody forget that Charlie Austin was available, Wolves clung on to the frighteningly prolific Benik Afobe and even relegation-battling Blackburn managed to keep Jordan Rhodes to themselves.

Should more top-flight teams be minding the gap?

But is the difference in quality between the two divisions getting smaller as a result? In the past, there has always been the impression that the top four or five teams in the Championship could trade places with the bottom few sides in the Premier League without making too much of a difference - relegated sides of recent years such as BurnleyBolton and Fulham probably fared no better than their second-tier counterparts would have managed in the top flight, given similar resources.

The issue is, the gap in resources now is a large one, but from next season onwards, it will become a huge one. The insanely lucrative new TV deal introduced next year has club owners desperately trying to hide the cartoon dollar signs springing out of their every glance, so everybody that can afford to is doing all they can to ensure they're at the table when the golden buffet is opened.

Because of this, the gap between the bottom teams in the Premier League and the top teams of the Championship is staying fairly similar, with promotion hopefuls gambling on short-term spending to ensure long-term success. 

Derby County and the aforementioned Middlesbrough each splashed out in excess of £15million on players this summer, with their respective net spends overshadowing those of more than a third of the teams in this year's Premier League. 

It could be said, therefore, that the largest gap opening up is between the top and bottom of the Championship, rather than between the two leagues. The MK Dons', Boltons and Huddersfields of the world can't afford a Stewart Downing or a Tom Ince, and would be expected to struggle this season as a result. That said, there isn't an obvious whipping boy in the mold of Blackpool or Yeovil, as have been seen in recent years.

The Championship looks as unpredictable as ever

So far, though, as new signings settle in and teams come to terms with dramatic summer facelifts, things haven't gone totally as expected; such is the nature of the Championship.

Middlesbrough lost at home to a then-winless Bristol City, Derby are without a victory in their first six games of the season and Marinus Dijkhuizen's start to life at Moneyball Brentford has seen the Bees humbled 4-0 at home to Oxford United. Just ask Ross McCormack: even record-breaking signings are no guarantee of success.

Perhaps this is simply what the Championship is. For all the pre-season predictions and statistics, more often than not three teams might as well be drawn from a hat and thrown into the promotion places with the only true certainty being that at least one of Leeds and Nottingham Forest will have a new manager at the end of it all.

In truth, the chasm has not quite opened yet. The gaps between the Premier League and the Championship, and between the top and bottom of the second tier, are largely as they were. 

A storm is heading towards the second tier

But as top-flight clubs become more and more aware of the fact that they can bring Salomón RondónXherdan Shaqiri and Yohan Cabaye to England at the drop of a hat, the gap will open widen further.

And things are only likely to get worse. Even those unlucky three who open their wallet and find themselves slipping down the trapdoor at the end of the season will have their coffers boosted significantly by an increase in the relegation parachute payments.

The previous parachute fees of £48million have now risen past the £64million mark, ensuring that those who drop down from the Premier League will maintain the financial muscle to overpower their less illustrious rivals. However, if a club does manage to squeeze their way into the top flight but drops back down after just a single season, the fees will be reduced - a rule which will almost surely help to maintain the status quo and reduce competitiveness in the second division.

This is why clubs are spending so hugely, and rejecting big offers for their stars. The gravy train is beginning to depart, and nobody wants to be left behind.

But if the carriage doors slam in front of you and you've just spent £15million on a ticket... well, there could be a rocky road ahead.

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About the author
Sam France
Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor at VAVEL UK, part of the VAVEL team 2014-2018.