The Premier League claim the transfer window is the "least worst" option and the best possible system for football that would still be accepted by European Union employment law. League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan is a fierce critic of the January window, claiming it leads to panic buying and inflated prices.
The transfer window system was introduced in 2002 after the EU demanded changes to the old system following the Bosman ruling.
Fearing a complete meltdown in the stability of players' contracts, FIFA negotiated the current system with the EU and players' union FIFPro.
Premier League chief spokesman Dan Johnson said: "It's the least worst system.
"The alternatives are for it be open all season, which from an integrity of competition point of view, let alone managers' or fans' stress levels, is not sustainable - imagine having to worry every month until March whether you can hold on to your talent. Or for it to be closed all season, which is something that European employment regulators simply won't countenance.
"So on reflection, we would rather have the current system than open season or no contractual stability and compensation at all."
According to business analysts Deloitte, top-flight clubs smashed the spending record in the January transfer window by £50million with a total of £225million splashed out last month.
The previous record of £175million was set in January 2008 and a similar figure in 2009.
The Premier League point out that much of the spending was using the same money, for example with the £50million spent by Chelsea on Fernando Torres covering the majority of the cost of Liverpool signing Andy Carroll for £35million and Luis Suarez for £23million.
They believe the net spending figure of £82million provides a truer picture of the activity.
In relation to the Premier League, Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said the spending had been concentrated among a few clubs.
Jones said: "While Premier League club revenues have never been higher, we were surprised to see more than £200m spent in a January window for the first time, particularly after only around £30m was spent in January last year.
"However, when you scratch beneath the surface you find that around 80% of the total spending of £225m is concentrated across only four clubs (Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City) and spread across only six players, so this was a particularly polarised window, with only a few clubs flexing their financial muscles, on what was a deafening final day of an otherwise quiet window."
Deloitte's report shows the Premier League easily outspent other leagues in Europe.