Top 10 most expensive transfers: As Paul Pogba closes in on £105m Manchester United switch, here’s some more pricey players
Frenchman will become world-record purchase with Old Trafford return, but who features in the current list?
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PAUL POGBA is set to become the world’s most expensive player after Manchester United agreed a mind-blowing £105million fee to re-sign the Frenchman from Juventus.
But who else has cost football clubs an arm and a leg?
Throughout the years, the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City have spent big in their search for success.
But while some transfers have been resounding success, others have been nothing short of disastrous.
Here, SunSport lists the top 10 transfer of all time and gives its verdict on whether the move was a hit or a miss.
10. Edinson Cavani – Napoli to PSG (2013): £55m
URUGUAY international Cavani is arguably one of world football’s deadliest strikers.
But his time at Paris Saint-Germain has been spent mostly on the wing, and he has been linked with a host of clubs due to his reported unhappiness at being played out of position.
However, Cavani has hit an impressive 81 goals in 148 appearances during his three years in the French capital, and could now go on to become a European Golden Shoe contender after taking over from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Unai Emery’s new focal point.
Verdict: HIT
9. Kevin De Bruyne – Wolfsburg to Manchester City (2015): £55m
JOSE MOURINHO saw fit to move De Bruyne on for a cut-price fee during his time at Chelsea, but City shocked the Premier League when they broke their club transfer record to bring the Belgian back to England.
De Bruyne’s time in Germany saw him transform into one of Europe’s finest midfielders, and he quickly became a key player for Manuel Pellegrini as City reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
A serious injury saw him miss a chunk of City’s season, but fans will be eagerly awaiting his role in new manager Pep Guardiola’s team following some big performances and fantastic goals.
Verdict: HIT
8. Kaka – AC Milan to Real Madrid (2009): £56m
AT the time of his move to Spain, Kaka was regarded as the best playmaker in the world.
But the Brazilian struggled to adjust to life at the Bernabeu, and an eight-month injury lay-off saw him eventually lose his claim as a regular first-team starter.
Kaka eventually returned to Milan after Mesut Ozil became Real’s go-to No.10, and his time with Los Blancos is not remembered fondly.
Verdict: MISS
7. Angel Di Maria – Real Madrid to Manchester United (2014): £59.7m
RED DEVILS fans couldn’t believe their eyes when Louis van Gaal announced the capture of Di Maria from Real.
The Argentine ace arrived at Old Trafford fresh off the back of Champions League glory but just couldn’t find his feet as LVG heavily rotated his teams through bizarre formations.
And after just four goals in 32 appearances, Di Maria was shipped off to PSG a year later, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of United fans.
Verdict: MISS
6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Inter Milan to Barcelona (2009): £40m + Samuel Eto’o (£20m valuation)
IBRAHIMOVIC, one of the most heralded strikers in the world, was expected to form a deadly partnership with Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona traded in fan favourite and proven goal-scorer Eto’o in order to land the Swede, but a falling-out with boss Pep Guardiola quickly saw Ibrahimovic relegated to the bench.
Eto’o went on to win the treble with Jose Mourinho that same year, while Ibra forced a move to AC Milan after just one season in Catalonia.
Verdict: MISS
5. James Rodriguez – Monaco to Real Madrid (2014): £63m
ALL eyes were on Rodriguez when he linked up with Los Blancos following some stunning performances for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup.
The attacking midfielder looked decent value for money in his first season, although he was criticised for his work ethic and lack of motivation when Real were trailing in games.
Rodriguez was virtually relegated to a bit-part role when Zinedine Zidane took charge earlier this year, and an exit looks to be the most likely scenario for the 25-year-old.
Verdict: MISS
4. Luis Suarez – Liverpool to Barcelona (2014): £65m
SUAREZ arrived at Liverpool as a top forward and left as a club icon.
82 goals in 133 appearances helped the Reds come agonisingly close to the Premier League title, and Suarez has not been shy when it comes to finding the back of the net in Spain.
The Uruguayan scored 59 goals last season, making him the first man to beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Pichichi Trophy, and Suarez could now be rewarded with a lucrative new contract.
Verdict: HIT
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3. Neymar – Santos to Barcelona (2013): £71.5m
THE golden boy of Brazil is almost on a par with Lionel Messi following his move to the Nou Camp.
85 goals in 141 appearances makes him one of the top forwards in the world, and his lucrative new contract means Barca are deadly serious about keeping him from the clutches of Manchester United and PSG.
And at just 24 years of age, don’t be surprised if Neymar dethrones Messi once and for all in the near future.
Verdict: HIT
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United to Real Madrid (2009): £80m
ONE of the finest to ever grace the pitch, Ronaldo has cemented his legacy as both a United and a Real legend.
The Portuguese ace has won numerous club and personal awards during his time at the Bernabeu, with 364 goals in 348 appearances justifying why Los Blancos paid such a huge fee for his signature.
Ronaldo now looks set to play out the remainder of his career with the Spanish giants, leaving no doubt that this is one of the most successful transfers of all time.
Verdict: HIT
1. Gareth Bale – Tottenham to Real Madrid (2013): £85m
THE Welshman secured his move to Spain after setting the Premier League alight with 21 goals in 33 appearances during his final season at White Hart Lane.
Real at first insisted that Ronaldo remained the world’s most expensive player, but it soon transpired that Bale had taken his teammate’s mantle.
It took the 27-year-old some time to find his feet, but he has now become a fan favourite after finding the back of the net 47 times in 81 La Liga appearances – not to mention winning two Champions League trophies in his three seasons.
Verdict: HIT
The New No.1: Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United (2016): £105m
THE Red Devils are yet to confirm a deal, but Pogba will become the world’s most-expensive player when he seals his return to Old Trafford.
Released on a free transfer by Sir Alex Ferguson just four year ago, Pogba has transformed himself into one of the top central midfielders in Europe.
Jose Mourinho can help the Frenchman eventually challenge for the Ballon d’Or should his price-tag not weigh heavily, and it seems unlikely that high-flyer Pogba will fail to deal with the pressure at the Theatre of Dreams.