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Summer transfer window most expensive XI
Calciomercato.com has picked the most expensive players of the last transfer window divided per role. That’s why you won’t find in here the likes of David Luiz or Mats Hummels or Eric Bailly. We have made this special line-up thanks to transfer fees provided by transfermarkt.
Here’s the 2016 transfer window most expensive XI
GOALKEEPER
Claudio Bravo (Barcelona-Man City, € 18m)
The Chile International ‘did not want to stay on the bench’ at the Nou Camp has decided to switch Barcelona with Manchester City in one of the last day available of the transfer window. He’s the most expensive goalkeeper of the summer.
DEFENDERS
RB: Sime Vrsaljko (Sassuolo-Atletico Madrid, € 16m)
One of the best right-backs in the 2015-16 Serie A campaign joined the 2014 and 2016 Champions League runner-ups at the beginning of last summer. He’s the fullback who completed the most crosses in Serie A last season.
CB: John Stones (Everto-Man City, € 55m)
Long time target of both Chelsea and Manchester United, Guardiola managed to sign him after trying to buy Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci.
CB: Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia-Arsenal, € 41m)
Wenger signed the solid German centre-back to replace his compatriot Per Mertesaker, but the former Sampdoria man is very likely to keep his starter status also when Mertesaker will return to action. The likes of Eric Bailly, David Luiz and Mats Hummels were all less expensive than him.
LB: Marcos Alonso (Fiorentina-Chelsea, €23m)
A very versatile defender who can play as left-back or centre-back in a three men defence. The Spanish left-back was among the best in his role last season, so much so Antonio Conte invested big to bring him back to the Premier League, where he had already played with Bolton.
MIDFIELDERS
CM: Paul Pogba (Juventus-ManUtd, €105m)
The most expensive signing of all times is struggling to cope with pressure at the Old Trafford. A product of the club’s academy, Juventus bought him in a free transfer four years ago and sold him back to the Red Devils for a world-record fee.
CM: Granit Xhaka (B.Monchengladbach-Arsenal, € 35m)
The first big Premier League signing of the summer, Xhaka had signed with Arsenal even before the beginning of EURO 2016. He has just scored his first Premier League goal.
(Joao Mario can also be added to XI as the versatile Inter midfielder moved to the San Siro outfit for €40m from Sporting Lisbon, but being his main position winger, we've opted to put Xhaka in the line-up)
RW: Leroy Sane (Schalke 04-ManCity, € 50m)
Another record signing by Pep Guardiola who brought to the club one of Bundesliga’s most impressive talents in the 2015-16 campaing. Sane, a Germany International, has already proved his qualities also at a Champions League level and is one of the most exciting prospects of European football.
AM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund-ManUtd, €42m)
Want Ibra and Pogba? Take also Mkhitaryan then. Is that what Raiola told Man Utd chiefs last summer? We don’t believe so as the Armenia International blazed a trail during his time in Germany, despite being struggling to live up to expectations in England. The Red Devils, however, have agreed a very high transfer fee considering that the 27-year-old attacking midfielder’s contract with Borussia Dortmund was due to expire in June 2017.
LW: Sadio Manè (Southampton-Liverpool, € 41m)
Southampton had bought him for € 15 million just two years ago, Liverpool got him last summer in the second most expensive signing in the club’s history after Christian Benteke. Mane has already scored two goals in five appearances in all competitions so far.
STRIKER
Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli-Juventus, €90m)
Probably the most controversial signing of the summer with the Argentinean who moved from Napoli to Juventus in a € 90 million bid becoming the most expensive ever Serie A signing. Scorer of 36 goals in 35 league games last term, Higuain has three goals in five appearances with the Old Lady so far.
Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
