We take a look at the top 5 player transfers this summer:
1. Neymar to PSG
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If you have not been living under a rock then you will surely have heard about this deal. How PSG broke the bank and scooped Neymar from Messi’s lap and into France. Clubs used to put absurd release clauses into their player’s contracts with the hope that it would keep away potential suitors. But little did Barcelona know that one day PSG would come and trigger Neymar’s release clause of €222 million and make him the most expensive player in the world – that too with some distance.
So as things stand PSG have paid €222 million to Barcelona for Neymar’s services and the Brazilian is going to make his debut for the Ligue 1 side on Sunday.
2. Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United
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Chelsea and Manchester United were involved in a tug of war with each other over the fact that who gets to sign Romelu Lukaku. And for the longest time, everyone believed that Chelsea were going to win this battle as the big Belgian wants to return back to his old club.
And while all this drama was taking place in England, Lukaku was holidaying in America with his close friend – a certain Paul Pogba. And suddenly news started surfacing that Lukaku had agreed to sign Lukaku and he will be joining the club directly on their preseason tour in the United States. So without wasting any more time the Belgian International completed his medical in the States itself and joined the Red Devils on their tour. Manchester United paid €84.7 million for his services making him the second highest player this summer.
3. Alvaro Morata to Chelsea
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Manchester United’s initial target for the summer and Chelsea’s go to man when Romelu Lukaku seemingly ditched them in order to sign for United. Morata was in talks to join Manchester United and it had gone so far ahead that some reports claimed that the Spaniard had also dyed his hair red as part of the unveiling but quickly had to chop it off as the deal collapsed and Manchester United signed Lukaku.
Left heart broken, Chelsea had to scramble in order to find a replacement for the Belgian and they decided to go for Morata, eventually paying €65 million for the Ex-Real Madrid man.
4. Benjamin Mendy to Man City
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The first thing that Guardiola did this summer was to offload a bunch of first team players as a part of his major overhaul at Manchester City. He dismissed the likes of Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy who were both left-back and brought in 23-year-old Benjamin Mendy from AS Monaco. While a few other clubs had been chasing the player but Manchester City always looked the most likely destination for the French International.
Having said that, the left-back did not come cheap though as Manchester City had to pay €57.5 million for his services – making him the 4th highest transfer of the summer.
5. Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal
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The last name that you would probably wish to see on this list is that of Arsenal. But Wenger had no other option but to spend big this summer if he wished to hear that Champions League anthem at the Emirates again from the next season. And the final third was one area of the pitch that needed serious reinforcements so without wasting much time Wenger jumped into the transfer whirlpool and came out with Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette.
The North London club had to pay €40 million to Lyon for the 26-year-old.
