Which Premier League teams have overspent on players this summer?
The Premier League is renowned for overspending on players, so it comes as no surprise to see that spending has reached over £1 billion this summer, with more than £155 million spent on deadline day alone.
How have the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Manchester City spent their money adding to their squads? Will their gambles of spending way over the odds on players pay off?
HITC Sport looks at the five most expensive gambles in the English top flight this summer.
1. Moussa Sissoko to Tottenham – £30m
The biggest deal on deadline day was the dramatic signing of Sissoko from Newcastle. Everton looked set to sign the midfielder, but Spurs pipped Everton to the deal in the last minute.
£30 million for a Championship player that didn’t do anything to prevent Newcastle from being relegated last season is a huge sum, and arguably a price that the 27-year old simply isn’t worth. Newcastle fans couldn’t believe their luck when they realised they would be getting £30 million for their under-performing star.
Spurs fans will be hoping that the Sissoko they get is the midfielder that was France’s star player at Euro 2016, not the one who drew so much warranted criticism for the Magpies last term.
2. Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace – £32million
Benteke made the move from Liverpool to Crystal Palace, making the striker the club’s record signing. The Belgium international joined Liverpool for £32.5 million in July 2015, but since joining the Reds, Benteke only started eight Premier League games under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool will be delighted with the price they got for a striker who failed to live up to his price tag on Merseyside, and only time will tell if Benteke will succeed at Palace.
3. Paul Pogba to Manchester United – £89 million
Paul Pogba became the world’s most expensive player when Manchester United re-signed the French midfielder for £89 million. The 23-year-old left United four years ago, after signing for Juventus for £1.5 million.
With such a groundbreaking fee, there will be a lot of pressure on Pogba to perform. United fans will be expecting goals and performances that prove just why Mourinho values the Frenchman as one of the best in the world.
4. Leroy Sane to Manchester City – £37 million
Leroy Sane completed his £37 million move to Manchester City from Schalke, making him City’s sixth summer signing under new manager Pep Guardiola.
Though the winger is undoubtedly talented, and one for the future at the age of just 20, £37 million is a lot of money to spend on a player that is not likely to make it into City’s starting Xl.
Sane will have a lot of competition with Raheem Sterling in great form at the moment. David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are also likely to be ahead of Sane in Guardiola’s side.
5. Yannick Bolasie to Everton – £25 million
Yannick Bolasie signed for Everton from Crystal Palace for £25 million, which could rise to a club record of £30 million, despite only scoring five goals for Palace last season.
£25 million is a lot of money for a winger who offers that kid of low return. Manager Ronald Koeman will be hoping that he will be able to get the best out of the winger, though – the 27-year-old does have the potential to make a big influence to the Blues team.
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