Jack Grealish al Man City stands out among the largest UK transactions

Jack grealish He has just officially become a Manchester City player, after completing his transfer from Aston Villa this Thursday, in a transaction valued at 100 million pounds.

Grealish was part of Villa, his childhood club, for the past 19 years, adding 213 appearances, 32 goals and eventually becoming captain after debuting with the senior team in 2014.

However, with his key contributions to the cause of the England team that played in the final of Euro 2020 this summer, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder managed to move up a notch in his career, signing for six years with the reigning champion of the Premier League, which paid its release clause.

The huge transfer valued at £ 100 million represents a record for transfers in Great Britain; being the second time that City has owned the milestone, after acquiring striker Robinho in 2008 from Real Madrid. For the sake of comparison, we mention that rivals Manchester City have owned the passing record seven times, while Chelsea have done so twice in recent years.

However, large investments do not always pay the dividends expected by the parties. The Top 10 of the largest transfers in the history of British football is a group of players with diverse results: some responded immediately to the faith placed in them; others took some time and some failed in their attempts to add value to the money invested.

1. Jack Grealish: Aston Villa to Manchester City City, 2021, £ 100 million

Obviously, it would be too premature to conclude whether Manchester City’s significant investment is a wise decision, considering that Grealish has only worn the jersey once (and strictly for promotional purposes).

Obviously, it would be too premature to conclude whether Manchester City’s significant investment is a wise decision, considering that Grealish has only worn the jersey once (and strictly for promotional purposes).

However, it is still a lot of money for a footballer who has not scored in the league since last January (although we must take into account that he was injured for two months) and who plays in a position where City has a squad full of talents such as Phil Foden, Bernardo silva Y Raheem Sterling.

Verdict: to be defined

2. Paul pogba: Juventus to Manchester United, 2016, £ 89.3 million

Manchester United broke the world record (not just the British one) for transfers by signing a player who had left to play for Juventus four years earlier, after ending his contract for just £ 800,000 in severance pay.

It was an advertisement with great fanfare. The promotional campaign tagged #Pogback (which could be translated as an amalgamation of the words “Pogba back”) featured British rapper Stormzy, and Pogba appeared to be precisely the kind of figure United needed to rejuvenate their stagnant roster.

It’s fair to say that Pogba has failed to convince everyone of his merits since then; However, the French midfielder has shown that he is a world-class player, capable of performances at a higher level than the rest on his best days (that is, once every 15 days or so). Despite his contract expiring in 2022, he is likely to leave United in the coming weeks.

Verdict: Success

3. Harry maguire: Leicester City al Man Utd, 2019, £ 80 million

Many frowned as Leicester center-back Maguire left the modest team for Old Trafford for such a massive pass, shortly after making a welcome impression at the 2018 World Cup in the England jersey. Nonetheless, the gamble has paid good dividends since then.

In no time, DT Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conferred the Red Devils captaincy on the tough defender, who brings a solid core to United’s most solvent defensive line in years.

Verdict: Success

Four. Romelu lukaku: Everton al Man Utd, 2017, £ 75 million

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, signed a contract extension at least until the 2023-24 season.

The man who slipped out of United’s hands. Lukaku never seemed to fit into Jose Mourinho’s approach at Old Trafford; and despite achieving decent goalscoring production in his two seasons with the club (42 goals in 96 appearances), the Belgium international was allowed to sign for Inter Milan in a transaction worth roughly £ 74 million in the summer 2019 with minimal pressure.

Since then, Lukaku has fully restored his reputation as one of Europe’s most formidable gunners, scoring 64 goals in 95 matches with the jersey. Nerazzurra, propelling Inter to their first Serie A title in nearly a decade during the last tournament. However, a likely return to Chelsea cannot be ruled out: several newspaper reports indicate that the reigning European champions made a £ 110 million offer for their services last week, which was rejected.

Verdict: failure

(Tie) 4. Virgil van Dijk: Southampton to Liverpool, 2017, £ 75 million

World-class center-back Van Dijk seems to be keeping his hair down as he comfortably neutralizes gunners from the Premier League and the rest of Europe.

Amid a conjuncture in which clubs appear content to pay for unflappable defenders the same exorbitant figures earned by gunners for scoring 20 goals per season, it is clear that Liverpool’s striking investment in signing the Dutchman proved to be astute: ever since. , the Reds lifted their first Premier League title in two decades in 2019-20 and the Champions League trophy the year before.

Indeed, Van Dijk’s influence and importance to the Liverpool cause were clearly demonstrated during his prolonged absence in the second half of the previous season, in which Jurgen Klopp’s squad was systematically dismantled.

Verdict: Success

6. Jadon sancho: Borussia Dortmund al Man Utd, 2021, £ 73.9 million

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Mauricio Pedroza affirms that it is a great bet for Manchester United to pay so much money for Jadon Sancho.

Having caused a sensation in recent years in the Bundesliga, United made a significant investment to bring Sancho to the Premier League, after his career in the youth teams of his City rivals led him to leave the club for £ 8 million without make a single appearance in 2017.

His 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 appearances in the Dortmund jersey suggest that the English winger is precisely the speedy offensive catalyst that Solskjaer was crying out for last season.

Verdict: to be defined

7. Nicolas Pepe: Lille at Arsenal, 2019, £ 72 million

It really doesn’t seem like Pepe He has already played for two years at Arsenal. Such has been the fleeting nature of the impact caused by the forward from Ivory Coast.

His first season with the Gunners went under the table, scoring just eight goals in 42 games. However, his level improved in 2020-21, when the former Lille figure significantly increased his offensive contributions. Pepe scored 16 goals in all competitions with Arsenal (being the club’s second top scorer after Alexandre Lacazette). The improvement in his form was one of the few aspects to be rescued in a campaign to forget Mikel Arteta’s mediocre mid-table squad.

However, Pepe has not done enough to be considered nothing short of a failure at this stage of his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Verdict: failure

8. Kepa Arrizabalaga: Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea, 2018, £ 71.6 million

Kepa failed to be liked by fans of the Blues thanks to a series of unconvincing performances, compounded by a wild display of insubordination during the EFL Cup final in 2019.

Stubbornly, the goalkeeper refused to be substituted during the final seconds of overtime to make way for his colleague Willy Caballero, a penalty shootout specialist, prompting an angry reprimand from DT Maurizio Sarri after the Blues’ subsequent defeat at the hands of the Manchester City.

Since then, the 26-year-old Spanish goalkeeper has been replaced by Edouard Mendy as the first choice under the sticks, following his £ 22 million signing from Rennes in September 2020. Mendy began his stay with the club setting a record for matches leaving the club. undefeated fence; still a real bargain compared to its counterpart.

Verdict: failure

9. Rodri: Atletico Madrid al Man City, 2014, £ 62.8 million

Rodri, who left his City teammate out Ruben Dias (£ 61.6 million paid to Benfica) narrowly arrived at the Etihad Stadium as a long-term substitute for Fernandinho.

The Spanish midfielder has not been an electrifying figure with City; However, that was not the intention of his signing, considering that Pep Guardiola constantly chooses the 25-year-old player to display his presence and control in the midfield, being also effective in the retreat.

Rodri also scored City’s winning goal in the 2020 EFL Cup final over Aston Villa, another point in his favor.

Verdict: Success

10. Kai havertz: Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea, 2020, £ 62 million

Before long, Havertz achieved “child prodigy” status at Leverkusen, scoring 46 goals for the German club before his 21st birthday. He became famous for his absence from several games with the first team to take university exams.

The German creator has marched slowly at Chelsea; however, his level quickly gained momentum once he found his rhythm. Havertz had nine points in his first season with the Blues; being the last one of them the one that ensured the triumph in the final of Champions, by the way.

Verdict: Success