Paul Pogba is currently embroiled in an absurdly well-publicised transfer saga. When Juventus put a €110 million price tag on Pogba, it was Manchester United who took the bait and the world has been waiting since then to see if they actually succeed in signing him to the club.
Also Read: Paul Pogba removed from Juve online store
The asking price for Pogba is surely ludicrous and managers like Wenger and Klopp have questioned the practicality of giving into such big money transfers.
While Manchester United are in pursuit of a €110million man, there are many other football players who have already moved this season for much less. Here’s a look at a starting XI that can be acquired for the same price as Pogba.
Goalkeeper – Victor Valdes
After hardly getting any game time with Manchester United, Victor Valdes, 34 has moved to a newly promoted club of the Premier League – Middlesbrough. He has signed with them for two years on a free transfer.
Right Back – Dani Alves
Another free transfer, 33-year-old Dani Alves has only recently moved to Juventus in June for a two-year period with the option for an extra one-year extension.
Centre Back – Nicolas Nkoulou
A 26-year-old, Nicolas Nkoulou moved from Marseille to 2015-16 Ligue 1 runners-up Lyon after his five-year contract expired. He signed a four-year deal with his new club.
Centre Back – Havard Nordveit
Havard Nordveit, the 26-year-old Norwegian defender agreed to join West Ham United after his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach expired. He moved to West Ham on a free transfer and has already made his first appearance for the Hammers in UEFA Europa League qualifying match.
Left Back – Raphael Guerreiro
22-year-old Raphael Guerreiro was impressive for Portugal during their very successful Euro 2016 campaign. In fact, he piqued the interest of Borussia Dortmund and moved there from FC Lorient on a four-year contract for the transfer sum of €12 million.
Central Midfielder – Ever Banega
Ever Banega, 28, won the UEFA Europa League with Sevilla in 2015 and 2016. After his contract with the Andalusians ended, it was announced he was joining Internazionale Milan as a free agent with effect from 1st July 2016.
Central Midfielder – N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante was the unseen force behind Leicester City’s outstanding Premier League victory last season. After making a league record 149 tackles, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year. Of course, he aroused the interest of various clubs and it was finally Chelsea who signed the 25-year-old midfielder for €38 million (£32 million) on a five-year contract.
Attacking Midfielder -Jakub Blaszczykowski
Jakub Blaszczykowski was a Borussia Dortmund player for eight years after signing for them in 2007. In August of this year, the 30-year-old Polish midfielder joined German rivals VfL Wolfsburg on a three-year contract for the reported sum of €5 million.
Attacking Midfielder – Mario Gotze
Mario Gotze, inspired by the sudden exodus of players to Bayern Munich, left his boyhood club, Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and joined them as well. Three years and barely any game time later, Mario Gotze realised his mistake and as of July 2016 announced he was going back to Dortmund on a four-year contract for a transfer fee of €25 million.
Forward – Alvaro Morata
After a young Alvaro Morata was unable to find a regular spot in Real Madrid’s first team, he moved to Juventus in 2014 after a €20 million deal was finalised. His resounding success in Italy tempted Real Madrid to trigger his buy-back clause and he returned to the Bernabeu for the sum of €30 million. However, Morata still feels he will not be picked over other players and might still move by the end of the current transfer window.
Also Read: 5 possible destinations for Alvaro Morata
Forward – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The self-proclaimed ‘god’ of football, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been around the block during his career. After his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired at the end of the 2015-16 season, he was a free agent with a number of clubs willing to sign the star player. Ibrahimovic chose to rejoin his old boss Jose Mourinho at Manchester United on a one-year deal.
