Combined XI that costs less than Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling

Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling were bought by Manchester City for a combined fee of €137.5 millionWhile the summer transfer window of 2015 saw many hyped potential transfers not going through, Manchester City signalled their intent for a serious challenge for the EPL and Champions League by spending big. They brought in Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg and Raheem Sterling from Liverpool – the costliest transfers in the summer.While the combined transfer fee of De Bruyne (€75 million) and Sterling (€62.5 million) was €137.5 million, this XI selected costs a total of €135.4 million. There’s €2.1 million available for possibly hiring the Chelsea medical staff, who aren’t likely to be feeling wanted in the club set up by Jose.Note: Free agents and loan signings have not been considered. All transfer fees are in Euros and have been sourced from TransferMarkt.

#1 Goalkeeper - Petr Cech

Transfer fee: €14 million – Signed by Arsenal from Chelsea

After spending over a decade at Chelsea and playing a major part in the club’s success in England and Europe, Cech decided to explore fresh avenues as Thibaut Courtois cemented his spot as Chelsea’s number one goalkeeper.

While Cech’s wish for a transfer wasn’t surprising for anyone, the fact that he moved to city rivals Arsenal did upset Chelsea fans. However, the majority appreciated the player’s contribution to the club, understood his situation and wished him well.

Given his proven pedigree and experience, Cech is an obvious choice for the goalkeeper’s spot in this XI.

#2 Right Back - Cedric Soares

Transfer fee: €6.5 million – Signed by Southampton from Sporting Clube de Portugal

The trend of Liverpool signing Southampton players for big money transfer fees and the Saints replacing the outgoing players prudently continued for a second year in succession. The Merseyside club signed Nathaniel Clyne and Southampton signed Portugal international Cedric Soares as his replacement.

Costing almost one-third of Clyne’s transfer fee, the 24-year-old Soares brings international experience with Portugal to Southampton. And he will hope to help his club continue their impressive defensive form from last season in the 2015/16 season.

#3 Centre Back - Matija Nastasic

Transfer fee: €9.5 million – Signed by FC Schalke 04 from Manchester City

The young Serbia international signed for Manchester City in 2012 as a teenager and impressed everyone with some solid performances. So much so that he was made a regular in the first team ahead of the more experienced Joleon Lescott.

However, in the following season (in which City went on to win the EPL), Nastasic’s involvement was limited due to injuries. With City looking at other options in central defence, Nastasic didn’t feature for the side in the first half of the 2014/15 season.

He was loaned to Schalke in January 2015 and has played every minute for the German side in Bundesliga during this period. Schalke later activated the transfer clause to sign the player on a four-year contract.

#4 Central Back - Dante

Transfer fee: €4.5 million – Signed by VfL Wolfsburg from Bayern Munich

Brazil international Dante enjoyed three very successful seasons at Bayern Munich, including the treble in 2013 in which he was a key member of the side. However, last season the player couldn’t hold on to a regular starting spot under Pep Guardiola and requested a transfer in the summer of 2015.

Recognizing his contribution to the club and his wish to play regular football elsewhere, Bayern sanctioned his transfer to Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg. The player will bring a wealth of international and top-level club experience to Wolfsburg who are chasing success both in Germany and in Europe.

#5 Left Back - Filipe Luis

Transfer fee: €16 million – Signed by Atletico Madrid from Chelsea

Just a season after arriving at Chelsea being considered one of the top left-backs in the world, Luis headed back to his old club Atletico as he failed to hold on to a regular starting spot in the Blues side.

With Jose Mourinho preferring to play Cesar Azpilicueta in the left-back role instead of Luis in the title-winning campaign, Atletico were quick to re-sign their former player for a fee which was €4 million lower than what they received for him in 2014 – a decent profit.

#6 Right Midfield - Gerard Deulofeu

Transfer fee: €6 million – Signed by Everton from Barcelona

Once touted as the next star player to graduate from the ranks at Barcelona to the first team, Deulofeu was unable to cement a spot at the Camp Nou. He spent the last two seasons on loan – first at Everton and then Sevilla.

Despite showing some glimpses of talent, the player hasn’t been able to live up to expectations yet. But Everton moved to sign him on a reduced fee which may well prove to be a bargain if the player fulfils his potential in the Premier League.

He scored some key goals during his loan spell in 2013/14 and Roberto Martinez will be hoping for more of the same.

#7 Central Midfield - Yohan Cabaye

Transfer fee: €13.9 million – Signed by Crystal Palace from PSG

Crystal Palace showed their ambition for a top eight finish in the league by breaking the club record to sign Yohan Cabaye from Paris Saint-Germain. Cabaye, who had played under Palace manager Alan Pardew at Newcastle, will add quality to the side which has been playing some impressive football after hiring Pardew.

Though PSG had won the treble last season, Cabaye’s participation was often limited to substitute appearances because of the good form of other players in the central midfield role. This transfer will offer Cabaye a chance to have a fresh start, and Pardew can build his side around the player.

#8 Central Midfield - Bastian Schweinsteiger

Transfer fee: €9 million – Signed by Manchester United from Bayern Munich

For the fee, it could well be the transfer coup of the summer as the World Cup winner quit Bayern Munich – a club where he won a rich haul of trophies at the top level – to join Manchester United. The midfielder was also reunited with Louis van Gaal who was his boss between 2009 and 2011 and responsible for changing his position.

The player recently turned 31 and brings invaluable experience and quality to the Manchester United midfield. And after having won every possible top honour at Bayern, Schweinsteiger will be looking to win trophies in England with his new club.

#9 Left Midfield - Xherdan Shaqiri

Transfer fee: €17 million – Signed by Stoke City from Inter Milan

A player whose career hasn’t taken off yet after the early promise, Shaqiri won trophies at Bayern Munich but often struggled to get much game time ahead of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

The move to Inter in January 2015 didn’t work well either and Shaqiri was in Milan for a very short period. Stoke moved in to sign the ‘Alpine Messi’ beating reported interest of Everton, Newcastle and Schalke as they look to improve on their ninth place finish last season.

#10 Striker - Mario Mandzukic

Transfer fee: €19 million – Signed by Juventus from Atletico Madrid

Having scored 20 goals for Atletico in 43 games the Croatian now takes on a new challenge with the Italian champions. The striker, 29 years old, has scored in excess of 160 goals in his club career. And with his experience and goal-scoring pedigree, he will be a valuable player for any team.

The striker has had an up and down career at various clubs, scoring 48 goals for Bayern Munich in two seasons where he won two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy.

#11 Striker - Luciano Vietto

Transfer fee: €20 million – Signed by Atletico Madrid from Villarreal

Mandzukic’s strike partner in this XI is the player who replaced him at Atletico – Luciano Vietto. The young Argentine striker impressed many with his performances in his debut season in La Liga with Villarreal after joining them in August 2014.

Football expert Guillem Balague praised Vietto’s performances for Villarreal and said, “He’s definitely the best young player of the season in Spain.” There have some brilliant strikers – Fernando Torres, Diego Costa, David Villa, Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero – who have plied their trade at Vicente Calderon in recent times with varying degrees of success, and Vietto will hope to join the illustrious list with a rich haul of goals.