'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Virgil van Dijk | £75 million, 2018
Hailed as one of the most transformative signings in recent Premier League history, Virgil van Dijk has elevated Liverpool to new heights since his arrival for a then world-record fee of £75 million. The Dutchman was seen as the answer to the Reds' defensive woes, who struggled to compete despite their heroics up front.
Van Dijk is regarded as fans, managers and fellow players as the best defender in world football currently and is an indispensable member of this star-studded Liverpool team. The 29-year-old has already won the Champions League and the Premier League in his short Liverpool career and looks set to go down as one of the club's all-time greats.
Aside from his defensive excellence, Van Dijk is also a handful in the opposition penalty area and has scored a handful of important goals for the Reds. The former Southampton man is all set to go down as a Premier League great and has vindicated Jurgen Klopp's trust in him in stunning fashion.
#3 Romelu Lukaku | £75 million, 2017
Romelu Lukaku was in the middle of a transfer tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea in 2017. Eventually, the Red Devils won the race to his signature, as they agreed a £75 million fee with Everton.
Lukaku hit the ground running immediately and scored regularly for his new club, as Manchester United secured a second-place finish in the 2017-18 Premier League season under Jose Mourinho. However, things quickly went south for the Belgian as well as his manager, as his form began to dip.
Manchester United began the following season poorly and Lukaku found himself in and out of the side before Mourinho was sacked in December 2018. Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins at Old Trafford, it was clear that the former Everton man was not the kind of striker he was looking for.
In the summer of 2019, Lukaku was sold to Inter Milan for nearly as much as what Manchester United paid for him. The 27-year-old has banged in the goals in the Serie A and become a key player for Antonio Conte.
#2 Harry Maguire | £80 million, 2019
Probably the most surprising name on the list, Harry Maguire joined Manchester United for an astonishing £80 million fee from Leicester City last summer. The transfer fee admittedly raised eyebrows, as the Englishman was not seen as a player who could vindicate such a massive outlay.
Maguire's doubters have not been proved wrong entirely, as the towering centre half endured a mixed first season at Old Trafford. While he quickly became an important member of the squad and was also named club captain, his performances on the pitch have been largely inconsistent.
The former Leicester defender, however, started every Premier League game for the Red Devils and helped shore up their backline. Alongside compatriot Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Maguire has added quality and reliability to the United rearguard and will look to build on his first season at the club.
It goes without saying that Manchester United paid over the odds for the Englishman. Nevertheless, Maguire now looks settled at Old Trafford and is a key part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans.
#1 Paul Pogba | £89 million, 2016
Paul Pogba's £89 million move to Manchester United in the summer of 2016 remains the most expensive purchase in Premier League history. The Frenchman returned to Old Trafford after a fruitful spell with Juventus, as he aimed to complete unfinished business at the club where he burst onto the scene.
However, it has not gone as planned for the Frenchman. While Pogba's talent has never been questioned, he has struggled to live up to the price tag due to a combination of injuries and poor form.
Hailed as one of the most gifted players of his generation, the Frenchman remains a central figure at Old Trafford despite being linked with moves away from the club. So far, Pogba has failed to justify his price tag fully and has just a year left on his current deal.
Manchester United are confident of tying down their star man to a new contract, as they look to build the team around the mercurial midfielder. In any case, the 27-year-old is yet to produce consistently in the Premier League and is another big-money signing by the Red Devils who has divided opinion.
Also Read: Top 10 Juventus players of all time
