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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
With the World Cup over, it is back to the domestic and continental season in Europe. The big clubs are all busy conducting business that they believe will boost their overall prospects.
Big deals involving names like Arturo Vidal, Edinson Cavani, Wesley Sneijder and Isco are likely to come through in the coming weeks.
Though there’s still a month left in the transfer window, most of the major deals have been completed.
Rediff.com takes a look at the top 10 transfers so far.
Luis Suarez
From Liverpool to Barcelona
95 million euros
Biting an opponent had never been more productive.
Luis Suarez, currently serving a ban for biting Italy’s Gieorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, is laughing all the way to the bank.
This month the Uruguayan moved to Barcelona for a fee believed to be 75 million pounds (94 million euros).
The deal made Suarez one of the most expensive players in football and ensured a footfall for the Anfield club considering they had paid Ajax Amsterdam only around 22.8 million pounds (26.5 million euros) for his signature in January 2011.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
James Rodriguez
From AS Monaco to Real Madrid
80 million euros
Following an excellent World Cup where he won both the Golden Boot and the award for the best goal, James Rodriguez was always going to be the one chased by the big clubs.
No wonder then that Champions League winners Real Madrid made the Colombian their top target.
Rodriguez, on his part, refused to join Monaco in a bid to force the move.
This week the Madrid club officially unveiled their new 60 million pounds (80 million euros) signing. The deal made Rodriguez the fourth most-expensive transfer of all-time.
Only Gareth Bale (80 million pounds), Cristiano Ronaldo (80 million pounds) and Luis Suarez (75m) cost more than Rodriguez.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
David Luiz
From Chelsea to PSG
49 million euros
Had Paris Saint-Germain been patient they could have saved a lot of money.
But, as it turned out, the French champions dished out 49 million euros to acquire David Luiz from Chelsea. This made the deal a world-record transfer for a defender.
With Luiz being a flop for Brazil in the World Cup, the deal might just be a costly mistake for PSG.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Alexis Sanchez
From Barcelona to Arsenal
44 million euros
Alexis Sanchez is a magnificent signing by Arsene Wenger.
One of the stars of the World Cup, the French manager wasted no time in bringing the Chilean to London for a fee reported to be around 35 million pounds (44 million euros).
Sanchez thus became the second-most expensive signing in Arsenal's history after last year’s acquisition from Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil.
More importantly, the Gunners beat the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United to the signing of the Chile forward.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Diego Costa
From Atletico Madrid to Chelsea
40 million euros
A stellar 2013-14 season witnessed Diego Costa score 27 goals even as Atletico Madrid won their first league title since 1996.
Thereafter, the Madrid club was always going to find it difficult to hold onto their prized asset.
As it turned out, Chelsea triggered the player’s release clause, of 32 million pounds (40 milion euros), and announced his acquisition at the start of the month.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Cesc Fabregas
From Barcelona to Chelsea
36 million euros
Failing to secure his spot at Barcelona, it was a matter of time before Cesc Fabregas secured a move.
His former club, Arsenal, was re interested in getting him back. However, the Spaniard wasn’t too keen.
Chelsea was quick to seize the opportunity, signing Fabregas on a five-year contract, for a fee of around 30 million pounds.
One London’s club loss is another’s gain.
Or is it?
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Anders Herrera
From Athletic Bilbao to Manchester United
36 million euros
Anders Herrera was the subject of a 24 million pounds offer from Manchester United last August. But the bid was rejected by Athletic Bilbao. Maybe the then United manager David Moyes failed to convince the player and the club.
Less than a year later, though, Manchester United have acquired their target.
Last month the Basque club announced on their official website that they had agreed on a 28.85 million pounds (36 million euros) bid from the Manchester club.
The Spaniard is exactly the kind of player United need as they attempt to rebuild their side.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Luke Shaw
From Southampton to Manchester United
34 million euros
A highly rated player, Luke Shaw has secured himself a big ticket move.
When Manchester United paid Southampton 27 million pounds for the left back last month, it marked a world record transfer fee for a teenager, breaking the record previously held by Wayne Rooney, when he transferred to United from Everton in 2004.
However, the deal also comes with added responsibility.
Just weeks after Shaw’s arrival at Old Trafford, the club sold Patrice Evra, their first-choice left-back for the last eight years.
Can Shaw cope with the pressure?
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Adam Lallana
From Southampton to Liverpool
31 million euros
You can call it an exercise of indulgence on part of Liverpool or simply a piece of smart business by Southampton.
Flush with cash following the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, the Anfiled club splashed 25 million pounds (31 million euros) on Adam Lallana, a player well-rated but one who has no significant credential to command such a high price.
In fact, many of the Liverpool fans have openly criticised the deal.
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The Top 10 football transfers of 2014-15
Toni Kroos
From Bayern Munich to Real Madrid
30 million euros
Having made a neat profit from the sale of Mesut Ozil to Arsenal last year, Toni Kroos marked another piece of smart business from Real Madrid.
The Champions League winners signed the World Cup winner on a six-year deal, at just 24 million pounds (30 million euros).
Despite winning a lot of silverware at Bayern, Kroos always felt sidelined in Munich.
That didn’t stop him from excelling for Germany in Brazil.
Real Madrid have signed a key player at a decent rate.