Who have been the most expensive pieces of Premier League business so far this summer?

With the start of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign just around the corner, there is no doubt that clubs from up and down the country will be desperate to wrap up their business sooner rather than later.

With under a month until the summer transfer window slams shut, there still remains a string of speculation surrounding the futures of the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice.

Watching Crystal Palace turn to former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira earlier in the month and enjoying what has been a youthful overhaul at Selhurst Park over the summer, we certainly have an exciting remaining three weeks on the cards.

With it expected that the Premier League’s ‘big six’ will break the bank before opening the new campaign, we have taken a look at the three biggest arrivals so far this summer.

Jadon Sancho – Manchester United

While Manchester United might have missed out on their number one target 12 months ago, the former Premier League champions were finally able to announce the arrival of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year-deal in what was one of Europe’s longest transfer sagas.

Despite his heartbreaking penalty miss at this summer’s European Championships final earlier in the month, the one-time Manchester City starlet has only gone from strength to strength since deciding to leave the Premier League for rural Germany four years ago.

Bursting his way into superstardom, Sancho scored 50 goals and recorded 57 assists in 137 appearances for Dortmund, including 16 goals across all competitions throughout the 2020/21 campaign. More impressive, in four seasons at Dortmund, Sancho notched 57 assists and created 65 big chances, more than Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, and Cavani mustered during the same period.

Tipped as what could be one of the key factors in Manchester United’s charge to mount a serious title rally this season, a returning Sancho now becomes the second most expensive English player of all time behind his new team-mate, Harry Maguire.

Ibrahima Konate – Liverpool

Enduring what many around Anfield would have billed as a nightmare campaign last season and only just about managing to sneak a Champions League spot, there is no doubt that long-term knee injuries to both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez played a vital role in their stuttering campaign.

With it no secret that Jurgen Klopp’s side were desperate to bring in defensive reinforcements this summer, the arrival of RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate was undoubtedly a welcomed boost for the now-former Premier League champions.

Agreeing to pay the 22-year-old’s £36million release clause with the German side back in May, Konate made 21 appearances for Leipzig throughout the 2020/21 campaign and the French U21 international is regarded by many to be one of Europe’s top central defensive prospects.

Finally putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Anfield earlier in the month, the arrival of Konate could see West Ham and Brighton target Nathaniel Phillips be moved on before the window slams shut.

Emiliano Buendia – Aston Villa

While Norwich might have managed to secure an immediate Premier League at the first attempt last season, it was not enough for the Canaries to keep hold of their midfield talisman.

Playing a vital role in Norwich’s pursuit of winning two Championship titles in the past three years, Emiliano Buendia only continued to gain a string of admirers after he scored 15 goals and racked up 16 assists last season, a run of form that saw him heavily linked with a potential move to Arsenal over the past 12 months.

However, with a string of speculation still surrounding the future of Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish, Dean Smith’s side have once again been busy this summer and Premier League dreamers were able to snap up the Argentina ace on a five-year-deal worth £33million.

Welcomed to Villa Park as a “great addition” by Smith when the deal was completed on June 10th, Buendia made a total of 121 appearances in all competitions and scored 24 goals following his arrival at Carrow Road from Spanish outfit Getafe for as little as £1.6million in 2018.

Read More