AS THE hours tick down to the 11pm transfer deadline, there are plenty of big deals still in the pipeline.
Clubs in the Premier League and across Europe will be scrambling to finish their summer business in time.
A number of top stars may still be on the move including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Youri Tielemans and Mykhaylo Mudryk.
But it would take some massive deals on Thursday to break into the top ten of deadline day transfers – with the top one surely set to stay for a long time…
Gareth Bale: Tottenham to Real Madrid, £85.3m (2013)
Not only is Bale’s switch to the Bernabeu the biggest transfer on deadline day ever, but it was once the world record.
The long saga eventually culminated in the Welsh wizard spending nine years with Real, winning 16 trophies including five Champions Leagues before joining Los Angeles this summer.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Dortmund to Arsenal, £55m (2018)
Arsenal fans were understandably excited when the club dropped £55m on Aubameyang.
Things started brilliantly for the Gabon international, so much so that he was awarded a huge new contract and the armband – before being struck by the captaincy curse and was shoved out by Mikel Arteta.
Fernando Torres: Liverpool to Chelsea, £50m (2011)
This was a landmark transfer on a bonkers day in 2011 as Chelsea broke the record for the amount spent by an English club to lure Torres from Anfield.
Despite his huge success for Liverpool, El Nino simply failed to deliver for the Blues and will always be recognised as a major flop in West London.
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Thomas Partey: Atletico to Arsenal, £45m (2020)
Arsenal toyed with Atletico by triggering his release clause right at the end of the window, forcing them to sell the Ghana man.
Partey took his time to adjust to English football but is now showing why the Gunners splashed the cash with his dominant performances in midfield.
Mesut Ozil: Real Madrid to Arsenal, £42.5m (2013)
See Aubameyang. Another big-name signing that enthralled supporters with his sheer mastery.
But after being handed a mega £350,000-per-week contract, it all went downhill and the club bought him out of his contract to let him leave for free.
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Ronaldo: Inter to Real Madrid, £40.5m (2002)
One of the most talented footballers of all time really rubbed salt into Barcelona’s wounds by joining Real Madrid, five years after leaving the Nou Camp for Inter.
His five years produced 104 goals in 177 games but just two major honours, LaLiga in 2003 and 2007, as the Galacticos underdelivered.
Anthony Martial: Monaco to Man Utd, £36m (2015)
The Frenchman’s transfer broke the record fee paid for a teenager – with a further £22m in potential add-ons.
Martial made an immediate impact with his stunning finish against Liverpool on his debut but has struggled to kick on – but now hopes to resurrect his United career under Erik ten Hag.
Andy Carroll: Newcastle to Liverpool, £35m (2011)
Just a few hours before the Torres deal was signed, Carroll was the most expensive footballer in British transfer history after this ludicrous move from Newcastle.
Unlike Luis Suarez who also arrived at Anfield in January 2011, it proved a waste of cash as Carroll managed 11 goals in 58 games before injury-hit spells at West Ham, Newcastle, Reading and West Brom.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Arsenal to Liverpool, £35m (2017)
Oxlade-Chamberlain was determined to be a central midfielder after Arsene Wenger insisted on using him out wide, even at wing-back.
The England international landed a major switch to Liverpool.
Despite Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup winner’s medals, it has still been personally disappointing for the Ox who has been ravaged by injuries.
Danny Drinkwater: Leicester to Chelsea, £35m (2017)
This one went right down to the wire but the Blues may be wishing they didn’t get it over the line after all.
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A year after snapping up N’Golo Kante for £30m the previous year, Chelsea raided Leicester again by offering Drinkwater a big-money move to Stamford Bridge.
However, it did not work out at all as Drinkwater was released this summer with just 12 Premier League appearances and four loans.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
