5 biggest bargain signings of the summer across Europe
Swapping one domestic giant for another, Blaise Matuidi joined Juventus on Friday from Paris Saint-Germain in a move that was hardly shocking after the French international expressed an intent to leave last summer.
What's surprising is the reported initial €20-million fee paid for the long-legged tactical talent. Even with just a year left on Matuidi's PSG deal and lots of mileage on his 30-year-old limbs, pundits and supporters alike reacted as if the Old Lady pried him from his French embrace for a carafe of Piedmont table wine and a half-eaten caramel budino.
That's because transfer fees have largely risen to inexplicable levels, but several clubs across Europe have still benefitted from judicious moves while using modest resources to attract big-time players.
With that in mind, here's a look at a slew of stingy summer signings from each of Europe's top five leagues:
Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea to Watford, £5M)
Sympathy goes to the Chelsea academy product, who did all he could to garner the gaffer's trust whilst on countless loans - both at home and abroad - only to be a first-team afterthought.
Nathaniel Chalobah became the latest to wither in the shadows at Stamford Bridge, and considering the versatile Three Lions U-21 stud joined the Premier League holder's youth set-up in 2005 as an 11-year-old, it's heinous that he spent a dozen years on the club's books only to feature 10 times.
The defensive midfielder's first of six Chelsea loans was with Watford, and the 22-year-old has now been been offered a lifeline from Premier League purgatory by the Marco Silva-led Hornets on a five-year deal for a bargain-basement price. Chalobah was outstanding in Watford's opener against Liverpool, compounding the fact that the Blues were nuts to sell both him and Nemanja Matic without bringing in cover. Danny Drinkwater for £40 million? No, thank you.
Honourable mentions: Sandro Ramirez (Malaga to Everton, £5.3M), Dominic Solanke (Chelsea to Liverpool, fee decided by tribunal.), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke to Arsenal, free)
Maxime Gonalons (Lyon to Roma, €5M)
As part of Lyon's startling summer overhaul, midfielder Maxime Gonalons joined fellow first-team regulars Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Mathieu Valbuena, Christophe Jallet, and Rachid Ghezzal on the way out.
Lucas Tousart's emergence has coincided with Les Gones' youth movement, so Gonalons, a 28-year-old defensive midfielder, was sold to Roma for a modest €5 million - and what a deal that is for a player who's as adept at timely tackles as he is spraying balls from deep.
It would appear famed former Sevilla sporting director Monchi brought his thrifty ways to Serie A, and Gonalons' acquisition is the biggest bargain of 10 significant signings for the reigning runner-up, with a permanent deal for the rejuvenated Federico Fazio a close second. Not bad considering I Giallorossi pocketed €100 million from the sales of Mohamed Salah, Antonio Rudiger, and Leandro Paredes.
Honourable mentions: Federico Fazio (Tottenham to Roma, €3.2M), Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal to Juventus, €12M), Adam Ounas (Bordeaux to Napoli, €10M)
Sebastien Corchia (Lille to Sevilla, €5M)
The aforementioned Monchi left Sevilla in the summer, but the spirit of the penny-pinching administrator lives on. Look no further than the Andalusians' €5-million move for Sebastian Corchia as proof.
Impassioned Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa was lured to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, and to the surprise of nobody, the former Lazio and Marseille boss wasted little time putting his imprint on the club, sending Corchia on his way as Kevin Malcuit was brought in from Saint-Etienne.
Capped once by France, Corchia is a traditional right-back with a defense-first approach that impressed whilst at Lille, but he became surplus to requirements with Malcuit's addition. It's likely Corchia, 26, will now compete for first-team honours at right-back with Gabriel Mercado, but even if he's second choice, €5 million is a pittance in a climate skewed by opulent fees.
Honourable mentions: Dani Ceballos (Real Betis to Real Madrid €17M), Fabian Schar (Hoffenheim to Deportivo, €2M), Ruben Duarte (Espanyol to Alaves, €400K)
Kenny Tete (Ajax to Lyon, €3M)
Consistent with Lyon's youth-oriented approach, Kenny Tete was brought in from Ajax for a modest €3-million fee as a replacement for Nice-bound Christophe Jallet.
In the span of a few weeks, Bruno Genesio's lot added full-backs Tete, Marcal, and Ferland Mendy for a combined €13.5 million - shrewd business as Lyon shored up a backline that struggled last season. Bertrand Traore (€10M, from Chelsea) and maiden bow brace-bagger Mariano Diaz (€8M, from Real Madrid) were also added to the budding squad for relatively inexpensive fees.
Second choice to Joel Veltman at Ajax, Tete, 21, is a pacey two-way full-back who showed great potential last season when given a chance - something Lyon knows all too well after witnessing the Dutch defender's virtues during both legs of a Europa League semi-final tilt last year.
Honourable mentions: Marcal (Benfica to Lyon, €4.5M), Valere Germain (Monaco to Marseille, €8M), Jordi Mboula (Barcelona to Monaco, €3M)
Mahmoud Dahoud (Monchengladbach to Dortmund, €12M)
Ignoring his uncharacteristically subpar performance this summer with Germany at the European U-21 Championship in Poland, Syrian-born midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud is one for the future.
It therefore makes sense that noted youth cultivator Borussia Dortmund snapped up the 21-year-old, but what's surprising is the comparatively low €12-million fee paid for a player who was previously linked with high-profile moves to Chelsea and Liverpool.
A box-to-box threat, Dahoud is a versatile star in the making who fancies threading an incisive ball while posing a threat with a penchant for shots from distance. Abundantly skilled while in possession, Dahoud slots into Peter Bosz's young midfield to helm a similar role to that of Ilkay Gundogan.
Honourable mentions: Serge Gnabry (Werder Bremen to Bayern Munich, €8M), Jorge Mere (Sporting Gijon to Koln, €7M), Amine Harit (Nantes to Schalke, €8M)
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)