Big-money transfers provide the most intrigue and by extension the most scrutiny. Expectations run parallel to the fee forked out and most fail to level up.
That’s certainly been the case for a few of the pricey buys in 2019-20 and with transfer fees set to tumble in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, this window will water many eyes when looked back upon in future years.
So, as the season reaches its conclusion, how have the top-10 most expensive buys from the season 2019-20 campaign fared?
1. Joao Felix | Benfica-Atletico Madrid | €126m
It’s been a curious campaign for Felix. As the posterboy for Atletico’s bold new era, he’s been, well, a boy undergoing the difficult development into becoming Diego Simeone’s new main man.
After initially sparkling, injury has butchered much of his season, yet aside from his introverted spells on the pitch, the touch, vision and technique has at times been captivating.
Rumours have swirled of massive offers from the Premier League, but there’s been equal discontent from pundits questioning his suitability to the rigidity of a Simeone team. Above all else, though, he’s not been helped by what’s in front of him.
As a thoroughbred playmaker, Felix is reliant on a dependable No9 and hasn’t exactly been blessed with Alvaro Morata so out of form and Diego Costa barely out of the treatment room.
Still, eight goals and two assists across all competitions is a decent return, though much more will be expected in the years to come.
GRADE = C
2. Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid-Barcelona | €120m
Griezmann’s Netflix doc arrived a year too early. Had it contained the events of his dramatic decline with Barcelona then it would have been far less dull.
But to be fair to the Frenchman, this grade is more directed at Barcelona because he merely stands at the door of their transfer hall of shame. Nearly €1 billion has been spent on close to 30 players over the last five years and most of them have failed.
In Griezmann’s case, he always looked an awkward fit given he thrives in the same areas of the pitch as Lionel Messi and was the board’s top choice as opposed to the player’s.
It is alarming that Griezmann’s standout performance remains the glittery display against Real Betis, all the way back in August when Messi was absent.
He’s largely been on the periphery of contests when stuck out on the left wing or more recently stuck on the bench.
His presence “destabilises the team” according to Quique Setien, a most damning assessment. The manager, the style, the team-mates and the club in its current state, are ill-fitted for the former Atletico Madrid superstar.
GRADE = F
3. Eden Hazard | Chelsea-Real Madrid | €100m
Injuries offer some mitigation for Hazard’s concerning debut season in Madrid, but apart from some signs of spark on both sides of his ankle surgery, it’s been a deeply disappointing introduction for Real Madrid’s newest Galactico.
Granted, the Belgian didn’t exactly help himself by, well, helping himself to a few treats in the kitchen over the summer, turning up for pre-season overweight and woefully off the pace.
Gripped by a food coma in his first appearances, it took Hazard a while to start showing his bewitching ability, resulting in the alarming stat sheet of one goal and three assists in 15 La Liga outings.
The sharpness did appear to return when La Liga resumed after the pause with his fast-twitch fibres flickering into life again.
But discomfort in the surgically-repaired ankle has meant more missed games and increasing worry among many that he could be another Kaka. Patience will be required, but that’s not a virtue Real Madrid is exactly known for.
He is a player who makes things happen, but this season everything and nothing has happened.
GRADE = D
4. Harry Maguire | Leicester-Manchester United | €87m
Maguire has been chained to the ground by his price tag, which might explain why he struggles to contain pacey players, but putting aside his speed deficiency, he’s been the leader United so badly needed.
One of the more enjoyable quirks of football without fans in the ground is that we can hear the players who are most vocal and if Opta provided decibel stats, then Maguire would be right up there, as he is in most defensive categories this season.
He leads United for interceptions, clearances and shots blocked while his 161 headers won is only bettered by James Tarkowski and Virgil van Dijk among Premier League defenders.
His consistently accurate passing has also steadied United and it’s no accident they possess one of the best defensive records in his debut campaign. After all, there’s a reason he’s been entrusted with the responsibility of United’s club captaincy.
Install a pacey centre-back next to him and United could well have one of the sturdiest backlines in Europe next season.
GRADE = B
5. Matthijs de Ligt | Ajax-Juventus | €85.5m
The biggest indicator of De Ligt’s development is from a game he didn’t even feature in. Juventus collapsed in spectacular fashion against AC Milan last week, conceding four times while De Ligt was out serving a suspension.
In the previous five games before that result, they had conceded just twice with the Dutchman starting all of them.
Kudos to the 20-year-old because he has demonstrated tremendous mental resilience to rediscover the type of form and fortitude which saw the Bianconneri pay Ajax €85.5m for his services.
A spate of handball offences pointed to some early teething problems and when he was used in rotation with the imperious Merih Demiral, his progression slowed.
Demiral’s serious knee injury in January has allowed De Ligt to retain a consistent place in the XI and he’s not looked back since. Confidence returned, the Dutchman’s positioning and anticipation has improved immensely with the prospect of a De Ligt-Demiral partnership now an exciting prospect.
Ajax’s boy-leader has become a man among the defensive Gods of Italy.
GRADE = B
6. Lucas Hernandez | Atletico Madrid-Bayern Munich | €80m
Bayern Munich needed a fast, left-footed centre-back to slot in next to Niklas Sule and they also required a supporting left-back after Rafinha departed.
Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez were brought in last summer with the ability to cover roles centrally and at full-back. Problem solved.
Well, not exactly. Alphonso Davies has since emerged as one of the best left-backs in Europe, pushing David Alaba to a centre-back role he has since looked excellent in.
So Bayern’s left-footed centre-back and back-up left-back problem has been solved, but not in the way anticipated, meaning a new issue has emerged.
Hernandez is now virtually redundant with his brutal injury record this campaign rotting his importance to the side. Now, there are rumours the Frenchman wants a move to Paris Saint-Germain after just one season in Bavaria and just 10 Bundesliga starts.
Bayern are said to be reluctant to sell given the showcase of talent at Atletico Madrid and the fact he’s still only 24-years-old, especially with Jerome Boateng turning 32 in September.
But considering he’s their record buy, Hernandez being demoted to third-choice left-back and even further down the order at centre-back doesn’t exactly scream success.
GRADE = F
7. Nicolas Pepe | Lille-Arsenal | €80m
Bruno Fernandes has made an absolute mockery of the notion it takes foreign imports at least six months to acclimatise to the rigours of the Premier League. But Pepe is most definitely one talent who has needed some time to adapt.
To his credit, the Ivorian has managed to do so despite the fact he opened the door to his Arsenal career with their house on fire.
For a player fuelled by confidence, the chaotic nature of the Gunners hasn’t helped and yet despite everything that’s happened this term, he’s still managed to score nine times and provide eight assists in all competitions.
Now, they are not numbers expected of a club-record buy, but it doesn’t mean he’s a flop either. Add in the fact only Mesut Ozil has created more chances for Arsenal this season and there are positives.
Don’t forget Pepe has also been operating in a far more restrictive role than the one he enjoyed at Lille.
In France, the 25-year-old was given the freedom to drift into central areas with the knowledge an overlapping right-back would provide width.
His unpredictable positioning made him a danger in transition but at Arsenal he’s been tasked with marking the touchline. The pace, trickery and end product is there, but just like Arsenal on the whole, it will take some time for the structure to fall into place.
GRADE = C
8. Frenkie de Jong | Ajax-Barcelona | €75m
Griezmann is a stylistic mismatch for Barcelona and so his failure is not a huge surprise. De Jong, on the other hand, most definitely is. Griezmann might need educating to understand the Barca style, but then the club have drifted so far past those fundamentals since Luis Enrique that De Jong would be in a position to reteach them all.
After all, he has absorbed the Barca DNA at the club which created Total Football and moved to the one which did once perfect it. But the environment is different now and De Jong has looked very frustrated.
He was being talked about as the most exciting young midfielder on the planet last season, now he’s barely in any conversation.
How can a player so cerebral and fluid in the latter stages of the Champions League last term, appear so confused now? He’s far too talented to flop and so it’s the parts around him which are to blame.
With Ajax, De Jong was surrounded by youthful exuberance, a series of moving parts working in unison to create problems for the opposition.
At Barcelona, the set-up is geared towards the older players who lack mobility and so he’s tasked with fixing problems rather than causing them.
At 23 he’ll be in this team for a long time so there’s no need for him to be swallowed up by the vortex of panic just yet. But it’s not been a good season for him.
GRADE = D
9. Rodri | Atletico Madrid-Manchester City | €70m
City’s vulnerability to fast counter-attacks this season points to a systemic rot of the fundamentals which helped create an outstanding defensive philosophy.
The loss of energy and urgency, particularly at the top end of the pitch, has meant their press has been too easily bypassed leading to some pretty shocking results this season. While no individual can be totally blamed, Rodri is one of the reasons for their struggle this season.
The Spanish midfielder was brought in as the long-term replacement for the ageing Fernandinho and although he is clearly a stylish orchestrator, his defensive instincts have not been comparable to the Brazilian.
City have missed Fernandinho’s energy and aggression in midfield as Rodri has at times been far too passive.
Dragged out of position and lacking the same type of awareness to break up counter-attacks before they reach City’s defence – whether by fair means or not – has left a crumbling backline susceptible.
However, Rodri is clearly physically up to the demands of English football and his ability on the ball is undeniable.
He’s already broken two Premier League records for attempted and completed passes with 188 and 178 respectively against West Ham in February. Expect Rodri to be closer to the complete product next season.
GRADE = C
10. Romelu Lukaku | Manchester United-Inter Milan | €65m
From this top-10 Lukaku has been the best and his transfer from Manchester United is one of the rare examples of a switch working out well for all parties.
His throwback partnership with Lautaro Martinez has thrown Inter into the Serie A title race while at United his absence has allowed the Rashford-Martial-Greenwood trio to flourish.
For Lukaku himself, he’s been re-energised by the love he receives from boss Antonio Conte, which has driven him on to become the first Inter player since Ronaldo to score 20 league goals in his debut season.
It’s his understanding with Martinez which has really stood out, though. Inter’s primary tactic is to shift the ball up to the hulking Belgian and have him quickly find Martinez with a flick or smart pass.
They communicate without vocals, Martinez knows exactly where he needs to be and Lukaku can find him.
The same limitations which made United keen to get rid of Lukaku still remain, his record against the top sides is poor and his first-touch is still marred by imprecision.
But the stats don’t lie as 26 goals in all competitions is a great return with more goals surely to come.
GRADE = A
