Online Reporter
The Argentine, 25, quit Chelsea for the Etihad Stadium in a record-equalling £125million deal.
It matched the fee that Liverpool forked out to tempt Newcastle into flogging Alexander Isak last year.
But, sensationally, neither of them would be anywhere near being crowned the English top-flight’s most lucrative recruit if inflation and changing spending powers are taken into account.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire reports Alan Shearer’s £15m move to Newcastle in 1996 equates to a whopping £238.3M in today’s money. And that would make the England legend, who is still the all-time leading goalscorer in Premier League history, the most expensive addition by a huge margin.
Juan Sebastian Veron would be second on the list following his arrival at Manchester United in 2001. Although the Red Devils agreed a fee of £28.1m at the time, it would look more like an eye-watering £185.1m if he made the switch in the current financial climate.
Stan Collymore’s £8.5m move from Nottingham Forest to Liverpool seems to be a bargain on the surface.
But, when changing spending powers are taken into consideration, he headed to Anfield for what is now £179.3m.
Six-time Premier League champion Rio Ferdinand features in the top 20 TWICE.
The England legend joined Man Utd for what is £174.8m in today’s money —making him the fourth most expensive acquisition.
And he also bags 12th spot after swapping West Ham for Leeds in November 2000.
Romelu Lukaku, who sealed a switch to Fenerbahce last month, is found in 14th and 18th place following his arrivals at Man Utd and Chelsea respectively.
Andy Cole, Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba, Dwight Yorke and Angel Di Maria make the top 20 thanks to their moves to Old Trafford.
They are joined by Fernando Torres, Andriy Shevchenko, Moises Caicedo, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, who embarked on a fresh challenge at Chelsea.
Dennis Bergkamp is the only Arsenal representative as his arrival from Inter Milan is now worth a stunning £158.2m.
Faustino Asprilla and Jack Grealish, who made a deadline day loan move to Everton, are also in the top 20 as a result of being nabbed by Newcastle and Man City respectively. — Sun.
