A Team For The Price Of Angel Di Maria XI

It looks like Manchester United are going to have to smash the British transfer record to land Real Madrid’s Angel di Maria, with a a fee of £63.9 million widely reported.

Here’s a FULL TEAM have transferred this summer for less than that price…

Goalkeeper – Pepe Reina, £2.5 million

With Brendan Rodgers preferring Simon Mignolet as his first-choice keeper, Reina has followed a successful loan deal with Napoli last season with a move to Bayern Munich as understudy to Manuel Neuer.

Left-Back – Ashley Cole, Free

We’ve allowed ourselves one Bosman transfer and new Roma signing Ashley Cole takes the left-back berth. He’s slotted in well in pre-season, despite his infamously awkward team photo, and is set to make his Serie A debut this coming weekend against Fiorentina.

Central Defenders – Eric Dier, £4 million & Stefan de Vrij, £6.75 million

Dier is already a Fantasy Football legend, having scored on his first two Premier League appearances for Spurs following his £4 million summer move from Sporting Lisbon.

Meanwhile, de Vrij’s impressive World Cup for Holland under Louis van Gaal saw him linked with United, but he moved to Lazio from Feyenoord for around £6.75 million.

Right-Back – Mathieu Debuchy, £8 million

Arsenal were faced with the problem this summer of replacing France’s back-up right-back Bacary Sagna. So they simply replaced him with Les Bleus’ first-choice right-back. Debuchy has Premier League experience with Newcastle United and already looks at steal at £8 million.

Left Midfield – Jefferson Montero, £4 million

United already know all about Montero, as he helped create Swansea City’s winner at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season. The Ecuadorian has got pace to burn and was an ever-present in his country’s recent World Cup campaign.

Central Midfielders – Ivan Rakitic, £14 million & Siem de Jong, £6 million

The versatile Croatian midfielder was earmarked by new Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as one of his key signings before their transfer ban eventually kicks in. Rakitic was a Europa League winner with Sevilla last term, when he scored 15 goals and assisted 18 in all competitions.

De Jong played a huge part in Ajax’s four consecutive Dutch league titles before his £6 million move to Newcastle United this summer. The versatile midfielder can also play up-front and made his Toon debut as a late substitute against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Right Midfield – Mathieu Valbuena, £6 million

The pint-sized French attacking midfielder was a hero at Marseille, epitomised by the club’s decision to retire his number 28 shirt. He’s already assisted all of Dynamo Moscow’s four goals in his first two games for the Russian side, following his £6 million move.

Strikers – Bojan, £3 million & Demba Ba, £8 million

Bojan has failed to really shine yet in Stoke City’s opening two matches but, at just £3 million, the former Barcelona wonderkid was a risk worth taking for Mark Hughes.

Ba never really got a chance at Chelsea but he scored 36 goals in 66 games for West Ham and Newcastle and looks a bargain at £8 million for Turkish side Besiktas.

Total Cost of Team = £62.25 million
Total Cost of Angel di Maria – £63.9 million