Lucas Hernandez became the second most expensive defender in football history this week after Bayern Munich splashed £68 million on the Atletico Madrid left-back.The World Cup winner signed a five-year deal and will officially join the Bundesliga giants on 1 July.The 23-year-old is only beaten by Virgil van Dijk when in terms of transfer fee for a defender.Liverpool paid Southampton £75 million for the Dutchman back in January 2018 - a fee that now looks like money well spent.While we know the most expensive defender in world football, who would make the world’s most expensive XI?
Well, Hernandez’s big-money move got us thinking and here is what we’ve come up with:
Goalkeeper | Kepa Arrizabalaga | £71m
Liverpool broke the world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper when they spent £67m Alisson last summer. But two weeks later, Chelsea came along and spent £71 million on Kepa.
The Spaniard has had a steady campaign at Stamford Bridge but didn’t cover himself in glory in the League Cup final when he refused to be substituted.
Defender | Lucas Hernandez | £68m
Bayern have paid £68m for the Frenchman and he will arrive at the Allianz Arena in the summer.
Defender | Virgil van Dijk | £75m
As mentioned, Liverpool’s £75 million signing of Van Dijk looks to be an incredible piece of business. Now considered one of the best centre-backs in the world.
Defender | Aymeric Laporte | £57m
Man City missed out on Van Dijk last January and turned to Laporte instead. The Frenchman hasn’t been a bad alternative and is becoming more and more important to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Midfielder | Philippe Coutinho | £142m
Liverpool tried so hard to keep hold of Coutinho but couldn’t resist Barcelona’s £142 million offer.
Coutinho hasn’t taken to life at the Camp Nou as he would have liked and there are reports suggesting he could leave this summer.
Meanwhile, the Reds still haven’t properly replaced the Brazilian.
Midfielder | Paul Pogba | £89m
When United signed Pogba for £89 million, Jose Mourinho said: “in a couple of years you will realise he was cheap.”
Mourinho was right.
Having just turned 26, Pogba has all the attributes to become the best midfielder in world football.
Midfielder | Frenkie de Jong | £64.5m
Barca have agreed a deal to sign Dutch wonderkid De Jong, who will arrive at the Camp Nou in the summer.
The midfielder has already helped Ajax knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League, producing a sensational performance during his side’s 4-1 win.
Midfielder | James Rodriguez | £64.5m
James had a sensational World Cup in 2014 and Real Madrid immediately signed him for £64.5 million.
It hasn’t quite worked out for the Colombian but he’s currently impressing on loan at Bayern Munich.
His future after this summer is somewhat unclear.
Forward | Neymar | £200m
Since his arrival in France, Neymar has scored 32 goals in 33 Ligue 1 matches.
No wonder why the Brazilian is rumoured to be seeking a new challenge just two years after arriving for £200 million…
Forward | Cristiano Ronaldo | £99m
What were Real Madrid thinking? Selling Cristiano Ronaldo for £99 million was a very silly decision as seen by the Portuguese's heroics in the Champions League last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid.
Age is merely a number for the 34-year-old.
Forward | Kylian Mbappe | £165m
Is there such thing as a £165 million bargain? Because that might well be the case in five or 10 years time as far as Mbappe is concerned.
The 20-year-old has already notched more than 50 goals for PSG and looks destined to become a Ballon d’Or winner in his career.
Total: £1,095,000,000