10 major football highlights in 2017

#3 Fortune favors the defence

Ederson has impressed with fine performances for City this season

While we're on the subject of transfers, in a year which has seen spiraling transfer fees, it's perhaps no surprise that we've seen players stationed in the defensive half go for prices previously unheard of in world football. Since it's hard to choose between the two, it's probably best to include both, starting with Ederson Moraes of Manchester City.

The 24-year Brazilian goalkeeper switched from Benfica to Manchester City in the summer of 2017 for a world record fee of £34.7m, which eclipsed the 16-year record of £32.6m for Gianluigi Buffon upon his transfer from Parma to Juventus in 2001.

In addition to that, Liverpool recently announced the signing of Dutch center back Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton for a world record fee of £75m.

Numbers like these were nonexistent only a few years ago but it seems as though they're here to stay. Whether Ederson or Van Dijk will manage to justify their price tags remains to be seen but the future is bright given that they are both undoubtedly talented and playing for two elite clubs.

Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Virgil van Dijk.Full story: https://t.co/tJy9vsGOen pic.twitter.com/L17A7UwqaU

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 27, 2017