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In the past few seasons, the Premier League has emerged as the most well-balanced and stacked top-flight football league in all of Europe. With Real Madrid and Barcelona experiencing their worst run of form on the European front as well as in their internal functioning, English clubs have established their supremacy.
Following years of Spanish dominance, Premier League fans were relieved to see an all-English affair in two of the last three Champions League finals.
The most interesting new signings in the Premier League
With a total spend of close to three billion euros, English clubs were majorly active in the summer transfer window of 2021. Despite their recent struggles, Arsenal ended the transfer period as the highest spenders, bringing in the likes of Ben White and Albert Lokonga.
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Elsewhere, Liverpool and Tottenham successfully bolstered their center-back options by acquiring Ibrahima Konate and Cristian Romero, respectively. After much speculation, Leon Bailey finally joined the Premier League, signing for Aston Villa as a direct replacement for Manchester City-bound Jack Grealish.
Romelu Lukaku, Bryan Gil, Patson Daka, Marc Cucurella and the goal-machine Cristiano Ronaldo are some of the most notable additions to the English top-flight this season.
Considering so many personnel changes, clubs experienced a major shift in their valuations. While La Liga and Serie A sides lost multiple star players, the Premier League reigned supreme by procuring some of the best and most expensive talent available on the market.
As a result, the first division of English football can boast the most star-studded set of players across all of Europe. With a total quotation of €955 million, let's take a look at the most valuable Premier League XI (4-4-2) at the moment:
Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker (€60m, Liverpool)
Standing at 6ft 3in tall, Alisson Becker is the most valuable player between the sticks in the Premier League. The Brazilian number 1 was purchased by Jurgen Klopp in 2018 for €62.5 million, making him the world's most expensive goalkeeper for a brief period.
Alisson proved to be the final piece in Klopp's masterful puzzle, transforming Liverpool into the continental giants they are now. Following his signing, the Reds went on to win the Champions League and the Premier League in successive seasons.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (€75m, Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold's rise to prominence has been meteoric, to say the least. The 22-year-old Englishman was initially used as a back-up full-back in the absence of Nathaniel Clyne, who was struggling with injuries at the time.
However, his astounding and consistent performances quickly cemented his place on the right side of Klopp's defence. Possessing a unique sense of creativity, Alexander-Arnold is easily one of the best crossers of the ball in all of Europe.
Center-back: Raphael Varane (€70m, Manchester United)
Real Madrid's loss proved to be Manchester United's gain as the Red Devils pounced on the opportunity to sign their star defender Raphael Varane as soon as he became available. Considering his distinguished CV, €40 million is being rightly labeled as a steal.
The World Cup winner arrives at Old Trafford, having spent 10 years with the Spanish giants. If his first couple of performances have anything to say, the Premier League has gained yet another elite defender.
Also read: 5 best dribblers in the world right now (September 2021)
Center-back: Ruben Dias (€75m, Manchester City)
Another recent addition to the Premier League, only one year has passed since Ruben Dias joined Manchester City for a massive €68m. However, a season after his debut, the Portuguese defender is already worth a lot more. He single-handedly fixed City's unstable defence, all the while assuming a leader's role at the back.
Such was Dias' impact that the 24-year-old center-back grabbed the Premier League Player of the Season as City romped to their third league title in four years last term.
Left-back: Andrew Robertson (€65m, Liverpool)
Another nifty piece of business conducted by Jurgen Klopp, Andy Robertson joined Liverpool in 2017 for a nominal fee of €9 million. The 27-year-old full-back showed signs of promise by winning the man-of-the-match award in his first game for the Reds.
After playing deputy to Alberto Moreno in his debut season, Robertson soon made the left-back position his own through sheer hard work and consistency. The Scottish international has been instrumental in Liverpool's subsequent success, becoming one of the most trusted players under Klopp.
Central midfielder: Bruno Fernandes (€90m, Manchester United)
The quintessential impact player, Bruno Fernandes has completely revolutionized Manchester United. Fernandes had an immediate influence on a middling United side, transforming them into a regular top-four team. At the time of his signing, €63 million for an unproven entity, that too in the middle of the season, seemed to be a very risky gamble.
However, Fernandes has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to the water, scoring and creating world-class chances on a consistent basis. After only a year and a half, the Portuguese playmaker is considered to be undroppable at Old Trafford.
Central midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (€100m, Manchester City)
Widely regarded as the best player in the Premier League for quite some time now, Kevin De Bruyne is undoubtedly a generational talent. The innovative Belgian is especially adept at linking up play and creating chances out of nowhere.
He returned to the Premier League in 2015 with the Sky Blues, having initially played in the division with Chelsea. De Bruyne hasn't looked back ever since, racking up more tha 263 appearances for Manchester City.
Also read: Predicting dark horses to win Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A (2021-22)
Right midfielder: Mohamed Salah (€100m, Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah has taken the Premier League by storm ever since he set foot in Liverpool in 2017. Having flopped massively in his first stint in the English top-flight with Chelsea, the Egyptian playmaker joined Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side for a sizeable fee of €42 million.
However, Salah has more than repaid the Reds' initial investment, scoring 127 goals in 206 appearances. His 32-goal haul in the 2017-18 season is by far the most prolific tally mustered by anyone since the 38-team format was introduced in the Premier League.
Left midfielder: Jadon Sancho (€100m, Manchester United)
Primarily a right-winger, Jadon Sancho is equally adept at playing on the left flank. The versatile forward was bought by Manchester United this summer after a long-drawn transfer saga that stretched through multiple seasons. When €85 million is considered to be a bargain price, you know you have a generational talent on your hands and that is exactly what Sancho is.
The 21-year-old English prodigy has been a revelation ever since he exploded onto the scene with Borussia Dortmund. His Premier League career took off with a cameo from the bench against Leeds United on the opening day of the ongoing season.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku (€100m, Chelsea)
Romelu Lukaku recently staged a return to the Premier League with Chelsea in one of the most high-profile transfers ever. After recouping his reputation with Inter following two scintillating seasons in Serie A, the Belgian forward moved to Stamford Bridge for a whopping transfer fee of €115m.
With 116 Premier League goals already under his belt, the 28-year-old target-man has ample time to break into the top ten of the all-time scoring list. The Chelsea forward has endured a remarkable start to life on his return to Stamford Bridge, with three goals in two appearances.
Striker: Harry Kane (€120m, Tottenham)
The most valuable player in the Premier League, Harry Kane has been with Tottenham for most of his professional career. The English captain is a certified Premier League legend with 166 goals in just 248 appearances. This insane tally ranks him seventh in the all-time scoring charts in the English top-flight.
Regarded as one of the best strikers of the current generation, Kane is yet to win any kind of major silverware. He was recently linked with a big-money move to Manchester City, but nothing materialized. As such, the England captain stayed put at Tottenham and will be aiming to help them finish in the top-four this term.
Also read: 5 most underpaid Manchester United players at the moment
