The summer transfer window was a circus, as it always is.
Paris Saint-Germain smashed the world record fee set by Paul Pogba’s move from Juventus to Manchester United last year by triggering Neymar’s €220 million release clause at Barcelona.
In response, the Catalans snapped up Ousmane Dembele for €150 million from Borussia Dortmund.
However, deadline day was anti-climatic at best with the likes of Thomas Lemar, Alexis Sanchez and Virgil van Dijk all staying put.
Here’s a look at the three best signings.
KYLIAN MBAPPE | AS MONACO TO PSG | LOAN
We all knew it was coming, especially after the teenager completed his medical on Wednesday. Regardless of its predictability, PSG still managed to sign the most sought after youngster in world football.
Mbappe joined the Parisians on a season-long loan but the real coup lies in the agreement to sign him for €180 million the following summer.
The Ligue 1 giants have secured themselves France football’s golden boy for the next few years at least and should he eventually move on, to Real Madrid perhaps, they probably stand to make a healthy profit.
Of course, the move is marred by what could be seen as a controversial work around Financial Fair Player (FFP) regulations, but only adds to the narrative and doesn’t take away from Mbappe being a superb recruit for PSG.
Kylian Mbappe
MAMADOU SAKHO | LIVERPOOL TO CRYSTAL PALACE | £26M
What Liverpool needed most in this transfer window was quality centre back and that’s exactly the kind of player they ended up selling on deadline day.
Sakho has been shunned at Anfield ever since his falling out with Jurgen Klopp last summer and it appears as if there’s no coming back from that. Despite the fact that, on ability, he could walk into that Liverpool defence, the German tactician decided to ship him out instead.
Crystal Palace emerge as winners in this one though. After briefly enjoying the Frenchman’s services last season on loan, they have now signed him permanently, bolstering their leaky defence.
Mamadou Sakho
RENATO SANCHES | BAYERN MUNICH TO SWANSEA CITY | LOAN
A year ago, Renato Sanches was one of the best prospects in Europe after winning Euro 2016 with Portugal.
The 20-year-old moved to Bayern Munich despite interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea but things didn’t go according to plan in Germany.
Carlo Ancelotti didn’t rate the midfielder too highly in front of the others he had at his disposal and he struggled for game time all season.
After being linked to Liverpool in the last couple of days of the transfer window, Sanches has ended up at Swansea City in a shock loan deal.
As far as ability goes, he’s miles ahead of anyone the Swans have in their squad and will certainly get game time. The Premier League is a great platform for him to shine on and earn a move to a big club next summer.
Renato Sanches