Simon Mignolet – Sunderland to Liverpool, £9 million
When your goalkeeper is being linked with a move to Barcelona – the smart thing to do is go out and buy somebody capable of replacing him and that’s exactly what Liverpool did.
However, with Victor Valdes now confirming that he will see out the remaining year of his deal at the Nou Camp, Pepe Reina will be staying put for one more season at least.
But one of Liverpool’s problems has been their lack of competition in between the sticks. The likes of Brad Jones and Doni are capable reserves, but neither of them were ever going to come close to disposing the Spanish international and for the first time in his Liverpool career he faces a genuine threat to his starting role.
Mignolet was one of Sunderland’s brightest sparks in an otherwise dull season last term and his transfer fee has come off as a tremendous piece of business considering that former boss Steve Bruce paid just £1 million for his services from Belgian side St Truden in 2010.
There is a sense that the 25-year-old could even put pressure on Pepe Reina, as many believe that he possesses a better shot stopping ability as well as being more adept at coming out for crosses and deal balls.
With it being a World Cup year he won’t want to take it easy as Atletico Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois is breathing down his neck for a starting role within the Belgian national team.