5 most expensive central midfielders in the world

While goals win games, recent years have seen clubs invest heavily in midfielders as they seek to control the middle of the park.

Manchester United's acquisition of Paul Pogba for a then world-record fee arguably began the whole process of clubs spending big money on top central midfielders. It was not a surprise when Leicester City decided to spend €45 million on Youri Tielemans; the Belgian scored the goal which won them the FA Cup yesterday.

We look at the:

5 most expensive central midfielders in the world

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#5 Naby Keita (Liverpool) | €60 million

Chester FC v Liverpool - Pre-Season Friendly

Such were Naby Keita's performances for RB Leipzig that Liverpool were willing to shell out €60 million in August 2017 in order to ensure that he joined them next summer.

A strong dribbler with good passing ability and schooled at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, Keita was seen as an ideal acquisition for Jurgen Klopp. The Guinea international, however, has so far failed to impress at Liverpool having been used sparingly by Klopp.

Injuries have not helped his cause, but Keita has failed to perform when given a chance. The 26-year old is a squad player at Liverpool, and has made 76 appearances in all competitions for the club. He has scored seven goals and provided four assists.

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#4 Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham Hotspur) | €60 million

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Premier League

Having been linked with multiple top clubs, Tanguy Ndombele decided to join Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 for a fee of €60 million.

Ndombele had enjoyed an excellent season with Lyon the season before, with his dribbling skill standing out. The 24-year old did not enjoy the best of starts at Tottenham Hotspur, but has slowly become an important part of the first-team picture.

There has been criticism aimed at his fitness levels, but Ndombele's talent is undeniable. The France international is a press-resistant midfielder with strong technical ability. These traits have become essential for the modern midfielder. The Tottenham midfielder has made 73 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists.

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#3 Arthur Melo (Juventus) | €72 million

Real Madrid CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga

Arguably the most controversial move of last summer was when midfielders Arthur Melo and Miralem Pjanic switched clubs; Arthur joined Juventus and Pjanic moved to Barcelona.

There was uproar when the move was announced. Arthur was seen as an important cog in Barcelona's midfield and swapping him for a 31-year old Pjanic was not seen as an ideal move. Nearly a season later, it would be fair to say that both players have disappointed at their respective new clubs.

The Brazil international has had little impact at Juventus this season. Andrea Pirlo's side have endured a poor campaign and Arthur has struggled to get going. The 24-year-old midfielder has made 31 appearances in all competitions, providing one assist.

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#2 Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) | €86 million

FC Barcelona v Sevilla: Copa del Rey Semi Final Second Leg

One of the best young midfielders in world football, Frenkie de Jong is Barcelona's present and future.

The Netherlands international made his name at Ajax during the 2018/19 season, helping the Dutch giants reach the Champions League semi-finals. An excellent passer and dribbler with phenomenal technical skills as well as an innate ability to read the game, De Jong has everything in his arsenal to become one of the very best in the world.

The 24-year old midfielder can also drop deep to play as a centre-back if needed, a role he often fulfilled during his time at Ajax. He has made 92 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists.

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#1 Paul Pogba (Manchester United) | €105 million

Manchester United v Burnley - Premier League

Paul Pogba's second spell at Manchester United has divided opinion. Pogba's ability is world-class, but questions have been raised over his temperament and attitude.

While most of it can be filtered out, there is no denying that the midfielder can do better on a more consistent basis. The France international, at his best, is one of the best midfielders in the world, but inconsistent performances and off-the-field statements have made him easy prey for the media and critics.

Pogba is a superb passer and an intelligent player who is physically-gifted and capable of playing in a variety of midfield positions. The 28-year old midfielder has made 204 appearances across two spells for Manchester United, scoring 38 goals and providing 42 assists.

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