Hazard, De Jong, Felix... vs Coutinho, Ceballos, Rodrigo...
As the summer 2019 transfer deadline passed, we considered the movements in and out of the Spanish top flight and pitted them against each other.
With the transfer market closed (at last, some may say) we can now take stock of the players who have both landed in LaLiga Santander and those that will no longer by plying their trade in the Spanish top flight. Considering this, we in AS Towers have put together a best XI from both joiners and leavers. Which do you think would win?
The arriving XI (actual transfer value: €433.25 million)
Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Areola is the best goalkeeper to arrive in Spain this summer, as part of a swap deal that saw Real Madrid's Keylor Navas move in the opposite direction. A loan, for €2m, may see him switch PSG number one for back-up to Courtois.
Defenders: Atlético Madrid provide the two full-backs, Lodi and Trippier, who came in for 20 and 22 million euros respectively from Atlético Paranaense and Tottenham. Both have impressed in the opening games of the season for the early league leaders. In the centre of defence we select Monreal (normally deployed as a full-back) and Militao, yet to feature alongside his Madrid teammates.
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong is seen as one of the best young talents around so Barça's 75-million-euro signing takes his place in our midfield. Vargas is an exciting arrival for 10.5 million euros at Espanyol, and he is joined by Nabil Fekir, a world-class player who, after a failed move to Liverpool last summer, has a season to prove his worth in the Betis project.
Forwards: Eden Hazard was arguably the highest profile transfer of the summer in LaLiga (at least one that went through!) and for 100 million euros, much is expected. Alongside him we line up Atleti's record buy, João Félix, who has already shown glimpses of his magic. To his youthful exuberrance we add the experience of Chicharito, who became Sevilla's 13th signing of the summer in a Mochi-Lopetegui shake-up.
The departing XI (actual transfer value: €297.5 million)
Formation: 3-5-2
Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid to PSG)
Defenders: Godín, Filipe Luis, Lucas (Atlético to Inter Milan, Sao Paulo and Bayern Munich respectively)
Midfielders: Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid to Arsenal), Fornals (Villarreal to West Ham), Rodrigo (Atlético to Man City), Sarabia (Sevilla to PSG), Lo Celso (PSG to Betis to Tottenham)
Forwards: Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona to Bayern), Ben Yedder (Seville to Monaco)