AS Monaco’s transfer operations have garnered a great amount of interest.
Initially spending huge amounts of money when they rose back up from Ligue 2 to the French top tier in 2013 to win the league just four seasons later, Monaco have now gained a stellar reputation for selling off some of the most attractive talent in the game today.
The policy involves procuring young talent through an excellent scouting system before selling them off for Brobdingnagian fees to a host of top clubs dotted around Europe.
Despite finishing second last season, Monaco are currently nestled worryingly in the relegation zone, having won only one game so far, and pressure is mounting on manager Leonardo Jardim.
Jardim however is surprisingly linked with replacing fellow countryman Jose Mourinho at the helm of Manchester United. Odds currently place him at around 14/1.
He takes his side to Dortmund tonight in their second Champions League Group A game of the campaign.
The Sportsman takes a gander at what fantastic side could have lined up at the Westfalenstadion tonight, if they hadn’t reaped in the rewards from feeding other clubs.
Manchester City have certainly taken advantage of Monaco’s transfer policy, bringing in two key players who have slotted into their domineering starting XI with ease, and who both make our squad.
GK: Danijel Subašić
We’re keeping the Croatian number one in here, who has been at the club for six years and was one of the best goalkeepers at this summer’s World Cup.
LB: Benjamin Mendy (£52million - Manchester City)
The Frenchman left Monaco for an astronomical £52million in the summer of 2017 to join big-spending Manchester City, but his first season at the Etihad was cut short by injury as the Cityzens galloped to the title.
CB: Terence Kongolo (£17.5million - Huddersfield)
The Dutchman moved to Huddersfield Town this summer after a six-month loan stint. He’s appeared in all seven games for the Terriers so far this season.
CB: Aymen Abdennour (£19.3million - Valencia)
The Tunisian moved to La Liga side Valencia before heading back to Ligue 1 with Marseille.
RB: Djibril Sidibé
Sidibé also retains his place in the side. He’s made over 50 appearances for Les Monégasques since joining from Lille two years ago and was part of the France 23-man squad to travel to Russia.
M: James Rodriguez (£63million - Real Madrid)
Real Madrid snapped him up after his heroics at the 2014 World Cup with Colombia in a jaw dropping £63million deal. The 27-year-old now plays for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
M: Fabinho (£39million - Liverpool)
Yet to be given an opportunity by Jurgen Klopp at new club Liverpool, the Brazilian was snatched under the noses of a host of Premier League clubs in July as the Reds did impressive business.
M: Bernardo Silva (£43million - Manchester City)
The other Silva followed Mendy out of the door in the same transfer window for a eye-boggling £43million.
M: Anthony Martial (£36million - Manchester United)
Manchester United blew open the transfer window on the final day by making Martial the most expensive teenager in the world, at the time. A fan favourite, but seems to be struggling under Mourinho at Old Trafford.
M: Thomas Lemar (£57million - Atlético Madrid)
After an underwhelming 17/18, Lemar joined Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid this summer for a reported £57million.
F: Kylian Mbappé (£120million - Paris Saint-Germain)
The most talked-about footballer on the planet at the moment. The 19-year-old World Cup winner joined rival Ligue 1 side PSG in a £120million deal and is a part of a startling attacking triumvirate alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani.
Substitutes: Layvin Kursawa (PSG), Tiemoué Bakayoko (AC Milan), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Lucas Ocampos (Marseille), Geoffrey Kondogbia (Internazionale), Valere Germain (Marseille), Adam Diakhaby (Huddersfield), Allan Saint-Maxim (Nice)
Borussia Dortmund v AS Monaco kicks off at 8pm (GMT). You can follow the match live with The Sportsman below.
