Eriksson: The three players I’d pay biggest transfer fee for

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 16 Sept 2021 20:29 BST
3 min read

Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed the three players in world football he would be prepared to pay the biggest transfer fee for.

Eriksson enjoyed a glittering coaching career spanning five decades, coaching the likes of Lazio, Roma, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Benfica and the England national team.

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The Swedish coach, now 73, was asked who he would be prepared to pay the biggest transfer fee for if he was still managing a team today.

What did Eriksson say about Messi?

“I have always been a huge fan of Lionel Messi,” Eriksson told The Italian Football Podcast.

“When Messi is at his best, even at the age he is now, it is art.

“When he gets the ball and he turns and he dribbles, and there is no space and he has four players around him and he comes out with the ball, this is art. So he is one.

“But also his teammate, Kylian Mbappe. I always thought that he would have a great, great future and he is great.

“But will he be a Pele, or a Ronaldo or a Messi? I’m not sure about it. I don’t know.

© ProShots - Sven-Goran Eriksson (right) and Steve McClaren (left)

“I would also pay a lot of money for Harry Kane. He’s not a brilliant, brilliant football player but he is a very good football player.

“And he is a good goalscorer and that is what you need. He is a guarantee of 20 goals a season in the Premier League.”

Messi and Mbappe were in action on Wednesday evening for PSG against Club Brugge as the duo lined up for the first time alongside Neymar in attack.

However, PSG were unable to begin their Champions League campaign with a win as they only drew 1-1 in Belgium.

As for Kane, he was close to moving in a €150 million-plus deal to Manchester City this summer but Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy refused to negotiate.