Alternative XI: Black Friday - The best bargains in Europe this season

It’s that time of year when we’re all looking out for the best deals, and we at WhoScored.com are no different. To celebrate Black Friday we’ve compiled our Bargain XI from the summer window based on a very simple calculation using our unique statistical ratings. In this instance we have decided to exclude loan signings, or those signed with an option to buy prior to the most recent transfer window.

A rating of 7.10 carries a player value of £5m, with every increase of .1 worth a further £5m. A signing's actual transfer fee will then be deducted from this ‘rating value’ to create a ‘bargain value’. As an example Paul Pogba’s rating of 7.55 would earn a value of £27.5m for this season’s efforts, resulting in a substantial overspend of around £62m for the world record signing!

With very few goalkeepers trading places in Europe’s top 5 leagues this summer though, we’ve had to start our XI with the highest rated shot stopper to have been a new recruit for his side this season.

Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp)

In all the understandable hubbub surrounding Nice’s superb table-topping start to the season in Ligue 1, Guingamp’s efforts have gone somewhat unheralded. Fifth in the table owing much to a strong defensive record, Swedish keeper Johnsson has proven an astute signing already, producing 31 saves and even registering 2 assists!

Dani Alves (Juventus) - Free / WhoScored.com rating 7.35

While he has been eased into league action with Juventus, rotating with Stephane Lichtsteiner for the spot at right wing-back, Alves has made an immediate impression. A rating of 7.35 has a value of £17.5m here, and considering the Brazilian was a free transfer, his signing was always likely to prove a coup. His average of 2.3 accurate crosses per game is the most in Serie A, helping towards an excellent 2 key passes per game.

Christopher Jullien (Toulouse) - £2.5m / WhoScored.com rating 7.27

Toulouse had no qualms in trusting Jullien’s record in the second tier of French football as an indicator of his ability and were quick to beat Dijon - with whom he spent a hugely impressive season on loan - to his permanent signature from Freiburg. The 23-year old, who scored 9 league goals from centre-back last season, has two his name already this time around as well as winning more aerial duels per game (4.6) than any other Ligue 1 defender. A modest fee of £2.5m is deducted from a rating value of £13.5m to make the grade here.

Joel Matip (Liverpool) - Free / WhoScored.com rating 7.16

Another free transfer that always looked like being a very shrewd acquisition, Liverpool were made to wait to see Joel Matip in action having agreed a pre-contract with the former Schalke man. It’s been worth it though, with Klopp claiming he’d saved millions by bringing the defender to the club and, by this calculation, his rating has a value of £8m to be precise. The Reds are unbeaten with the Cameroonian at the back, and his composure and ability to play out from defence has been a real asset.

Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - £19.5m / WhoScored.com rating 7.71

When Chelsea forked out just under £20m for Marcos Alonso a few eyebrows were raised, with some claiming it was a move born out of desperation. Nevetheless, the former Bolton and Sunderland man has been an invaluable addition in Conte’s favoured formation, fulfilling the duties of a left wing-back with aplomb. Not only have the Blues not lost but they haven’t conceded in any of the 6 games the Spaniard has started, with an average of 3.4 tackles per game among the Premier League’s top 10. His subsequent rating means he’s been a bargain by a factor of £16m to now.

Naby Keita (RB Leipzig) - £12.5m / WhoScored.com rating 7.55

It took time for Naby Keita to really make a starting berth his own following a move from fellow Red Bull franchise Salzburg, but the Guinean can now be considered a key member of a side that has raced to the top of the Bundesliga in their first ever top-flight campaign. With three goals and an assist, primarily from a deep role in midfield, the 21-year old offers exceptional drive in the middle of the park, averaging 2.8 dribbles per game. His rating value of £27.5m makes a fee in the region of £12.5m a considerable bargain.

Kerem Demirbay (Hoffenheim) - £1.5m / WhoScored.com rating 7.71

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, we come to the biggest bargain in Europe based on our calculation here, with Kerem Demirbay signed from Hamburg for a snip at £1.5m. With 3 goals and 3 assists from midfield in 9 appearances, his rating carries a value of £35.5m this season, as the 23-year old has played a pivotal role in Hoffenheim’s unbeaten start to the campaign.

Wylan Cyprien (Nice) - £4m / WhoScored.com rating 7.33

He may not be the Nice player you’d expect to find in this XI, but Wylan Cyprien has been crucial to the Eaglets' flying start under Lucien Favre. The 21-year old arrived this summer for a modest £4m and has excelled, scoring 4 goals and registering two assists for a rating that carries a value here of £16.5m. A pass success rate of 89.1% from just shy of 60 passes per game may suggest a safety first approach but the youngster is an exciting talent, averaging 1.8 shots and 1.5 dribbles per game.

Ever Banega (Inter) - Free / WhoScored.com rating 7.40

Despite being among Inter’s strongest performers this season, it seems Ever Banega’s place in the side is under threat following the arrival of Stefano Pioli, who may struggle to find a place for the Argentine in his favoured system. Nevertheless, having arrived on a free from Sevilla the 28-year old has been a standout player, completing more tackles than any teammate (25) and averaging the fourth most key passes in Serie A (3.1) for a rating value of £20m.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) - Free / WhoScored.com rating 7.38

The fourth and final free transfer in this XI, Ibrahimovic’s start to life at Manchester United may have been hit and miss but things could have been an awful lot worse for the Red Devils were it not for his 6 league goals thus far. It’s fair to say he should have more to his name from a Premier League high of 59 shots but similar profligacy from his teammates can be criticised too given that the Swede has created a commendable 15 chances this season, none of which have heralded an assist as of yet.

Sandro Wagner (Hoffenheim) - £2.5m / WhoScored.com rating 7.33

The second Hoffenheim player here, highlighting just how shrewd the club were in the transfer market, Wagner has made a strong impact since breaking into the side. With 5 goals and an assist in 10 starts, the 28-year old is the top scorer for the unbeaten Bundesliga outfit and has proven to be an effective target man, winning a lofty 4 aerial duels per game. His rating this season yields a value of £16.5m, which is a substantial increase on the modest fee spent to secure his services from Darmstadt.