With £125m Alexander Isak’s Liverpool debut near, we look back at five record-breakers that flew – and five who flopped
Southampton to Blackburn, £3.6m
Shearer’s move to Blackburn was a pivotal moment in the Premier League’s inaugural season, backed by the ambition of their new owner Jack Walker. After an injury-hit first campaign where he scored 16 goals, Shearer exploded in the 1993-94 season with 31 goals from 40 games. The following season, he formed a formidable strike partnership with Chris Sutton and his 34 goals were crucial to Blackburn’s title win, the only major honour of his career. He broke the British and world-record fee again in 1996 after his £15m move to Newcastle.
Nottingham Forest to Manchester United, £3.75m
Keane was not merely a talented midfielder; he was the midfield general who embodied his manager Alex Ferguson’s aggression and desire to win. Over 12 years at the club, Keane amassed an immense haul of silverware, including seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League trophy. His leadership and mentality were the very fabric of United’s success during their period of dominance; Keane provided the psychological and emotional engine that drove a dynasty.
