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10 most overpriced British footballers

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 18 July 2007

Sunderland were today linked with a record £9m swoop for Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

It is understood Roy Keane had a £5m bid turned down for the 24-year-old Scottish international, and is prepared to up his offer.

As the Black Cats prepare to do business, Channel 4 News online looks at 10 other bumper (overpriced) British transfer deals in the Premiership.

1. Kevin Davies

Blackburn Rovers - then awash with cash - swooped to sign Kevin Davies from Southampton in a £7.5m deal in 1998 following his nine goals in 13 months for the Saints. Big Sam eventually rescued him taking him to Bolton.

2. Francis Jeffers

The fox in the box, Francis Jeffers, was signed by the normally astute Arsene Wenger in 2001 - for £8m. A small handful of goals was not what the Arsenal manager had in mind. He was last spotted on loan at lowly Ipswich.

3. Clinton Morrison

One of Simon Jordan's better deals. Crystal Palace got £4.25m - plus Andy Johnson - when they flogged Morrison to Birmingham in 2002.


4. Titus Bramble

Titus Bramble (credit: Reuters)

Bobby Robson was clearly in the charitable mood when it came to negotiating with his old club Ipswich - they got £5m for the defender when he joined Newcastle in 2002. Just moved to Wigan for free.

5. Glen Johnson

Chelsea paid a whopping £6m for the untried full-back after West Ham's relegation in 2003. Last season he was farmed out to Portsmouth.

6. Alan Smith

Not long after kissing his Leeds badge - with tears in his eyes - the striker signed for their deadly rivals Manchester United in a £7m deal in 2004. Now being linked with a move to Middlesbrough. He turned down a loan move to Cardiff last season.

7. James Beattie

After a decent spell at Southampton he broke Everton's transfer record with a £6m move in 2004. Now being linked with a move to Middlesbrough.

8. Jermaine Pennant

The ex-wonderkid cost Liverpool £7m when he signed from Birmingham in 2006. Not Rafa's best bit of business.

9. Ashley Young

Watford somehow got nearly £10m out of Aston Villa for a winger who'd had one decent season in the Championship. You can count the goals he scored for Villa last season on one hand.

10. Darren Bent

Thanks to West Ham's liberal transfer policy Charlton were able to spark a bidding war which eventually got £16.5m out of Tottenham. More than Barcelona paid for Thierry Henry.

So who have we missed? Seth Johnson perhaps - O'Leary and Ridsdale's finest hour? Let us know by emailing news@channel4.com

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