Transfer fees paid by Manchester United and Manchester City are 'on the edge of madness' - Thiago Silva

Crazy: Silva has questioned the transfer business conducted by the Premier League's elite
Sam Long8 September 2015

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva has claimed that the transfer fees paid by both Manchester clubs this summer are bordering on 'the edge of madness'.

The Premier League's elite, aside from Arsenal, flexed their financial muscle in the wake of a lucrative new broadcasting deal during the summer transfer window.

Louis van Gaal deemed Monaco striker Anthony Martial worthy of a £36m fee, despite the 19-year-old's lack of experience at the top level, while Manuel Pellegrini broke City's transfer record on two occasions.

Raheem Sterling's £49m move from Liverpool made the Englishman the first player to surpass the fee that the Citizens paid Atletico Madrid for Sergio Aguero four years ago.

However, Kevin De Bruyne's arrival from Wolfsburg soon set a new record of £55m only a matter of weeks after it had been claimed by Sterling.

John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

The mid table teams in England's top tier have also been able to carry more clout in the transfer market but Silva is concerned by the spending that has been sanctioned in Manchester.

"Are the fees too much? On the edge of madness," said the Brazilian.

However, the central defender was full of praise for Martial, whose move to Old Trafford made him one of the world's most expensive teenagers: "I don’t know whether it is right or not but Martial really reminds me of Thierry Henry for his technique, physique and reading of the game."

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Although PSG, who also spend extravagantly on players by virtue of their Qatari owners, face fierce competition from elsewhere across the continent Silva is confident that the club can go all the way in the Champions League this year.

"For the Champions League I reckon it can be our year. And then Real, Barca, Bayern but also keep an eye on City and United, against whom I always lost when I was at Milan."

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