Where Giorgio Chiellini would rank among Sunderland's most expensive transfers if Roy Keane had signed Juventus legend

Giorgio Chiellini is one of the greatest defenders in modern football history – and he nearly played for Sunderland.

Roy Keane tried to sign Chiellini back in 2007, while he was manager of the Black Cats, with the Italian willing to join.

The Juventus legend even told his agent to make the move happen but ‘money issues’ between the two clubs meant the deal broke down.

Sunderland AFC News looks at where Chiellini would rank among the Black Cats’ most expensive transfers if he had joined the club.

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How much would Giorgio Chiellini have cost Sunderland?

Keane remembered Juventus’ valuation of Chiellini as between £10-12 million, while the player himself said it was between £10-15 million.

Even for a Premier League club, this was a substantial fee over 17 years ago, so it is no wonder the deal did not go through.

However, Sunderland will regret not matching Juventus’ asking price as Chiellini would still have been a bargain signing in the long run.

The 40-year-old was worth at least triple the £15m valuation in his prime, as he helped the Old Lady to an incredible nine Serie A titles.

Sunderland’s most expensive transfer as of 2007 was the signing of former Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo from Rangers for around £9m in 2002.

Had Chiellini moved to the Stadium of Light for up to £15m, he would have smashed Flo’s record and then held it for a long time.

via Transfermarkt

Indeed, Chiellini’s hypothetical record would not have been broken until 2016 when Sunderland bought Gabonese midfielder Didier Ndong for £16m.

And the centre-back would still be in second place, even 17 years later, ahead of Asamoah Gyan (£13m) in third.