Football transfers are not cheap. To have a player strengthen their ranks, teams are willing to pay big money. The football transfer considered to be the most expensive in the sport's history was that of Gareth Bale leaving Tottenham to play at Real Madrid. The Spanish club paid not less than £86 million (about $133 million at today's exchange rates) to have the player among its own. But recent news suggest that this record might be broken this year. According to reports in the media, UK Premier League team Manchester United is willing to almost double that amount.

Nice's Youcef Atal, left, and PSG's Juan Bernat challenge for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nice at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Saturday, May 4, 2019. (Photo by Christophe Ena/AP Photo)

In this handout image provided by Red Bull, Maria Paula Quintero of Colombia dives from the 20 metre platform during the first competition day of the seventh stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on September 16, 2022 at Polignano a Mare, Italy. (Photo by Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images)

United States's Jessie Diggins celebrates winning the cross-country ski, women's Tour de Ski overall standings, in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, January 7, 2024. (Photo by Alessandro Trovati/AP Photo)

A man carries a civet while taking part in an animal welfare campaign ahead of the World Animal Day celebrations on October 4, in Banda Aceh on October 2, 2022. (Photo by Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP Photo)

Los Angeles Kings center Zack MacEwen, left puts Edmonton Oilers center Ryan McLeod int the bards during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 21, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

Lindsey Vonn of USA wins the bronze medal during the FIS World Ski Championships Women's Downhill on February 10, 2019 in Are Sweden. (Photo by Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

Lyon's Ghanaian forward #37 Ernest Nuamah celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and Stade de Reims at The Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on March 30, 2024. (Photo by Olivier Chassignole/AFP Photo)