Alan Shearer's world-record fee proved to be a bargain '“ that won't be the case with Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba is set to become the world's most expensive footballer.
Alan ShearerAlan Shearer
Alan Shearer

Twenty years ago today, Newcastle United broke that record by signing Alan Shearer.

How times change.

Shearer proved to be worth every penny of his £15million fee.

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The striker scored 206 goals during his decade at his hometown club.

Newcastle completed the deal while on a pre-season tour of the Far East, and Shearer was unveiled on a stage behind the Leazes End on his return to England.

Shearer's first goal, a penalty, came at the unlikely venue of Sincil Bank, home of Lincoln City, a few days later.

And the rest is history.

Shearer didn't win anything at Newcastle, and had he joined Manchester United he could have ended his career with a cabinet full of medals.

But he hung up his football boots with no regrets.

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Shearer had lived the dream. He had worn the famous No 9 jersey with pride for 10 rollercoaster years.

The shirt didn't weigh heavy on his shoulders, and he was big enough to carry the hopes of Tyneside season after season after season.

Shearer's fee is now commonplace in the game. No one blinks an eye at a £15million deal.

But back then it was quite something, and it's easy for forget that.

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United, in the mid-1990s, were competing financially with the biggest clubs in Europe. Those days are long gone, despite the wealth of owner Mike Ashley.

Juventus' Pogba is set to head to Old Trafford is a deal worth more than £100million.

It's doubtful that Pogba will offer the same kind of return as Shearer.

And it begs the question, just how much would Shearer cost in today's money?

Maybe so expensive that even Man United would baulk at the fee.