Afellay is a great young player. But more potential than promise. But at least he is worth only 8m!!! If he has a good couple of seasons, he is the type of player who could be worth way more than 20m. So its definately worth a gamble.
I think though its worthwhile going for a quality central mid as well, so we can revert to a 4-3-3 in case Afellay has more injury problems. Perhaps we could steal Aquilani at a bargain price as well. If we managed to get Alex for 8m, Afellay for 8m and a player like Aquilani for 8m? then it would be a good mercato and easily within budget. Those 3 players would cost us no more than 25. We have spent 38m in gross terms (excluding the loan buy outs that were accounted for last season). Total gross spend of EU63m.
Sold Sissoko for (7m), Melo for (1.5m plus potentially the rest for around 11m), selling one of Storari (who could be used in the deal for Alex) or Manninger....not to mention Amauri, Iaquinta and Grygera...and we will easily have a net spend less than 50m.
Would be a good mercato:
IN: Pirlo, Lichsteiner, Ziegler, Vidal, Afellay, Alex, and Vucinic
OUT: Melo, Salihamidzic, Amauri, Iaquinta, Martinez, Storari or Manninger