Fees there or thereabouts. Now first off, let me say that I've seen very very little any of these three players, so I'm not in a place to judge but other people on here might be. Just looking at the players pedigree - Savic is only 20 but is a full international with 7 caps and 2 goals, so looks like he might have a lot of potential. He's 6 foot 1 and fairly comfortable on the ball and looks assured but his build is maybe a little slight at the moment. Obviously he'll get bigger but he lookes like an ectomorph to me so I doubt he'll ever be a beast.
Coates is also 20 and a full international with 5 caps for Uruguay. At 6"6 he's a beast and with him being the Copa América Best Young Player: 2011 he's obviously got a bit of talent about him.
Then there's Mertesacker - about to turn 27, 6"6 and already a whopping 75 caps for Germany. From what I've read in various places people are saying he might not be suited to the prem because of a severe lack of pace.
Now my point is this - with the other 2 centre halves going to arsenal and liverpool and with us currently being the far more desirable option than those two (despite what deluded scousers will spout and yes I know Coates is mates with Suarez but in the real world that wouldn't have meant dick), did we pick the right centre half? With Coates and Savic being the same age that's going to be a fairly straight forward comparison but maybe only time will tell, but with Mertesacker there looks to me as though there is a ready made, experienced centre half who could possibly have slotted in very well next to Vinny? Lescott appears to be the weakest link in the team at the moment and maybe signing a ready made centre half like Mertesacker would have benefitted us the most? If you're looking more long term (and Bob obviously is), then maybe Coates would have been the better option as by all accounts he has huge potential and his much bigger build may make him an instant force in the prem ala Phil Jones (who I haven't included in this comparison due to the much higher fee), unlike Savic who might need a bit of beefing up.
Obviously I have faith in Mancini and the scouting system but I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on this and these players?