Leicester City are on the brink of capping a truly remarkable season by becoming the Premier League champions, a feat that would have been thought impossible before the start of this 2015/2016 season.
The Foxes are just six short games away from lifting the trophy and with each week that passes the dream comes ever closer to being a reality.
When Claudio Ranieri was announced as the manager of Leicester last July it is fair to say that there were a few skeptics.
Indeed, even a few of the coach's own player's had their doubts about his Italian tactics.
"I told the players I trusted them and I would speak very little of tactics," Ranieri explained in an interview with Corriere della Sera, it appears his laid-back approach has paid off.
As Ranieri would surely agree, the foundations of his success were laid before he took the reigns of the club. The current squad has been five years in the making with an overall expenditure of €55 million.
In other words, around half of the figure Real Madrid payed for Gareth Bale, less than the fee Manchester City paid for Raheem Stirling (€68m), and less than Manchester United paid for Anthony Martial (€80m).
In comparison, the €55m that Leicester have paid has brought them a grand total of 18 players, with the most expensive outlay being €10m (Shinji Okazaki).
In goal, Kasper Schmeichel is living up to his famous father's name. Schmeichel arrived four seasons ago from Leeds United with Leicester paying around 1.5m for his services.
A key factor in Leicester's run has been their rock solid defence. They have kept 12 clean sheets this season with a first choice defensive lineup of Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs that cost Leicester a total of €7.3m
The midfield holds some of Leicester's greatest discoveries. "I won't be surprised the day that [N'Golo] Kante crosses the ball from the flank and gets into the penalty area to head it," the Italian has said of the midfielder signed for €8.5m who has been unequalled in his position this season.
Kante is ably assisted in midfield by Danny Drinkwater, who Manchester United sold for a mere €850.000, and Marc Albrighton who arrived from Aston Villa on a free transfer.
The jewel in the crown of Leicester's midfield though is surely Riyad Mahrez. Leicester snapped the Algerian midfield wizard up for €500,000, but you can be sure any team hoping to prise him away from Leicester will have to pay a lot more.
To finish, let's look at the attack that has terrorised Premier League defences all season. Jamie Vardy is the league's top scorer and his partnership with Shinji Okazaki has proved irresistible this season, Okazaki at €10.3m represents the clubs biggest outlay for a player.
Six matches stand between Leicester and glory. The Foxes have shown that scintillating football doesn't have to be synonymous with eye-watering transfer fees.
COST AND FORMER CLUBS OF RANIERI'S MEN
2015-2016
Shinji Okazaki (Mainz 05) 10.3 million
N'Golo Kanté (Caen) 8.4m
Gokhan Inler (Nápoles) 5.5m
Daniel Amartey (Copenhagen) 6m
Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) 4.7m
Robert Huth (Stoke City) 4m
Christian Fuchs (Schalke 04) free transfer
Nathan Dyer (Swansea City) on loan
2014-2015
Leo Ulloa (Brighton & Hove Albion) 9.5m
Danny Simpson (QPR) 2.3m
Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea) free transfer
Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa) free transfer
2013-2014
Riyad Mahrez (Le Havre) 500,000
Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht) free transfer
2012-2013
Jamie Vardy (Fleetwood Town) 1.1m
2011-2012
Kasper Schmeichel (Leeds United) 1.5 m
Wes Morgan (Nottingham Forest) 1m
Danny Drinkwater (Manchester United) 850,000
*Andy King (Chelsea) signed at 15 years old
* Jefrrey Schlupp, product of Leicester's youth team.
