Stats Leaders Who Have Upped Their Transfer Value in the 2012-13 Season

European football is winding down.

Champions are being crowned, players are desperately fighting relegation and coaches and management are eyeing potential transfer window targets with the ultimate goal of improving the state of their football club, be it financially or on the pitch.   

It is an exciting time to be a football fan, no question about it.

There is no simple way to determine which players a club should try and sign.  Many factors, of course, must be considered. 

As always, the avenue of analyzing statistics is one method that can be employed when discussing which players should or should not be signed. 

There is plenty of data to sift through.  And further to that, data that, if utilized effectively, can be a powerful tool in the pursuit of new talent. 

This list looks at 10 of the top footballers in the world and examines some of the statistics from their most recent seasons.  It points to trends and figures which are increasing their respective market values. 

As always, thoughtful comments or question regarding the metrics are always welcome and encouraged.

All data gathered from WhoScored.com.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Key Passes

Its hard to imagine how Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer value could ever possibly increase.

His scoring abilities are well-documented: 34 goals in La Liga this season on 6.9 shots per game.  His goal total is behind only Lionel Messi; however, where Ronaldo tops the Argentine is in the key pass metric. 

Ronaldo is tied in La Liga for 17th in key passes per game.  Among the other top 17, no footballer has more than 11 goals on the season.  Ronaldo has 34.

Will Ronaldo leave Madrid?

Falcao: Goals

Where Ronaldo and Messi are the two top dogs of La Liga, the Colombian Falcao is not far behind in the most important statistic in soccer, goals. 

He's netted 28 on the season in 33 appearances.  If he did not have the two best players in the world playing for rival clubs in the same league, then that total would definitely be even more impressive and quite possibly be the most for any footballer in La Liga.

Falcao's strength and ability with the ball has allowed him to fire off 119 total shots at 3.6 per match. 

Robert Lewandowski: Goals to Shots Ratio

Robert Lewandowski's finishing has been nothing but sublime during the Champions League knockout stage. 

Simply put, the Polish international has been precise.

His 10 goals have come on 46 shots.  That's an average of only 3.8 shots per game in his 12 appearances (11 starts). 

In simpler terms, that is a goals to shots ratio of 21 percent.  Extremely efficient and dangerous, these numbers will undoubtedly make Lewandowski's pursuers salivate. 

Gareth Bale: Dribbling

Gareth Bale has taken the English Premier League by storm this campaign, torching defenders with his powerful dribbling and expert finishing. 

His 59 completed dribbles rank him 9th among all Premier League players this season.  He averages 1.8 per match. 

His 20 goals and four assists are not too shabby either.  He will be a target of some of the richest clubs in the world, no doubt about it.

Luis Suarez: Creating Chances and Dribbling

Luis Suarez might be the most mercurial footballer currently playing in England, with his latest escapade leaving him suspended for biting an opponent. 

One thing is for certain about Suarez, though, he can beat defenders and set up opportunities for teammates. 

His 95 successful dribbles leads the Premier League and his 2.7 key passes per game ranks fourth of all players. 

Despite being controversial, his talents should spark the interest of multiple clubs.

Leighton Baines: Crossing and Creating

Any club looking for a quality crosser of the ball should well be interested in the services of Leighton Baines.

He leads the Premier League with the most accurate crosses per match with 2.8.  The next closer player has only managed 2.2 per match.

In addition, Baines was a top shot-creator, his 3.1 key passes per match is also tied atop the league lead with Manchester City's David Silva. 

The English international would be a massive get for any club around the world. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Goals

The giant Swedish striker has been a terror for opposing defenses to deal with in the French Ligue 1.  His 27 goals are by far the most (the next closest was 19).  And his 4.7 shots per match were also the highest average of any player in France's top football league. 

He added seven assists and created 1.9 chances per match.  The latter total ranked 10th in the league.  Should Ibrahimovic make a move he has proven that just because he is slightly over 30 does not mean he is on the decline. 

Rafael: Efficiency

Rafael has made a solid case that he might well be the best right-back in the Premier League. 

He does a lot of things on the soccer field very well.  Perhaps most impressive, though, is that the young Brazilian rarely losses the ball for Manchester United.

He only recorded 29 total turnovers in his 28 appearances.  Very intelligent stuff from the talented fullback. 

Giovani Dos Santos: Crossing

The Mexican international, Giovani Dos Santos, has found his place playing for the Spanish club RCD Mallorca.

He has particularly impressed in terms of successful crosses per game.  Dos Santos is tied for the lead in La Liga this season with 2.2 completed crosses per match. 

His game presents an attractive option for a club looking for an accurate playmaker. 

Edinson Cavani: Goals and Shots

Edinson Cavani has been lighting up Italy this season, scoring 28 goals in 33 appearances.  That is the highest total in all of the Serie A. 

He's also uncorked the most shots, too, releasing 152 in total. 

The Uruguayan would add a serious threat to any club in the world should he leave Napoli.