How Much Is Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery Worth in the Current Transfer Market?

In the uber accelerated world of European football it's often easy to forget some of the genuine stars who simply stay put at the club they enjoy playing for from one transfer window to the next. Journeymen, mercenaries and cash cows for their agents, these players are not. 

A perfect example of such a player is Franck Ribery. An outstanding winger for Bayern Munich who joined the club eight years ago and hasn't once looked back. Often found joking about becoming a German citizen (in an interview with Bild Zeitung h/t Bavarian Football Works) this star of the modern game is drenched in traditional values and has no intention of leaving the Bavarian giants. 

But what if Ribery was placed on the transfer market today—just how much would the French international fetch from the world of football?

The first thing to consider is the sheer ability that flows through the veins of the Bayern star. With perhaps only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as an exception, very few within the sport can match Ribery when he's on top of his game within Pep Guardiola's side. 

This season alone has seen the winger contribute nine goals and 10 assists in just 23 games for the German champions, via Transfermarkt. He offered up a stat of a goal or an assist for Guardiola's side every 79 minutes. 

Playing on the left-side of attack, Ribery truly thrives in the style of an old-fashioned winger. Toying with defenders, strolling past other midfielders and putting in cross after cross; the former Marseille star was built to score and create goals in equal measure. 

As such, it would perhaps make more sense to find a club that couldn't accommodate the Frenchman, rather than find one that could. Barcelona may be sitting comfortably with their three-pronged attack of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez but other clubs could certainly use his services. 

Real Madrid could certainly make use of Ribery's talents if they finally opted out of sticking by Gareth Bale, Manchester United are constantly in search of more attacking talent and PSG wouldn't mind an alternative to Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi on either wing. 

From whichever angle you choose to approach the topic of Ribery's pedigree from it's perfectly clear that almost every team in Europe would certainly be interested in his talents. 

Yet unfortunately that's probably where the positive factors to Ribery's price come to an end. 

Jon Super/Associated Press

Aside from his actual talent the next most important thing to consider is the Bayern forward's age. At 32 years of age not only is Ribery the wrong side of the big three-zero but probably doesn't have too many seasons left to give either. 

Unfortunately, for most European teams the need to get value for money within player transfers is essential—especially with the added pressure of running at a profit under financial fair play rules. Not only must a player be worth the value that was paid for him but more often than not he must also have the ability to be worth even more in a season or two. 

Ribery simply doesn't have that. Sure, Madrid or Chelsea could probably spend what's needed and bring him in to steady the ship for a season or two but besides the very richest clubs in Europe a bid for a player of Ribery's age simply doesn't make sense. 

There is also the added complications that come with the Frenchman's consistent injuries. According to Transfermarkt, the 32-year-old picked up no fewer than four separate injuries this season, keeping him out of 29 games for Bayern. The season before that saw Ribery pick up seven injuries and miss 32 games for Guardiola's side. 

Unfortunately, at his age, Ribery simply isn't capable of playing an entire league and European campaign for club or country anymore. 

This is obviously a massive factor that will have a detrimental impact on the forward's price. Not only is Ribery of an older age, but he also isn't physically capable of offering any more than 25-30 games to his team from one season to the next.

Ultimately, the figure worth considering for Ribery's value comes on the back of a lot of give and take. A number of factors have contributed to the forging of this fantastic player and as such there's little else to be said. 

Despite his genius on the ball, Ribery is simply too old and too injury prone to demand a huge transfer fee for his services. A sum of £10 million would seem fair in today's market. 

Follow @sbienkowski