Who Are the Premier League's 5 Most Valuable Footballers?
The International Centre for Sports Studies' (CIES) Football Observatory released its biannual list of the 100 most valuable footballers from Europe's top five leagues. The top 30, noted by the Daily Mail's Luke Augustus, has more Premier League players than any other domestic competition: England has 12, Spain has 11, Italy has four, Germany has two and France has one.
Unsurprisingly, CIES suggests Lionel Messi is the world's most valuable footballer, worth £185 million, followed by his Barcelona team-mate Neymar at £113 million.
The study's results are predicated on "age, position and contract duration, as well as the standing of their club and/or international team based on their competition level and results."
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Chelsea's Eden Hazard took the third spot over Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo—no doubt due to their six-year age difference—boasting incredible sums of £96 million and £84 million, respectively.
Perhaps the shock of CIES' list was fifth place. Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane was appraised at £67 million. The 22-year-old centre-forward enjoyed a tremendous 2014/15 season, scoring 31 goals in all competitions, and that stellar form has continued this term.
Kane's massive appraisal raises the question of which Premier League stars could, and possibly should, have been ranked ahead of him. CIES' study had Hazard, Kane, Raheem Sterling (£66 million), Sergio Aguero (£60 million) and Alexis Sanchez (£60 million) as the most valuable EPL stars.
Even taking CIES' factors into account, it does seem rather odd to have Kane and Sterling (who was sixth) ranked so high. English talent is often viewed as lacking in certain areas, but Kane and Sterling appear the country's next great hopes. Does their status as England's attacking cornerstones for the next decade inflate their estimations and, in turn, their values? One would have to answer yes.
Taking away the English bias often seen in these lists, there are several names many would give you as the Premier League's most valuable playing entities. Attempting to rank them is entirely subjective, but using the CIES' own criteria and some common-sense evaluations, maybe we can do slightly better over five spots.
T-5. Mesut Ozil and Romelu Lukaku: £50 million
Mesut Ozil's assists numbers for Arsenal are almost unbelievable. The record for most assists in a Premier League season is 20 (set by former Gunners forward Thierry Henry); the German playmaker has 16 in 20 EPL matches.
Showing his best form since leaving Real Madrid in 2013, his price tag then was £42.5 million. On current form, it's hard to imagine the 27-year-old's value has decreased—as suggest by the CIES' £38 million estimation.
Romelu Lukaku might not be Everton's most coveted young star (John Stones probably takes that honour), but the 22-year-old Belgian centre-forward is the Toffees' most valuable asset.
Bought from Chelsea in 2014 for £28 million, Lukaku has grown by miles. Understanding his role in an attacking side, using his massive frame, lightning speed and tactical awareness to cause defences havoc—just entering the prime of his career—there is everything one needs in a striker at Goodison Park.
4. Alexis Sanchez: £52.5 million
It is quite hard to imagine where Arsenal would be without Sanchez.
They bought him in summer 2014 for £30 million from Barcelona, and there was a suggestion Premier League teams should quit buying rejects from La Liga's two superclubs—that noise was killed almost instantly.
A hard-working, clinical attacking piece, the 27-year-old's graft has provided Arsenal with a much-needed boost of tenacity. Mixing his work rate with sublime skill, only injury ruins Sanchez's value.
3. Sergio Aguero: £55 million
If injury can snuff Sanchez's relative value, then Aguero might be worried, but if you divorce the notion of age from this equation, the Argentinian is the Premier League's best footballer.
We could break down England into goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers if you want, but nobody (when fit) does his particular job better than Aguero.
At 27, potential is no longer a factor—he is the finished article—but Manchester City (buying him for £38 million in 2011) are more than satisfied with his performances.
2. Kevin De Bruyne: £58 million
The Citizens, though, are not the type to rest on their laurels.
They tried in 2014/15, and it cost them their crown. Last summer, they spent upwards of £140 million to return to the Premier League summit. After Sterling's £49 million signing and the £28.5 million spent on Nicolas Otamendi, the summer's most expensive purchase was Kevin De Bruyne from VfL Wolfsburg for £55 million.
The 24-year-old has transitioned seamlessly back into EPL life and has the ability to dominate attacking-midfield conversations for the better part of 10 years.
1. Eden Hazard: £60 million
If 2015/16 is our evidence, Hazard should be worth £20 million.
Chelsea signed him for £32 million in 2012, and many thought the Blues had purchased football's next great winger. The Belgian has shown that form in glimpses, and last season, he was the Premier League's best player. This year, with turmoil surrounding the west London camp, the 25-year-old has struggled to cope with injury, management and possibly expectation.
A porous five months should not, however, ruin what we have seen in the past.
Does Hazard's estimation suffer? Yes. The main question is whether that depreciation will continue.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
