Market value turnaround?
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What football fans love so much about the summer window is the transfer market’s ability to fathom up new heroes for clubs seemingly out of thin air. European football seems to have an inexhaustible source of young players, with the potential to become the next Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappè. As such, hype rises alongside market values and before long the biggest clubs in the sport are signing young stars for astronomical sums of money. And then the very same thing happens 12 months later with a new cast of characters.
However, that isn’t all that happens in the transfer market. Sure, the newspaper column inches and Youtube compilation videos focus on what’s new and shiny, but elsewhere in the sport there are literally hundreds of players that are no longer enjoying the warm glow of the limelight but still desperate to prove their worth. And in many cases, clubs that are prepared to go rummaging around the bargain bins of Europe’s top leagues often find the smartest deals to be had. So which players have endured a tough 24/25 campaign and are in desperate need of a club to help them turn their careers around? Today we’ve taken a look at the top five contenders in the Premier League.
Jadon Sancho – €2m drop in market value last season
The first name on our list is an English talent that seemingly has very few fans in English football. After struggling to live up to the hype at Manchester United and then a failed loan spell at Chelsea, which led to the Stamford Bridge side paying a fee to get out of signing him permanently, it seems as though Jadon Sancho’s hopes of becoming a Premier League star are all but lost. However, the former Borussia Dortmund star is only 25 and while his eight goals and assists in 31 league appearances wasn’t a great return, it wasn’t bad either. In fact, star forwards like Noni Madueke (12 goal contributions) and Pedro Neto (10) didn’t offer much more in a Chelsea team that struggled for goals on the whole. Man Utd and Chelsea aren’t interested in keeping Sancho, but a smart club could offer him a chance to prove his worth next season and that market value may begin to rise very quickly.
Harvey Elliott – €5m drop in market value last season
Another wide player that struggled to prove his worth in the Premier League last season was Harvey Elliott. Although the 22-year-old talent averaged a very respectable 0.88 goals and assists per 90 minutes across all competitions last season for Liverpool, he only managed 822 minutes of actual game time. And with Mohamed Salah locked in to the right wing spot with a new contract extension, it seems almost certain that Liverpool will sell Elliott if a club offers the right price. Considering that Elliott’s market value has stalled at €35m since mid 2022 and actually fell slightly last season, it seems abundantly clear that the young star is now in desperate need of regular football and if he can find that this season then we could see his market value skyrocket in no time at all.
Darwin Núñez – €25m drop in market value last season
Elliott is unlikely to be the only star leaving Anfield this summer. Alongside the young Englishman is likely to be Darwin Núñez, who looks set to be sold in the coming months. While the Uruguay forward’s record of 0.80 goals and assists per 90 for the Premier League club is perfectly solid, his inability to nail down a starting spot in Arne Slot’s team has judged his €85m move to the club to be something of a failure. That, undoubtedly, is rather harsh on the 26-year-old talent, since he has shown a clear capacity to score and create goals. For one reason or another, he just doesn’t seem to be the right type of player that Liverpool want in their forward line going forward. However, Liverpool’s misfortune could be another club’s good luck and if Núñez is available for the right price, he could prove to be an excellent talisman this season.
Christopher Nkunku – €30m drop in market value last season
Chelsea’s bulging squad will inevitably need to be severely curtailed in this summer’s transfer window and one player that looks destined for the exit doors is Christopher Nkunku. Signed from RB Leipzig with high hopes, the French winger has undoubtedly fallen victim to niggling injuries and the whirlwind that has been Chelsea’s transfer policy over the last two seasons. However, despite what his time at Chelsea suggests, Nkunku isn’t actually an injury-prone player and an average of 0.73 goals and assists per 90 since joining the Stamford Bridge club suggests that when fit the forward is still perfectly capable of performing at the highest level. As such, a savvy club could potentially pick up something of a bargain if they can sign Nkunku for a reasonable fee and get him playing regularly this season.
Jack Grealish – €32m drop in market value last season
The last name on our list is perhaps one of the most recognisable stars in the Premier League but undoubtedly a player in need of a new club this season. Manchester City broke the Premier League transfer record when they signed Jack Grealish for €117.5m in 2021, but while the English winger has certainly had moments of joy under Pep Guardiola for the most part he has struggled to fit into the Spaniard’s tactical system. Last season Grealish played just 715 minutes of league football for the club and saw his market value drop by €32m to where it now stands at €28m. Whether the 29-year-old talent is capable of helping a major club to serious silverware is certainly debatable, but few would doubt his credentials as an excellent top-flight forward. And if he can find a club that are willing to give him a starting role next season, then Grealish’s fortunes could turn around very quickly.
