French Ligue 1
AT $397M, KYLIAN MBAPPE IS WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE
Suitors of Kylian Mbappe must be prepared to splash the cash for the prodigious Frenchman, with an algorithm estimating that the 21-year-old would cost a staggering €265.2 million (S$397.6 million).
Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar holds the transfer world record for his 2017 move from Barcelona for €222 million, considerably more than the €180 million the French champions paid Monaco after completing a permanent deal for Mbappe the following year.
According to an algorithm developed by the Switzerland-based CIES Football Observatory, Mbappe’s value has skyrocketed while Neymar, 27, is now estimated to cost around €100.4 million.
The Brazilian is only 19th in the study that takes into account performance for club and country, age, position, league of employment and economic level of the selling club in Europe’s “Big Five” leagues – England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. There are 166 players valued at more than €50 million.
England forward Raheem Sterling may be worth his weight in gold for Manchester City, but he has to settle for second in the list on €223.7 million. Liverpool’s Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah is third on €175.1 million.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (€125.5 million), the Argentinian who was named the world’s best footballer for the sixth time last year, is eighth while five-time winner, Juventus’ Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo (€80.3 million), is not even among the top 20.
Eleven of the top 20 play for Premier League clubs, including Tottenham striker Harry Kane at sixth (€150.5 million).
European champions Liverpool have three of the costliest players in their respective positions – Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson at €87.6 million, Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk at €92.7 million and English fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold at €110.5 million.
Of the 20 men who are January transfer window targets, most of their valuations do not fall within the CIES estimates.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho (€168.9 million) is a target for Chelsea and Manchester United, who both reportedly value the England winger at €140 million.
Chelsea are also looking at a €80 million offer for RB Leipzig’s German forward Timo Werner, whom CIES values at €112 million.
United’s reported willingness to part with €118 million for Leicester’s James Maddison is closer to CIES’ valuation, however, with the English midfielder valued at €112.4 million.
Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona view Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez to be worth his release clause of €111 million. The Argentinian striker is 10th on CIES’ list on €115.7 million.
Reuters
After Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi signed a contract extension with French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain, he became the World’s most-paid fullback.
The Moroccan international will earn a staggering €70 million in wages over his new five-year deal, cementing his status as football’s highest-paid defender.
He signed a contract extension with the French champions until 2029. The new deal adds three years to his previous contract, which was set to expire in 2026.
His net salary is increasing from €10 million to €14 million per season (€28 million gross).
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The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee and Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, is almost certain to leave the Serie A in the coming winter transfer window following interest from Premiership but the biggest interest is from Paris Saint Germaine.
The AFCON 2024 silver medal winner with Nigeria has been on the radar of the London side, West Ham United and three other sides from the league but all is more certain that the London club will find it difficult to compete for the signature of Atalanta star according to Football Insider.
Reports have suggested that the Irons are ready to swoop for the Nigeria international in the January transfer window.
However, sources say there will be “huge interest” from Europe in the 27-year-old ex-Everton star.
Paris Saint-Germain will be the frontrunner for the forward if he becomes available in the coming months.
Additionally, Lookman plays in the same area of the pitch as West Ham’s big-money summer signings Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme.
The London-born has raised his stock with his displays for Atalanta since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022.
He finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings this year after leading the Italian side to a Europa League title last term.
Lookman has already hit five goals and contributed five assists in 10 games across all competitions this term.
The forward, who is under contract until June 2026, hit 17 goals and notched 10 assists in 45 appearances last season.
West Ham are unlikely to have serious funds to spend in the January window after their lavish spending in the off-season.
Julen Lopetegui’s side started slowly and sat 13th in the Premier League after nine games.
Paris St Germain will take their wage dispute with Kylian Mbappe to court after the French football league’s governing body (LFP) ruled in favour of the France captain on Friday.
French media reported the 25-year-old, who has not commented on the dispute, is seeking around 55 million euros ($59.52 million) in salary and bonuses he says he is owed by the club.
The Ligue 1 champions, however, say Mbappe’s contract was “legally amended” and that he reneged on commitments when he left the club to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in the close season.
PSG said last month that Mbappe had refused an offer from the LFP to mediate on the issue.
The LFP’s National Joint Appeals Commission heard the parties on Oct. 15 and announced on Friday it had ruled in favour of Mbappe.
“The club must pay him the salary he is claiming. This decision is not subject to appeal, but may be referred to the FFF (French Football Federation) Executive Committee,” the LFP told Reuters.
However, PSG said they would be “forced to bring the case before the competent courts” while still trying to find an “amicable solution” with Mbappe, who became the French club’s all-time top scorer during his seven-year stay in the capital.
“What is in debate, and will ultimately be heard before an appropriate tribunal, is that the original contract was legally amended in August 2023 relating to the 2024-25 season, and also fully recognised by the player including in January 2024 – until the player then decided to renege all his commitments upon leaving the club,” a PSG spokesperson said.
“As a matter of law and fact, the player has made clear, repeated public and private commitments that the club simply asks are honoured, with the player being afforded unprecedented benefits by the club over seven years in Paris.
“The club hopes these basic commitments will simply be respected, knowing that the club will be forced to have the player’s bad faith judged by the competent courts if the player regrettably seeks to pursue this incomprehensibly damaging dispute, for himself and for French football, further.”
Mbappe’s representatives were not immediately available for comment.
In January, Mbappe had said he made an agreement with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi which would “protect all parties and preserve the club’s serenity for the challenges ahead”.
-Reuters
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