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
Paul Pogba has joined AS Monaco on a free transfer after signing a two-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Saturday, as the 32-year-old French midfielder looks to revive his career following a doping ban.
Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024 after testing positive for DHEA, which boosts testosterone levels. The suspension was cut to 18 months after a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Italian club Juventus announced in November that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, which was due to expire in June 2026.
The 2018 World Cup winner had a disappointing second spell with Juventus due to injuries after returning to the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022.
Pogba was signed by United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of 89 million pounds ($122 million) but the four-times Serie A champion won only two trophies with the Premier League club — the League Cup and Europa League in his first season.
He last played for France in 2022 but knee surgery prevented him from appearing at the World Cup in Qatar.
Monaco finished third behind Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain and Olympique de Marseille last season.
-Reuters
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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.
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