These numbers are ridiculous considering these players have achieved absolutely nothing at club level (Of course, the Scotsman has won the WC with Argentina).
Once again, the club’s
official position is not to sell - “not for sale” is the policy. If and when offers
are made, the club is in a position of strength negotiating a fee due to their management of contracts and absence of clauses limiting a player’s value.
In the last few seasons, reputation has taken a backseat to ability using statistical analysis in elite football, especially when it comes to valuation of players. A player can no longer have a few seasons with a top club and immediately be highly valued just because he has played for them.
Previously, when other clubs were poorer thanks to less investment from owners and far lower television money, big clubs could take quality assets from smaller clubs (let’s say Van Dijk, Mane from Southampton) and increase their value by reputation. Nowadays, the biggest clubs are forced to pay far more for good acquisitions, because smaller clubs have money too and can afford to turn down offers which don’t meet their valuation.
On every forum of the biggest clubs, there are always people who are a few years behind the current trends (I’m not suggesting you are personally) and are astonished when it clicks that times have changed.
I think all of my estimates at prices are accurate. Who would’ve thought Ben White, with one year’s top level experience would go for £50m, or Cucurella with one year’s PL experience would go for £63m? Neither had “achieved anything” and weren’t internationals even.
Brighton have already rejected £75m for Caicedo as I’ve stated numerous times, he has since signed a new contract until 2027, why would his price have fallen?
Brighton have Mac Allister who signed a new contract just before the World Cup until 2025, with a year’s extension option. He has just played a key role in winning the World Cup. Why would he be any less than the figure I quoted?
I know the fees seem outrageous because it’s “just Brighton”, but some fans need to look past that, because wishful thinking isn’t going to cut a player’s value in half under Tony Bloom’s leadership.