The 10 most valuable Championship players: Bowen, Gomes, Summerville…
As usual, the Championship looks set to see a number of its best players head off to the Premier League with teams ready for a bargain deal.
Hayden Hackney and Matheus Fernandes have both moved to the Premier League, signing for Everton and Tottenham respectively. This list could look very different by September.
Here are the 10 most valuable Championship players right now based on Transfermarkt’s valuations.
10. Jean-Clair Todibo – €22m
Todibo only joined West Ham permanently last summer, but already looks like he is out the door after falling out with another Hammers manager.
After bust ups with Juilen Lopetegui and Graham Potter, the Frenchman told Nuno Espirito Santo he would never play for him after being taken off early in the May defeat at Newcastle.
He wants a summer exit according to reports and so one club may get a cut-rate price if they think they can get the best out of him.
=8. Zan Vipotnik – €22m
=8. Lesley Ugochukwu – €22m
The former Chelsea player joined Burnley last summer and while it is hard to look good in a team destined for the drop, Ugochukwu is still a player with a lot of potential.
He’s 22 and has time on his side but Premier League teams may wait another season before making a move.
=8. Ladislav Krejci – €22m
Captain of the Czech Republic, Krejci’s experience and leadership could prove a worthwhile addition to any Premier League backline this summer.
For now, he remains a Wolves player.
7. Andre – €25m
Transfermarkt values midfielder Andre at €25m but he is going nowhere this summer after making the surprising decision to commit his long-term future to Wolves.
He has signed a new deal until 2030 and you suspect will be a crucial player in their goal of returning to the top flight.
=4. Maxime Esteve – €28m
There were not many positives to be said about Burnley’s defence in the Premier League but Esteve was one of their standout players during their record-breaking promotion campaign the year before.
He’s only 24 and so may stick around for another year in the Championship with Burnley.
=4. Taty Castellanos – €28m
If West Ham were going to stay up, at one point it looked like Taty Castellanos would be key to that.
The Argentine scored six goals in the league, four of which came in April or May, and Everton are considering a move to fix their striker issues. One of the best chants in English football is under threat.
=4. El Hadji Malick Diouf – €28m
Diouf’s crossing ability is up there with the best in English football, but the full-back remains raw and a year in the Championship at West Ham could do him good.
The Senegal international has been linked with several Premier League clubs, most recently Everton, but the Hammers are no longer in desperate need of funds after getting £85million for Fernandes.
3. Jarrod Bowen – €30m
Bowen is the most high-profile relegated player, but there is a question over whether he actually wants to leave the club.
Family ties plus being club captain mean it is not guaranteed he leaves in search of Premier League football but he has plenty of big clubs sniffing around him.
He has been linked with Liverpool in the past and now Manchester United while West Ham fans could be set for heartbreak should he move to Chelsea as has been rumoured.
Bowen is the only West Ham player not to receive a wage cut after relegation and featured in their kit launch at the start of July.
2. Crysencio Summerville – €35m
Summerville was a surprise call-up for the Netherlands World Cup squad and scored twice at the tournament to boost his profile.
He only had seven goal involvements for West Ham last season, but was electric during a spell in mid-season and Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing him.
1. Joao Gomes – €40m
One of the first names out the Wolves exit door this summer looks to be midfielder Gomes who is reportedly close to a move to Atletico Madrid.
According to ESPN, the Brazilian international will be the subject of a £39m bid having missed out on Atalanta’s Ederson.
Gomes made 33 appearances for Wolves last season but was unable to stop them sinking down to the Championship.
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