Liverpool Football Club are reportedly willing to sell Raheem Sterling but won’t entertain any bid less than £50m for the England international – and we’ve decided to take a look at which Premier League players could be worth the sizeable figure.
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Sky Sports reported that Manchester City had a £25m offer rejected for the winger last Friday, and the Merseyside outfit are holding out for a fee double what the Citizens have offered.
So which players in our top flight could be worth £50m? Take a look below at who CaughtOffside could be command the mighty price-tag…
Eden Hazard – Chelsea
The PFA Player of the Year was outstanding for the Premier League champions in their title-winning campaign and his price-tag looks set to only increase, as his performances continue to improve.
The Belgian winger scored 14 top flight goals and registered nine assists – cementing himself as one of the most feared forwards in the England.
Sergio Aguero – Manchester City
The Argentine striker finished the season with the Premier League’s Golden Boot, scoring 26 times – five more than Tottenham’s Harry Kane and six more than Chelsea’s Diego Costa.
The 27-year-old is one of the most dangerous forwards in and around the box, averaging 4.5 shots per-game – the highest in the league – and is no doubt worthy of a super price-tag. If the Citizens continue to struggle in the Champions League and fail to contend with champions Chelsea, Aguero may start to assess his options away from the Etihad.
Thibaut Courtois – Chelsea
Only an exceptional goalkeeper could be capable of replacing Blues icon Petr Cech in between the posts at Stamford Bridge, and the Belgium international has cemented himself as one of the finest stoppers in Europe after becoming Jose Mourinho’s new no.1.
With three superb seasons at Atletico Madrid prior to his debut 2014-15 campaign in the Chelsea first-team, the 23-year-old already has a wealth of experience at the highest level. So much so that Real Madrid reportedly offered €100m (£73m) for his signature [via HLN].
Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
What a breakthrough campaign for the England international at White Hart Lane. Kane has virtually single-handedly carried Spurs this season; with his 21 Premier League goals winning his side 24 points – more than any other player for their team – and his finishes have contributed to 36% of all of Tottenham’s goals.
It’s difficult to see any club being tempted to part with £50m or more for his signature given he has only impressed for one season, but Tottenham would certainly hold out for nothing less if the offers starting rolling in.
Angel Di Maria – Manchester United
The former Real Madrid fan-favourite endured an underwhelming debut season at Old Trafford following his British record £59.7m move from the Santiago Bernabeu. Scoring just three Premier League goals, the winger is yet to impress at Manchester United. However, unlike Radamel Falcao whose stock looks to have fallen after a miserable loan spell with the Red Devils, Di Maria’s popularity doesn’t look to have been affected.
If Louis van Gaal chooses to sell, the Dutchman would want to recoup the fee paid only last summer for the 27-year-old – and Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are reportedly willing to meet the price [via the Daily Mirror].
Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal
Arsene Wenger clinched the signature of the Chilean winger in a £35m deal from Barcelona last summer, and his debut campaign at the Emirates saw him labelled as the signing of the season.
The Gunners were a formidable force in the Premier League after the festive period, and Sanchez, along with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting forwards in England’s top flight. While £50m would be a steep price, few clubs would welcome the addition of the Chile international, and Arsenal certainly wouldn’t accept a price any less.
David De Gea – Manchester United
It may appear questionable for the Spaniard to have been included on this list given Real Madrid are rumoured to be readying a £20m offer for the Red Devils stopper [via The Telegraph]. It must, however, be noted that this is a reduced fee with the former Atletico Madrid keeper having entered the final year of his Old Trafford contract.
Had it not have been for Manchester United not agreeing an extension, few can doubt that the 24-year-old could command a price-tag around £50m – more than double the fee that the Spanish giants are poised to table.
Ross Barkley – Everton
The Toffees midfielder certainly has much to prove before supporters agree that he is worthy of a £50m price-tag. However, as with most young English talent, there is a great deal of hysteria surrounding their name – perhaps because they are sadly few and far between.
Earlier in the year, Manchester City expressed interest in the England international, and were told that he would cost £50m [via the Mirror]. With Everton’s questionable form in the 2014-15 season, Barkley has fallen out of the spotlight, but a reemergence could see a number of clubs come knocking for his signature.
Raheem Sterling – Liverpool
There’s no denying that if the Reds pocket £50m for Sterling, they will have far exceeded his value. Perhaps the club owe a thank you to the media for their extensive coverage over his contract quarrels, as well as the hype surrounding young English talent.
A few years ago such a price alongside such a name would have resulted in raised eyebrows – but now there would be little surprise if the England international really does seal an exit from Anfield in a £50m move.
