Dwight McNeil identified as Burnley’s biggest asset

The CIES Football Observatory has developed an algorithm to assess the transfer value of players on a scientific basis.

Issue number 330 of the Weekly Post presents the top valued footballer for each of the 98 teams from the five major European leagues, as well as the percentage that the value of the most expensive player represents out of the total estimated transfer value of his owner club.

With an estimated transfer value of between €50-70m, or £43-60m, the England Under 21 international, currently away with Aidy Boothroyd’s squad for the group stages of the UEFA European Championships, McNeil is the Clarets’ main asset - representing 35.3% of the club’s entire estimated transfer value.

The 21-year-old’s estimated value is only topped in the Premier League by Marcus Rashford of Manchester United (€150-200m, 14.8% of club assets), Phil Foden (Manchester City, €120-150m, 10.3% of club assets), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, €120-150m, 20.0% of club assets), Timo Werner (Chelsea, €90-120m, 11.1% of club assets), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool, €90-120m, 12.0% of club assets), Harry Kane (Spurs, €90-120m, 14.1% of club assets), Pedro Neto (Wolves, €70-90m, 19.7% of club assets), Richarlison (Everton, €70-90m, 14.8% of club assets), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City, €70-90m, 14.1% of club assets) and Declan Rice (West Ham, €50-70m, 22.4% of club assets).

This percentage rises above 20% concerning Erling Haaland and Borussia Dortmund (€150-200), and just below 10% for Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid (€70-90m).

The lowest dependance on the top valued player was recorded for an Italian Serie A team.

With an estimated transfer value between €30 and €40m, Italian national A-team centre back Gianluca Mancini represents 8,7% of the total estimated AS Rome’s squad value.

At the opposite end of the table is SD Eibar, where Edu Expósito (€15-20M) represents almost 40% of the total squad value.

The estimated transfer value intervals for all big-5 league players are accessible at https://football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2020/wp330/en/.