Would You Buy Or Sell These English Premier League Players?
- by D_Lamoureux
- – on
- in Sports
Soccer is not only the most popular sport across the world, it’s also the most profitable sport. With no salary cap, players tend to earn lots of money, because they bring in lots of money for their respective team. When players decide to leave one team for a different one, it’s not usually done through trades, or free agency, but rather through transfer fees. These fees have been reasonable for a long time, but with more and more money being poured into the sport, prices have risen.
In Europe’s richest league, the English Premier League, you would expect there to be the best, most expensive players. On average, that is true, although Paris Saint-Germain has broken the transfer record twice in the past year with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, both of whom cost over £200million.
For this quiz, you aren’t making these decisions based on if you were a certain team, so throw positional needs out the window. All we’re asking you to do is compare the value listed of these Premier League players to their real life value, and either buy or sell them. If you think the price is too high, pick “Sell”, if you think the amount is too low, hit “Buy”. We’ll tally the results at the end and let you know how good of a talent evaluator you are.
Ready? Scroll down to start!
Buy or Sell: Alexis Sanchez for £50 million
Sanchez joined Arsenal FC in 2014 for £35m, and quickly became one of the league’s most dangerous forwards. However, he also grew frustrated with his club’s lack of winning, and sulked on and off the pitch for almost the entirety of 2017 before being sold to Manchester United with just 6 months left on his contract. Is the Chilean’s skill worth all the attitude?
Buy or Sell: Eden Hazard for £100mil
Eden Hazard is without a doubt one of the best players in England right now, and has been for multiple seasons. The Belgian has scored 14 or more goals in three of his last four seasons, and is well on his way to doing it again in 2018. That said, 100-million is a lot of money for anyone. Is he worth it?
Buy or Sell: Kevin De Bruyne for £125mil
This baby-faced Belgian will in all likelihood be named the Premier League’s Player of the Year this season. Whether he’s starting a counter-attack, whipping in a cross, or finishing the play himself with either foot, his quality on the ball has been unmatched in England. If for some reason KDB wanted to leave Manchester, how much would he go for?
Buy or Sell: Mohamed Salah for £65mil
With 30 goals scored in all competitions just halfway through February, it’s safe to say Mo Salah has already upped his value from the 50mil that Liverpool spent on him in the summer. The question is: what is the Egyptian winger worth now? His goal-scoring tally is off the charts, but he doesn’t have too long of a history that suggests he can keep this up for years to come. How would you handle this?
Buy or Sell: Son Heung-Min for £40mil
Tottenham Hotspur have no shortage of offensive weapons. The fact that Son is often overlooked on the North London side’s team sheet is testament to that. The South Korean has been spectacular in all competitions for Spurs, scoring over 30 goals in the three seasons he’s played. Every team can use a right-footed left winger with an eye for goal. Would you buy or sell on Son?
Buy or Sell: Paul Pogba for £90mil
Paul Pogba is one of the most popular players in the Premier League today, but while he brings in lots of merchandising revenue, is he worth his astronomical price-tag on the pitch? It’s definitely a question. Some people think he’s being held back by his sub-par teammates, while others think a £90 million player shouldn’t need so much help.
Buy or Sell: Harry Kane for £100mil
If you were to say that Harry Kane is the best striker in England right now, you’d have very few people arguing with you. If you were to say Kane is the best English striker, you’d have even less. ‘Hurricane Harry’ has taken the EPL by storm in the past few seasons, scoring 20+ goals in four straight Premier League seasons. How much is a striker of Harry Kane’s quality worth today?
Buy or Sell: Wayne Rooney for £22mil
I really shouldn’t have to explain to you who Wayne Rooney is. If you’ve made it this far, you should know about how Rooney’s went from a young star at Everton, to a superstar at Manchester United, and then back to Everton once he couldn’t find a starting spot with United. In his current, 32 year-old form, how much do you think the Shrek look-alike is worth?
Buy or Sell: Fernandinho for £35mil
Fernandinho has been a key component in Manchester City’s midfield for several successful seasons. His mix of responsible, strong defending and his competence on the ball makes him a very well-rounded player. That said, he is getting up in age and his team is looking for his future replacement. What do you think he’s worth in 2018?
Buy or Sell: N’Golo Kante for £60mil
There’s a lot of argument in football circles as to how much of a role N’Golo Kante played in his two consecutive Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea. Whether you look at his skillset in running and breaking up the play as extraordinary, or lament his ability to control and pass the ball, it’s a fact that he’s the only player to win the league in both 2016 and 2017, so he must be doing something right.
Buy or Sell: Richarlison for £15mil
Richarlison is another player who has excelled at one of the smaller Premier League clubs. During Watford’s incredible start to the 2017-18 season, he was probably the most responsible for it. The Brazilian’s offensive talents have raised several eyebrows just this past season. If he moves on, which he likely won’t, how much do you think Watford can get in return for the forward?
Buy or Sell: Chris Smalling for £35mil
This tall centre-back has been playing for Manchester United since 2010, where he’s won every major trophy available in England. In the last few seasons he’s played less games than he’s used to, suggesting he’s not on the same level he once was. That said, the price for an English defender is fairly high. Would you buy or sell Smalling for this price?
Buy or Sell: Jordan Henderson for £40mil
Henderson was more or less handed the captaincy at Liverpool when all-time great Steven Gerrard left the team in 2015. He was given the honour not because of his footballing ability, but rather because of his leadership qualities. Many players have said that a reason for some of their past losses was due to the fact that they didn’t have a leader on the pitch to keep the team focused. How much value do you give to a team’s captain?
Buy or Sell: Xherdan Shaqiri for £50mil
Shaqiri is very aptly nicknamed the “Muscle Hamster”, like many other short athletes that are ridiculously muscular. Shaqiri came to Stoke from Bayern Munich looking for more playing time, and gave the Potters the attacking venom they so desperately needed. He hasn’t just found success with his club team, Shaqiri scored one of the goals of the 2014 World Cup tournament with a spectacular bicycle kick for his country Switzerland.
Buy or Sell: Wilfried Zaha for £35mil
Ever since his counterpart on the opposite wing, Yannick Bolasie, left for Everton, Wilfried Zaha has been the sole source of offensive excitement for Crystal Palace. His electric pace, creative dribbling, and a solid finishing touch has seen him become the player opposing teams are most worried about when they face the eagles. Assuming he’s back to full health, would you take him on you team?
Buy or Sell: Tiémoué Bakayoko for £40mil
Tiémoué Bakayoko was signed by Chelsea during the summer of 2017 to replace the gap in their midfield left by the departure of Nemanja Matic to top-6 rival Manchester United. After a stellar season where he helped Monaco stun the dominant Paris Saint-Germain for the French league title, Bakayoko’s play in the Premier League hasn’t been up and down. Would you pay what Chelsea paid for him?
Buy or Sell: Simon Mignolet for £25mil
This goalkeeper has made over 150 appearances in net for Liverpool, and was even the team’s player of the season in 2014-15. Since then, Mignolet has been shaky, leading his club to try to find a goalkeeper with enough talent for them to challenge for Europe’s biggest competitions. Although they’ve brought keepers in, none of them have shown themselves to be clearly better than the Belgian netminder. A world-class goalkeeper will likely cost a lot more than Liverpool could get in return for Mignolet, so that considered, would you buy or sell?
Buy or Sell: Jose Izquierdo for £23mil
This player has exploded in England in 2018. Playing for Brighton, Izquierdo has scored four goals, and none of them were lucky ones. He’s picked the corner from outside the box on multiple occasions, and even scores through team play, like when he made two give-and-go passes to walk through Stoke City and score the opening goal. Can you place an accurate value on him despite his limited minutes in the PL?
Buy or Sell: Sofiane Boufal for £16mil
Sofiane Boufal is not a big name player by any stretch of the imagination. However, he did break Southampton’s record for a transfer fee when he moved from Lille for £16mil in 2016. Although his low goal count would suggest he hasn’t hit the ground running in England, he’s not as much of a scorer as a dribbler and a creator. If you could get Boufal for the same price Southampton paid just two years ago, would you do it?
Buy or Sell: Eric Dier for £55mil
This player has all the makings of a great Premier League defender. He is big, strong, good in the air, has good feet, can pass, and can even crack a long shot if he’s given enough space. That said, for whatever reason, he just hasn’t been able to put it all together consistently. That’s why Tottenham usually opts for the two Belgians, Alderweireld and Vertonghen, at centre back, and Victor Wanyama as the holding midfielder. How much would you pay for Dier’s potential?
Buy or Sell: Dwight Gayle for £15mil
Dwight Gayle is in that weird area for an English footballer where he seems to be too good for the Championship, but not quite good enough for the Premier League. He joined Crystal Palace when they were promoted for the 2013-14 season, but found it had to keep a starting job. It took him just one season with Newcastle United to win the Championship league title. Unfortunately, now that he is back in the PL, his team is already looking for better options up front. How much is a player like Gayle worth?
Buy or Sell: Roberto Firmino for £49mil
Even before he had joined the team, Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp knew Roberto Firmino would be a success. The German manager had been with Borussia Dortmund when Firmino was making a name for himself at Hoffenheim. Now, Firmino is a household name in those households which follow European club football. Usually with strikers it’s all about the goals, but not Bobby. His passing, hold up play, and overall intelligence are just as important to his game as finishing. How much has his value risen?
Buy or Sell: Gareth Barry for £9mil
As the all-time leader in Premier League appearances, you have to believe Gareth Barry is nearing the end of his career. You’d also have to believe that he must still be a pretty good player, considering how much action he’s getting in the top-tier of English football. With few things being as important as experience to teams near the bottom of the table, there’s a good chance he has useful years ahead of him, or does he?
Buy or Sell: Harry Maguire for £20mil
Anytime you buy a player from a team that just got relegated, you have to be absolutely sure that player wasn’t one of the reasons for it. The jury is still out on Harry Maguire, but so far it looks like Leicester got themselves a player. Maguire’s presence in the Foxes’ back line is garnering attention from fans of England’s National team, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets continuous action there. How much has he raised his value by in this short period of time?
Buy or Sell: Chris Wood for £10mil
Even though he hails from New Zealand, Chris Wood is your classic example of an English #9. He’s tall, can hold up the ball, and he knows how to finish, Wood has scored 40 goals in 80 appearances with Leeds United in the Championship, and 4 goals in 15 appearances with Burnley in the Premier League. Other players have had long careers playing this role, such as Peter Crouch, and Olivier Giroud because every team likes to have a player with this skill set. How much is that skillset worth?
Buy or Sell: Jonny Evans for £11mil
West Bromwich Albion are really struggling in 2018, at no fault of Evans. He’s been a big part of the Baggies’ defensive mentality over the past few seasons where they were able to stay above the Premier League’s relegation zone. Because it doesn’t look like they’ll be able to pull off an escape again this season, he’ll likely join another club rather than going down to the Championship. How much will it cost the PL squad trying to sign him?
Buy or Sell: David De Gea for £100mil
David De Gea is arguably a top 3 goalkeeper in the entire world. As far a shot-stopping goes, he’s an absolute wall. While United has struggled to retain their dominance since Sir Alex Ferguson left, fingers have been pointed at every player to put on a red shirt, except for De Gea. It’s amazing to think that the only thing that stopped him from joining Real Madrid in 2015 was a faulty fax machine. If he were to join another European giant, would he go for £100mil?
Buy or Sell: Jordan Pickford for £30mil
England’s goalkeeper position is as wide open as it’s ever been for the upcoming World Cup. As Joe Hart’s play has faded considerably in recent years, Pickford has established himself as one of the PL’s better keepers. He’s also much more of a new-age goalkeeper, in that he can distribute the ball effectively, as well as stop shots. Would you buy or sell on the youngster?
Buy or Sell: Nathan Ake for £20m
Several players in the Premier League have a similar story to Nathan Ake. Ake showed promise as a youngster, but Chelsea had too much depth at his position to get regular playing time. As a result, he was loaned out, and loaned out again until he had enough. Ake found a home in Bournemouth, and recently signed with them for £20m. Would you say that’s fair for the athletic defender?
Buy or Sell: Gary Cahill for £18mil
Cahill has enjoyed many seasons at Stamford Bridge, winning all major trophies in England, and well as a Champions League title in 2012, and a Europa League title in 2013. Now some will suggest that the 32-year-old has lost a step, but just because he isn’t as good as he once was doesn’t mean he can’t still be a useful player. Seriously, he’s only 32.
Buy or Sell: Jermain Defoe for £15mil
Defoe has had one of the longest careers of any player currently in the English Premier League. He’s played 484 games for five different English clubs, and even played a season in the MLS. His 161 goals place him 7th all-time in the EPL, however, the team he played for in 2017, Sunderland, was relegated. Would you still buy the 35-year-old?
Buy or Sell: Alvaro Morata for £60mil
Alvaro Morata has had an interesting career. Morata has recently only played for the biggest European clubs. But, at both Real Madrid and Juventus he found himself behind better players on the depth charts. When he moved to Chelsea for £58mil, it seemed like that was going to change. Has the Spanish striker been worth the price that Antonio Conte paid?
Buy or Sell: Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez for £35mil
Chicharito has previously played for two of the world’s biggest clubs, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. While he found success in Madrid, it’s widely thought that he was treated somewhat unfairly at Old Trafford. Since then, the Mexican striker has picked up his bags and moved to West Ham. West Ham has been having plenty of problems of their own, and Hernandez has neither really struggled, nor has he established himself as a consistent starter. Another case of questionable potential, how do you rate him?
Buy or Sell: Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson for £7mil
Johann Gudmundsson is one of many small-name players that have found success at Burnley. A surprise team over the past couple seasons, Burnley has used mainly their organizational positioning, grit, hard work, and timely goals to vault themselves into the top half of the Premier League table. Gudmundsson is a perfect fit, possessing a wicked left foot, and is unselfish enough to participate in “doing the dirty work” on the pitch. Having also found a surprising amount of success with his home country of Iceland, he’s an interesting prospect. How much is he worth?
Buy or Sell: Raheem Sterling for £80mil
Few players have been criticised at the beginnings of their career more than Raheem Sterling has. Whether you believe it’s veiled racism, or just warranted worries about a young, rich footballer, you have to acknowledge they’re there. One of the criticisms with Sterling on the pitch was with his finishing. He seems to have figured that out under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, as he’s bagged 20 goals in a season for the first time in his career. He’s clearly above the £44mil value City paid for him in 2015, but is he up there with the most expensive wingers in the world?
