10 players with the highest market value increase in football - January 2022

#3 Vinicius Jr. +€50M

Elche CF v Real Madrid CF - LaLiga Santander

Anyone who follows football in Europe is well aware of the drastic improvement Vinicius Jr. has shown in the last six months.

In the past, Vini Jr. usually found himself on the end of frequent criticism for not being decisive in the final-third, making rash decisions and giving the ball cheaply. However, he has revamped his game and the Brazilian is setting La Liga alight this season.

He has struck all the right chords this season and formed a threatening partnership with man-in-form Karim Benzema. The 21-year old went from being valued at just €40m in January 2021 to a massive €100m in January 2022. Between those two dates the Real Madrid winger has scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists.

Since Carlo Ancelloti took charge of the Spanish giants, the difference in Vinicius has been big. He has valued the ball more, hasn't rushed onto taking defenders and looking for extra passes where possible. But most importantly he has trusted his instincts to take aim at goal and that's working pretty nicely for him.

It could be argued that over the last 12 months he is the most improved player in Europe and that hike in his price is justifiable.

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#2 Erling Haaland +€50M

Borussia Dortmund v SpVgg Greuther Fürth - Bundesliga

Erling Haaland is one of the hottest properties in Europe right now and more so these days because after June 2022, his release clause will come into play. The biggest European clubs, the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City, are all in the hunt to find their next No.9 and the name does not get bigger than Haaland.

After scoring a remarkable 41 goals in 41 matches in all competitions in the 2020-21 campaign, the Norwegian continued firing on all cylinders. Injury has kept him on the sidelines this season, but in the eleven Bundesliga games played, he already has 13 goals and nine assists.

Haaland has become a complete centre-forward in the last year. He is capable of holding the ball and bringing other attackers into the mix and can gallop at will with is long strides towards goal. As far as finishing is concerned, he is among the most clinical finishers in Europe, if not the most.

Barcelona are increasingly linked with the star striker, but their financial condition is somewhat of a mess. It will be interesting to see if the Catalans can lure him to Spain and satisfy his wages.

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#1 Dusan Vlahovic +€54M

Hellas Verona FC v ACF Fiorentina - Serie A

When Erling Haaland was making a name for himself in Germany, breaking records in the Champions League, a secret weapon was being nurtured in Serie A. He was far from the glamor of Champions League nights, but became a figure that scared the hell out of defenders in Italy.

Dusan Vlahovic has recorded the biggest increase in market value over the course of 2021 and is priced today at €70m. The Fiorentina striker is being courted by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid, among other clubs in Europe. The 6ft 2in striker is a force to be reckoned with in front of goal.

After scoring 21 goals in 37 Serie A matches last year, the Serbian has increased his strike rate and has already netted 16 goals in 19 appearances so far. He is an out-and-out striker and a perfect target man who uses his frame to his maximum advantage.

At 21 he has proven himself to be a big game player and does not disappoint when the team needs him the most. His agility and aerial prowess is quite impressive and him being put in the same bracket as Haaland is well deserved. Whoever manages to sign Vlahovic is definitely getting a jackpot.