'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In this inflated market, any half-decent striker has the potential to command a fee in excess of €30 million. Furthermore, the notion that strikers end up hogging all the limelight when their team performs well has been widely accepted by the fans. Nevertheless, there are always two sides to a coin, with both overrated and undervalued players existing in modern football.
Strikers with the highest market value
Fitting perfectly into the said pattern, forwards dominate the list of most valuable players in the world. On top of the pile, without any surprises, is Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman has a colossal valuation of €160 million. Erling Haaland and Harry Kane follow in closely, with current market values of €130m and €120m, respectively.
Chelsea's latest acquisition, Romelu Lukaku, comes in sixth place, boasting a market value of €100 million. Youngsters Joao Felix and Lautaro Martinez are other notable inclusions, with both of the strikers having a net worth of €80m.
While the phenomenon is prevalent in all honesty, a hoard of strikers still have a criminally low value in the transfer market. Despite their goalscoring prowess, certain attackers have been unable to climb up the valuation ladder. On that note, let's take a look at five top strikers who are undervalued in the present market:
#5 Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Primarily a winger, Inaki Williams has transitioned exceptionally into a more central role. In the past three to four seasons, the Spaniard has blossomed into a lethal striker, acquiring a clinical sense of finishing along the way.
Having graduated from the fabled Athletic Bilbao academy, Williams has been with the club's first team for six years now. In his senior professional career, the 27-year-old striker has scored a total of 69 goals and laid down a further 41 assists.
His exceptional dribbling skills, coupled with his ability to provide effective lay-off passes, distinguishes him from other renowned strikers.
Such was his loyalty to Bilbao that Williams signed a bumper seven-year deal with the Basque giants, keeping him at the club until 2025. With Premier League clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal constantly keeping tabs on him, Williams continues to dazzle audiences in Spain. Despite his eminent achievements and displays on the pitch, he is valued at a paltry €25 million at the moment.
#4 Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
Kelechi Iheanacho's €27.7 million move to Leicester City from Manchester City raised many eyebrows back in 2017. Many critics were skeptical of the Nigerian's proficiency and labeled the transfer a gamble by the Foxes.
While Iheanacho's initial performances at the King Power Stadium all but proved his doubters right, the 24-year-old striker has breathed new life into his Leicester career. Following a slow start to the 2020-21 season, Iheanacho exploded onto the scene towards the end, scoring 11 goals in 12 games.
He was especially unplayable against Sheffield United, scoring his first Premier League hat-trick in a 5-0 routing of the Blades. Although Iheanacho is yet to prove his worth on a consistent basis, at 24, he certainly deserves to be given some time. The Nigeria international undoubtedly possesses the talent to succeed at the topmost therefore rendering his valuation of just €20 million as absurd.
Also read: 5 ideal destinations for Dani Alves after Sao Paulo exit
#2 Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Former Atletico Madrid reject Raul Jimenez is entering his fourth season in the Premier League and has already competed in 115 games for Wolverhampton Wanderers. While super agent Jorge Mendes' strong ties with the club have helped a lot in Wolves' sudden rise to fame, the ascent would've been impossible without Jimenez.
After a comprehensive triumph in the Championship, Wolves followed it up with two successive seventh-place showings in the Premier League. The Mexican striker proved to be their top scorer on both occasions, with a combined tally of 30 goals.
Such was his influence on his current side that Wolves struggled to keep their season intact in Jimenez's absence. Due to his consistent performances, the 30-year-old striker has been regularly linked with big-money moves to numerous elite clubs.
He came really close to joining Juventus in 2020, only for things to fall apart in the final hour. Considering his contributions to Wolves, a market value of just €28 million can be considered a bit less.
#2 Patrick Bamford (Leeds United)
Until 2019, Patrick Bamford was considered a mediocre Championship-level striker with multiple failed top-flight stints under his belt. Many undermined the Englishman on his return to the Premier League, despite having scored 16 goals in Leeds' memorable 2019-20 season.
Bamford replied to his doubters in emphatic fashion, scoring a whopping 17 goals as the Whites finished in ninth place. The Grantham-born striker was a stand-out performer in an all-firing Leeds team, laying out eight assists in addition to his strikes, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa.
To finish fourth in the Premier League Golden Boot race is commendable. But doing it in your first season after tasting promotion from the second-tier is something in itself. Nevertheless, the versatile striker still has his critics, who label Bamford a one-season wonder. Having completely revamped his career in the past two years, the 28-year-old England international deserves to be valued higher than €22 million.
#1 Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo)
The epitome of being underrated, Gabriel Barbosa was written off by the footballing world way too early. Carrying the label 'Brazilian prodigy' from a very young age, he was snapped by Inter in 2016 due to his widely-known potential. However, the flashy striker failed to hit the ground running in Italy and was soon pronounced a failure.
Fast forward five years, and 'Gabigol', as he is affectionately known, is one of the hottest properties in the Brazilian subcontinent. The talented striker has finally found his mojo back in his native country, unleashing the fire within him.
Having joined Flamengo in January of 2019, Gabigol has netted a massive 77 goals in just 107 appearances. Moreover, the 14-time capped Brazil international has also racked up 21 assists for the club in the same period.
At 25, Barbosa has already begun with the revival of his career. And it wouldn't be undeserved if his stock rises from the current value of just €26 million.
Also read: Top 5 backup strikers at club level - 2021
