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There are different kinds of midfielders. There are defensive-minded midfielders whose task is to provide extra cover at the back, there are deep-lying playmakers who pull the strings from the centre of the park, there are no. 8s and there are no. 10s whose job is to create chances.
Attacking players are usually rated higher in terms of monetary value and as such, when we look at five of the most valuable midfielders, the list is expected to hold players who contribute more directly in terms of goals and assists.
Europe is home to some of the best midfielders on the planet. They are all different in the way they approach the game and execute their responsibilities on the field. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the most valuable midfielders in the world right now.
#5 Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) - €70 million
Displacing the likes of Luka Modric and Isco from the Real Madrid first-team setup at the age of 22 is no mean feat and Federico Valverde had become a mainstay in Zinedine Zidane's playing XI before he was sidelined with an injury.
He has now made his return and is slowly getting reintegrated into the setup and should hit his stride once again sooner or later. Valverde is an exceptional central midfielder. The Uruguayan has excellent vision and can pick a killer pass. He is also good with the ball at his feet and can slalom past the traffic with some deft movement.
Valverde also loves testing the goalkeeper from range and drives into the box when the opportunity arises and contributes in the goalscoring department as well. He has scored three goals from eight appearances in the La Liga this season so far.
#4 Kai Havertz (Chelsea) - €81 million
Kai Havertz joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that reportedly rises to £71 million with add-ons this past summer. He came to Stamford Bridge on the back of an excellent season in the Bundesliga where he scored 12 goals and provided six assists from across 29 games.
However, Havertz hasn't exactly hit the ground running at Chelsea. Save for a hat-trick against Barnsley in the League Cup, Havertz has been largely off colour but it could just be him getting used to the rigors and demands of the Premier League.
Frank Lampard continues to persist with him though and Havertz has started 10 of Chelsea's 14 games so far. His current transfer market value is at €81 million but it's certain to fall if he doesn't turn his form around.
#3 Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) - €85 million
After switching to a defensive midfield position from right-back, Joshua Kimmich's transformation couldn't have panned out in a better manner. He has been a standout performer for Bayern Munich in midfield and that's by virtue of his supreme physical fitness, footballing intelligence and outrageous passing range.
Bayern Munich were expected to suffer a bit with the departure of Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool. However, the likes of Kimmich and Goretzka have ensured that the ripples don't destabilize them. Kimmich is a phenomenal presence in the centre of the pitch.
He has the kind of skillset that enables him to stop attacks and kickstart counters with the same amount of flair and intensity. Kimmich is arguably the best defensive midfielder on the planet right now and he is valued at €85 million.
#2 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - €90 million
Bruno Fernandes is arguably the best attacking midfielder in the world right now given the form he is in. The Portuguese relentlessly contributes with his immaculate playmaking skills and goalscoring prowess.
His arrival in the last January transfer window had a galvanizing effect on Manchester United and he led from the front as Manchester United secured a top four finish when nobody had given them a chance.
Bruno Fernandes has picked up from where he left off last season and this time around, he has even stepped it up. Manchester United are currently third on the Premier League table with a game in hand and that has a lot to do with the fact that Bruno Fernandes has already scored nine goals and provided five assists from 13 appearances.
That's more than 1 Goal+Assist per game. Those are incredible numbers for anyone at the highest level of the game and it doesn't look like he is going to slow down any time soon.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - €120 million
Kevin De Bruyne has arguably been the best midfielder on the planet over the past few seasons. He is perhaps the most vital cog in Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. De Bruyne creates and he scores almost in equal measure. He has an incredible passing range and packs a screamer of a shot and can shoot with either foot.
The Belgian has already scored two goals and racked up seven assists in the Premier League this term so far from 12 appearances. De Bruyne was on a roll last season as well, providing 20 assists and scoring 13 goals from across 35 appearances in the league for Manchester City.
His current contract at City will only expire in 2023 and he is almost certain to be given a new deal. If at all KDB decides to move on, Manchester City will rake in an incredible amount of money as he is valued at €120 million right now.
