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There are plenty of exciting, up-and-coming midfielders in the world right now. From Eduardo Camavinga and Phil Foden to Sandro Tonali and Wilfred Ndidi, there are several players with varying skill-sets in the under-23 age group.
Some of these young guns are already among the most valuable players in the world in their position. Most of them are vital cogs in their team's midfield and are some of the first names on the teamsheet.
Quite obviously, the employers of these highly-rated talents have no intention of letting their prized possessions go - not for cheap, at least! It will cost potential suitors a significant amount of funds to sign some of these young midfielders.
Let's take a look at the five most valuable U-23 midfielders in the world right now.
#5 Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham Hotspur) - £46.8 million
When Tottenham Hotspur parted with £54 million to acquire the services of French midfield lynchpin Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon, it was seen as a smart investment by most.
Ndombele had shown flashes of Yaya Toure-like quality - strong as a tank, excellent technical ability, and the capability to contribute defensively as well. He was seen as the real deal by a lot of clubs looking for an all-rounder midfielder, and Tottenham beat several clubs to his signature.
However, Ndombele has had a tough start to life in London. He has struggled to influence games like he did at Lyon, and now finds himself out of the starting XI. His rapport with manager Jose Mourinho is rather bad as well, with the Portuguese supposedly not particularly a fan of the Frenchman.
Regardless, Ndombele is still just 23 and just needs a decent run of games to prove his worth. Under different management, he might thrive and develop into the complete midfielder we all know he can be.
#4 Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) - £48.6 million
What a season it has been for 21 year-old Fede Valverde! After playing in only 16 games in the La Liga last season, Valverde is set to double that tally this season, and for good reason.
Valverde has managed to break into a Real Madrid team filled with top quality midfielders like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Isco, James Rodriguez, etc. That is a very impressive achievement for a youngster who was not really surrounded by the hype some others in his age group were when the 2019-20 season began.
However, Zinedine Zidane placed a lot of faith in him and the Uruguayan duly delivered.
Valverde is a footballer whose best quality is the intensity with which he plays. He's extremely industrious, and a very willing runner who is prepared to do whatever the team needs him to. His passing has developed by leaps and bounds and he never shies away from a tackle either.
Valverde's dynamism from midfield is something Real Madrid lacked last season, so his introduction as a regular starter was a welcome change. With 2 goals and 5 assists so far in La Liga, Valverde has played a huge part in Real's likely league victory. He's more than deserving of the high value placed on him.
#3 Arthur Melo (Barcelona soon to be Juventus) - £50.4 million
Barcelona fans did not take the news of a swap deal with Juventus involving Arthur and Pjanic very well, and one can tell why.
Arthur, aged only 23, is packed with immense potential. His 91.3% passing accuracy across all competitions this season is one of the best among players in his position. He's a very reliable deep-lying playmaker with a decent eye for goal. The Brazilian was already one of the better midfielders on the planet and you can only speculate what his ceiling could be.
Clearly, replacing him with a 29 year-old, declining Miralem Pjanic was a decision that didn't bode well with the Blaugrana faithful. Juventus, on the other hand, have a seriously good talent on their hands. Although the entire package for him is said to be worth £64.8 million, it is a fee that'll hardly bother the executives of the Old Lady if Arthur does indeed live up to his potential.
#2 Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) - £64.8 million
Although the departure of Arthur is certain to hurt, Barcelona fans can at least take solace from the fact that they still have Frenkie de Jong in their ranks.
De Jong is a wonder-talent in every way possible. He is a player that has showcased the ability to play at the highest level from a very young age. He is magical with the ball at his feet and can do special things with it. De Jong is also a very solid defender for his position and is certainly capable of sliding in to make some heroic blocks and interceptions.
On paper, the Dutchman is almost flawless. However, his debut season in La Liga hasn't been perfect. The 23 year-old missed a fair amount of matches due to an injury. Even when he was playing, he wasn't as incredible as he was for Ajax and often played it safe.
Having said that, it is only natural for a player of his age to take time to get used to the drastic change in surroundings and adjust to a new life. He remains a generational talent and Barcelona have a world-beater on their hands if they can guide him properly.
#1 Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) - £72.9 million
One of the hottest prospects in world football right now, Kai Havertz is number one on this list by a mile. The 21-year-old has been strongly linked with a move away from the Bay Arena, with Chelsea thought to be strong favourites to land his signature. If the Blues do manage to snag him up, it will almost certainly be a coup, for Havertz is one for the ages.
Havertz is the complete offensive package. His vision is right up there with the very best in his age group, and he combines the same with precision passing. He has a pair of extremely gifted feet that can bamboozle defenders at will with some silky skills. On top of all that, the German is a very talented goalscorer as well. Left foot, right foot and header - he can score with the lot.
Havertz possesses the finesse of an attacking midfielder with the lethalness of a striker. Of course, his 6'2" frame helps that cause, as he is not a physical presence to be taken lightly. He might look lanky, but can certainly rise up between two defenders to bury a header into the back of the net.
Havertz is a player who has everything it takes to succeed at the highest level, and onus is on him to make sure he lives up to his potential.
