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Central midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) - €90 million
Like Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong also rose to prominence during Ajax's 2018-19 UEFA Champions League semi-final run. He was a key member of that squad and earned widespread recognition and subsequently a move to FC Barcelona.
An excellent passer and dribbler with phenomenal technical skills as well as an innate ability to read the game, De Jong is a superstar. The 24-year-old has already made 97 appearances for Barcelona, registering nine goals and 14 assists. However, the midfielder is yet to score in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona.
Barcelona lost their best ever player Lionel Messi during the summer and are in a major financial crisis. As such, De Jong is expected to guide the club in what could arguably be their most difficult season in recent years.
Central midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - €100 million
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, who is valued at €100 million is not just the most valuable midfielder in the UEFA Champions League but in the world right now.
The Belgian has been exceptional on a consistent basis over the last few years. He is central to Manchester City's playing style and is lethal from long-range, be it passing, crossing or shooting.
He is arguably the most important player in City's star-studded squad, winning three Premier League titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup. He has also bagged back-to-back PFA Players' Player of the Year awards over the past two seasons.
De Bruyne played a starring role for City last season, making 28 goal contributions in 40 appearances as they stormed towards the Premier League title. He also played a key part in City's run to the UEFA Champions League final, scoring three goals and providing four assists in the competition last season.
The 30-year-old has led City's dominance in the last few years and he is tipped to remain at the Etihad for a long time to come.
Left midfielder: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) - €100 million
Neymar Jr., the world's most expensive player, is the most valuable left winger/midfielder in the UEFA Champions League right now.
The Brazil international was a vital component during his spell at Barcelona, forming a fearsome 'MSN' attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Neymar subsequently moved to PSG in 2017, after the Ligue 1 giants activated his mammoth €222 million release clause, making him the most expensive player in the world.
The 28-year-old has had a topsy-turvy spell in France, with injuries playing a major role. Despite that, he has managed to register figures of 87 goals and 52 assists in just 117 appearances in all competitions for PSG. He also led the club to its first UEFA Champions League final in 2020, although they failed to win it.
With his old team-mate Messi arriving at the club this summer, Neymar will be hoping to reignite his partnership and guide PSG to their first ever Champions League title.
Right midfielder: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - €100 million
Very few players have seen a rise as monumental as Mohamed Salah in the last few years.
Since joining Liverpool, Salah has become one of the best players in Europe. The 29-year-old is one of the most prolific forwards and has won several club and individual honors at Liverpool, including a UEFA Champions League and Premier League title in back-to-back seasons.
The Egyptian forward has managed to score 129 goals and provide 49 assists in 208 appearances for Liverpool. He has also been prolific for the Reds in the Champions League, registering 26 goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances.
Salah is undoubtedly one of the most breath-taking players on the planet and is officially the most valuable right-sided winger/midfielder in the UEFA Champions League right now.
