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Barcelona are a club in turmoil at the moment, both on and off the pitch. Their financial woes owing to the COVID-19 pandemic meant they couldn't offer a contract extension to their talisman Lionel Messi.
As if to add insult to injury, the Blaugrana have endured one of their worst starts to a campaign in recent memory. For the first time, they have lost their opening two Champions League games.
They have fared slightly better in La Liga, but trail arch-rivals and league leaders Real Madrid by five points, albeit with a game in hand.
In the absence of Messi, Barcelona have largely looked devoid of ideas in attack. That has seen their manager Ronald Koeman on the cusp of losing his job. Nevertheless, the Blaugrana still have quality players on their roster who could step up and help save their under-fire manager's job.
On that note, here's a look at the five most valuable Barcelona players at the moment:
Note: All player valuations and stats have been taken from Transfermarkt unless mentioned otherwise.
#5 Ousmane Dembele - €55 million
Ousmane Dembele has had a largely underwhelming stint at Barcelona since arriving on a big-money transfer four years ago.
The 24-year-old has played only 118 games during this period, missing almost as many matches due to injuries or poor form. Things were exacerbated to such an extent for the ambidextrous player that he was on the cusp of leaving Barcelona last summer.
However, he stayed put and provided glimpses of his Borussia Dortmund days, registering 11 goals and five assists across all competitions last season.
Dembele is yet to make his season debut for Barcelona due to injury in the 2021-22 campaign. A golden opportunity beckons for the talented Frenchman to produce a standout campaign and prove to the club faithful that he is worth the big bucks.
#4 Marc-Andre ter Stegen - €55 million
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been a key player for Barcelona over the years. The German has made 285 appearances across competitions, keeping 116 clean sheets.
The 2014-15 continental treble and five-time La Liga winner remains one of the best shot-stoppers in the game. He has kept two clean sheets in five league games this season, but has been found wanting in the Champions League.
Ronald Koeman will hope that Ter Stegen rediscovers his mojo quickly as Barcelona strive to tide over a tough period in their history.
#3 Ansu Fati - €60 million
Ansu Fati is one of the brightest graduates to have emerged out of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy in recent years.
Still only 18, Fati made a blistering start to his Barcelona career, drawing parallels with a certain Lionel Messi. However, an injury setback cut short his promising start, sidelining him for large swathes of last season.
Back after a long layoff this season, Fati has scored once in three games across competitions. However, he will be expected to up the ante and help Barcelona overcome a torrid start to their campaign.
#2 Pedri - €80 million
Pedri is arguably one of the best young players in the game at the moment. Still only 18, the teenager has produced performances for club and country that have belied his tender years.
Another exciting La Masia graduate like Fati, Pedri has already racked up over 50 games across competitions for Barcelona after debuting only last season. He is not a prolific scorer, evident in his tally of four goals and six assists.
But the Euro 2020 semi-finalist is a metronome in the center of the park, dictating the tempo of games with elan.
After a busy summer with Spain - a semi-final at Euro 2020 and the Olympic men's football final - Pedri has played only four times this season. However, it goes without saying that he'll have a key role to play this campaign as Barcelona attempt to sail out of treacherous waters.
#1 Frenkie de Jong - €90 million
Frenkie de Jong is beginning to come into his own at Barcelona after arriving at the club on a big transfer two summers ago.
The young Dutchman was one of the key players in Ajax's fairy-tale run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2018-19. With the Blaugrana, De Jong recently made his 100th appearance across competitions, scoring nine times.
De Jong has provided two assists in eight games across all competitions this season. He will look to play a key role under compatriot Koeman as Barcelona strive to write a new chapter in the post-Lionel Messi era.
