- Anorak FC - EPL Stats & Reviews Newsletter
- Posts
- Value or Overpriced?
Value or Overpriced?
English Premier League - were these eight attacking midfielders well priced or over-valued?
The Anorak
July 30, 2025
Everybody loves a bargain. You go down the shops and you see something that speaks “value for money” to you and there is a good chance you will buy.
If it looks underpriced, you think “what’s wrong with it? Have they made a mistake? Is it past its best?”. Or maybe it really is the bargain of the year…
If it looks expensive you think “that must be quality”. Or are you being over-charged for what you get?
Well, this summer’s transfers for high profile midfield attacking/forwards are no different.
Where are the bargains?
I have rated 8 transfers by creating an index rating for each one based on several key data stats* (Goals, xG, Assists, xA, Shot-Creating Actions, Passes Attempted, Pass Completion %, Progressive Passes, Progressive Carries and more). Then I have considered which league they were playing in prior to their transfer and made an ‘league quality’ adjustment for their rating.
So, who is the best value for the transfer fee paid? Of course value will more than likely be assessed over multiple seasons, but this season will tell the start of the story.
The standout index rating seems to be Rayan Cherki to Man City. £34 seems like a bargain compared to the others. Florian Wirtz to Liverpool seems over priced, unless he turns out to be a Rolls Royce, but last season’s index rating based on his Bundesliga stats do not support the latter. The median price for these 8 players is £55, which means Wirtz has cost Liverpool over double that (with add-ons). Slot will be hoping he delivers big. The other observation is Noni Madueke. Despite several thousand Arsenal fans protesting with “No to Madueke” I think he is good value for £52, being third in the index rating. Lets see how often Arteta starts him though with Saka and Martinelli also in the frame.
And if you are into Fantasy Premier League (FPL), these stats might be worth considering when choosing your attacking midfielders/forwards.
* I use FBref for my baseline stats. The index rating is my own calculation. The stats are for the 2024/5 season only. The fees paid are those reported and include any add-ons with the assumption that the creteria for the add-ons being realised will be met.
FROM THE DUGOUT
"The style of how we play is very important. But it is omelettes and eggs. No eggs - no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem."
José Mourinho
Standby for kick-off
The devil is in the detail