With the release of the latest Football Manager just around the corner, we take a look at the price tags slapped on some of our players.
Some are certainly eye -raising. 19. Sean Longstaff - £650k Seems fair for a promising young midfielder. He's one who caught the eye during pre-season, but his inclusion raises questions regarding squad depth. Longstaff is one I'll be giving game time.
18. Achraf Lazaar - £3.5m Perhaps a little high considering his limited game time but also highlights a likely massive loss on a player trying to fight his way back into the team. Considering our lack of depth in full back positions, I'll be keeping Lazaar.
17. Martin Dubravka - £4.6m
Considering his stellar first season between the sticks for the Magpies, Dubravka's price tag seems a little low to me. He's in his prime for an outfield player but for a keeper could have the best part of decade ahead of him. 16. Jack Colback £4.8m (NFFC loan) Once a regular starter in the engine room, Colback has almost become a forgotten man. Despite often dividing opinions on his value to the squad, I think very few could argue his price tag is a little low considering the current market. I think that price is a bargain for a player very suited and attractive to the Championship. 15. Rolando Aarons - £5.25m (Slovan Liberec loan) A strange loan move to the Czech first division and a lack of game time under Rafa Benitez has left many doubting Aarons ever fulfilling his potential. I'll be leaving him out on loan and then dealing with him when he returns, the Championship is where he should be I think. We also have too many wingers who are all quite similar in terms of end product and physique. Price is perhaps about right for Aarons?
14. Rob Elliot - £6.25m Like the wing positions, we have too many Goalkeepers. Rob has been a fantastic servant for the club but needs moved on to allow Woodman to progress. I think that considering the age Rob is at and the limited game time he has had, we'd be hard pushed to get half of Rob's FM19 price tag. I'll be asking him to speak to other clubs after transfer listing him.
13. Ayoze Perez - £8.5m Players of the previous FM games will have likely laughed at how highly priced Perez was. I still think we would be lucky get £8.5m for Perez unless it was to a Spanish side, paid in 20 instalments or whatever Ashley accepts nowadays. I always loan Perez out, whether it be on FM or FIFA, and normally try and buy a proper number 10. Am I a bit harsh on Ayoze? 12. Karl Darlow - £9.5m
Again, We have too many 'average' goalkeepers just occupying squad space and blocking our young keepers from any game time. I'll be shocked if anyone agrees with Darlow's price tag. He hasn't been anything but worrying between the sticks and has perfected the 'aimless flap' at set pieces. All my opinion of course but I'll be selling him for whatever I can get.
11. Mo Diame - £10.75m
In second half of last season, Mo Diame looked like a man possessed. Breaking up play with ease and complimenting Shelvey like the late great Tiote did with Cabaye. This term we've seen a sharp contrast but the price tag on FM clearly reflects the latter half of last season. I don't think we'd be able to shift him for that price and he remains a pretty high earner. I'd sell him if possible and replace with Isaac Hayden. 10. Isaac Hayden - £11m Despite suffering with family troubles in real life, thankfully Hayden's unhappiness is easier to cure on a computer game. Considering a very limited transfer budget (shock), it makes sense to keep Hayden and try bed him in alongside Shelvey in place of the aforementioned Diame. If i had a decent budget, I'd buy Tom Davies from Everton to play alongside Shelvey.
9. Paul Dummett - £11.25m Another who divides opinion amongst fans, Dummett is our only 'proper' left back in the squad. I'll be using him as our number one LB and using Lazaar as back up until I sign a promising youngster. I think Paul Dummett is worth every penny of FMs price tag and is a proper defender, but would doubt if anyone would want to buy him in real life. This isn't necessarily because is isn't an 'en vogue' wing back but because of his loyalty to the Toon. - Javier Maquillo - £11.25m Manquillo has failed to impress me since his switch from the Mackems but it seems like someone at FM rates him. Perhaps having roots in Athletico Madrid has added to his credibility but he is one I will be moving on. I'd be delighted to have £11m plus to replace him with but I free that would be unlikely. I'd value Manquillo at around £7m but considering a lack of depth, may rotate him with Yedlin and Dummett.
- Florian Lejeune - £11.25m
Anyone irked by my opinion of Manquillo and his price tag, might start to agree after seeing Lejeune's price tag. Despite suffering a couple of long term injuries, Lejeune has been very impressive for us. I'd value him at closer to £20m+ and will be pairing him with Lascelles in defence.
- Jacob Murphy - £11.25m
It's as if FM got a bit lazy with past few price tags! Murphy has flattered to deceive since arriving for a fairly high price tag, with his twin brother Josh subsequently arriving in the EPL and outshining Jacob. I think we would be lucky to get anywhere near his FM price tag and will likely loan him out, giving Cal Roberts game time behind Ritchie.
8. Dwight Gayle - £13.5m (WBA loan)
A player currently lighting up the Championship again with West Brom, Gayle's loan move has been used as ammunition to those looking to dethrone Benitez. I'd also have loaned Gayle on FM and would assess his performance on his return. His price tag is arguably a little low considering what Championship sides pay for strikers nowadays. I'd only sell for £20m+. 7. Jamaal Lascelles - £14m
Captain and heartbeat of our team, Lascelles should be nearer £30m. English (which we know adds value) and solid stats for a centre back, Jamaal is a guaranteed starter for my Newcastle side. I'll be looking to sign Reece Oxford as backup. - Christian Atsu - £14m I hate criticising our own players but Atsu angers me as much as Sissoko did. Little end product and plenty paper talk. How he is valued at £14m is beyond me, perhaps it is the Chelsea and Porto links like Manquillo with Athelico. £7m max and not EPL level in my opinion. Considering we have Kenedy, I'd be looking to sell Atsu and see how Aarons does on loan.
- Joselu - £14m A £5m panic signing from the bench at Stoke and not being exactly prolific - Joselu's price tag doesn't need explaining why it is too high. I'll be selling him at any price. 6. Salomon Rondon - £14.5m (on loan from WBA) Another price tag that is quite puzzling. Rondon has had very little time on the pitch and didn't exactly rip up trees at West Brom, so it's hard to say he's a £10m+ player. I'll be giving him a go none the less. - Federico Fernandez - £14.5m I'd say a very accurate price tag, bought for nearly a third of that price and has performed very well so far. He'll be battling with Lejeune and Lascelles for a start. Not sure he is worth more than those two though!
- Ciaran Clark - £14.5m
A bit of strange one this. Again, no way is he worth more than Lejeune or Lascelles. I rate him very highly and it's worth baring in mind that he was a captain when we signed him. I'd say Clark is a comfortable £10m player and will be a fantastic cover for CB and emergency backup. Depending on Schar's performances, I'll sell one or the other.
- Fabian Schar - £14.5m Schar's price tag is a bit hard to judge for me - having not seen a lot of him prior to the recent World Cup and limited appearances in real life. Considering what we paid for him, I'd say the price tag is a little high. Excellent backup.
5. DeAndre Yedlin £14.75m The opposite to Paul Dummett, Yedlin is more inclined to drive forward and offer the overlap. As mentioned before, Wing Backs have become essential to the modern game and perhaps this would justify a inflated price for Yedlin. Believing he is worth more than the players above is a little hard to swallow, despite defensive improvements under Rafa. I'll be keeping Yedlin.
4. Jonjo Shelvey - £17.5m
Undervalued and not for sale. Do I need to say anything else? Okay, £35m+ in my opinion. 3. Ki Sung-Yeung - £18.5m
A free transfer from relegated Swansea. This price tag perplexes me as much as Shelvey, albeit at opposite ends of the scale. £8m max and someone I'd look to replace.
2. Kenedy - £19.25m (on loan from CFC)
We've seen glimpses of a £19.25m price tag during the latter stages of last season but this term we've had a very different Kenedy. Failing to make a successful pass against a Neil Warnock Cardiff side was simply embarrassing. However, FM rate him highly and he often develops well in the series - so I'll be making him my main Left Winger.
1. Matt Ritchie - £20m
I'd say Matt is worth every penny of that price tag. Compared to the other price tags it is questionable but in real life he a proper grafter. The complete opposite to Moussa Sissoko.
- Yoshi Muto - £20m
This one had me scratching my head. Perhaps they watched the recent Man Utd game and were having a few beers? £10m in real life had me a bit worried as I had barely heard of Muto. Having said that, I will be keeping him and he offers a completely different dimension to Joselu.
Agree or Disagree? Comment below and follow me @WillRichardson7