It’s possible - in fact, it’s now looking increasingly likely - that the final games of the 2019/20 season have already been played.The coronavirus pandemic doesn’t look like ending any time soon and football may be out of all our lives for a significant period of time as a result.If this is the case - and let’s hope that, by some miracle, it isn’t - then we thought it’d be interesting to look at the players whose market value has decreased most over the course of the season.Using data provided by Transfermarkt.com, we’re able to see the players whose market values have taken the biggest hits this season.There are various reasons why a player’s market value would have decreased. It’s usually down to the following: poor form or they’re simply getting older.Let’s begin…50. Antoine Griezmann | BarcelonaMarket value at start of season: £117 millionCurrent market value: £108 millionFourteen goals and four assists in 37 games isn’t a terrible return from Antoine Griezmann in his debut season at Barcelona.But fans could be forgiven if they were expecting more from the former Atletico Madrid star.There’s already speculation that Barça may attempt to cash-in on the Frenchman in the near future.
49. Lionel Messi | BarcelonaMarket value at start of season: £135 millionCurrent market value: £126 millionLionel Messi is approaching his 33rd birthday and is still valued at £126 million. That’s incredible, really. The £9 million drop in market value is down to his advancing years and nothing else.48. Phil Jones | Manchester UnitedMarket value at start of season: £18 millionCurrent market value: £8.1 millionIt’s hard to see Man Utd sticking with Phil Jones for much longer.The much-maligned defender has only made eight appearances for the Red Devils this season and, although he’s been a United player since 2011, few fans would be sad to see him leave.47. Faouzi Ghoulam | NapoliMarket value at start of season: £20.7 millionCurrent market value: £10.8 millionFaouzi Ghoulam has only made five league appearances for Napoli this season and has failed to impress, hence why his valuation has been slashed in half since the start of the season.46. Javi Martinez | Bayern MunichMarket value at start of season: £24.3 millionCurrent market value: £14.4 millionJavi Martinez has suffered from a few injury problems this season, which may explain the £10 million decrease in market value. The defensive midfielder has played 18 games this season in all competitions for Bayern Munich.45. Patrick Cutrone | Fiorentina (on loan from Wolves)Market value at start of season: £25.2 millionCurrent market value: £15.3 millionPatrick Cutrone, who recently made headlines after testing positive for coronavirus, has scored just four goals in 33 matches for Wolves and Fiorentina combined this season.Still, he’s only 22 and the Italy international’s best years are surely ahead of him.44. Hulk | Shanghai SIPGMarket value at start of season: £18 millionCurrent market value: £7.6 millionHulk also hit the headlines recently - although for very different reasons than Cutrone - and the 33-year-old’s market value has taken a similar tumble since last summer.He scored 17 goals in 37 appearances for Shanghai SIPG last season, which isn’t too bad, but you’d expect more from the Brazilian in the Chinese Super League.43. Victor Wanyama | Montreal ImpactMarket value at start of season: £18 millionCurrent market value: £7.2 millionVictor Wanyama is only 28, so it was quite surprising to see him leave Tottenham for Montreal Impact earlier this month.
42. Mario Gotze | Borussia Dortmund
Market value at start of season: £22.5 million
Current market value: £11.7 million
Once seen as the next big thing of European football, Mario Gotze hasn’t developed into the world-class star that many of us thought he would be.
He’s a good player, but not a great one. In 19 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this season, the World Cup winner has scored three goals and provided one assist.
41. Santi Mina | Celta Vigo
Market value at start of season: £27 million
Current market value: £16.2 million
Santi Mina scored 28 goals in his final two seasons at Valencia but has failed to hit the ground running at Celta Vigo, netting just five goals in 26 appearances.
40. Goncalo Guedes | Valencia
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £25.2 million
Goncalo Guedes looked sensational when he first joined Valencia and his eye-catching performances prompted many to sit up and take notice.
However, his displays over the past 18 months or so haven’t been as impressive. Add that to the fact that he’s missed a lot of the current campaign through injury and it’s easy to see why his market value has dropped by over £10 million.
39. Willian | Chelsea
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £25.2 million
Willian is 31 now and his Chelsea contract is set to expire this summer.
The Brazilian has scored seven goals and provided six assists in 37 games this season, which is a reasonably decent return.
38. Moise Kean | Everton
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £25.2 million
Everton’s purchase of Moise Kean from Juventus felt like a major coup for the Toffees last summer.
But one goal and two assists is all the 20-year-old has to show from 26 appearances this season.
37. Rony Lopes | Sevilla
Market value at start of season: £22.5 million
Current market value: £11.2 million
Former Manchester City youngster Rony Lopes joined Sevilla from AS Monaco last summer, but has done very little with the Spanish club so far.
One assist and zero goals in 13 games means his market value has decreased quite significantly.
36. Mario Mandzukic | Al-Duhail SC
Market value at start of season: £16.2 million
Current market value: £4.5 million
Mario Mandzukic turns 34 in May and is currently winding down his career with Al-Duhail SC in Qatar following a successful four-year stint with Juventus.
35. Mario Balotelli | Brescia
Market value at start of season: £18 million
Current market value: £6.3 million
Many people think that Mario Balotelli could have been a world-beater if it wasn’t for his attitude. But perhaps those people misjudged how good he actually was in the first place?
The 29-year-old has still enjoyed a pretty decent career and is currently plying his trade with Brescia in Serie A.
34. Jean Michael Seri | Galatasaray (on loan from Fulham)
Market value at start of season: £22.5 million
Current market value: £10.8 million
Another player who was hyped up way too much, Jean Michael Seri is currently in the process of getting his career back on track with Galatasaray following an underwhelming season with Fulham.
33. Krzysztof Piatek | Hertha BSC
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £24.3 million
Despite an impressive start to his AC Milan career, Krzysztof Piatek lasted just two seasons at the San Siro before being offloaded to Hertha Berlin in January 2020.
The Poland international, 24, has scored two goals in seven games for his current employers.
32. Marek Hamsik | Dalian Professional
Market value at start of season: £19.8 million
Current market value: £7.6 million
If you’re in your 30s and you move to China from Europe, expect your market value to decrease fairly swiftly.
In 28 Chinese Super League games, Hamsik only managed to score two goals and provide three assists.
31. Maximilian Eggestein | Werder Bremen
Market value at start of season: £27 million
Current market value: £14.4 million
Zero goals and just three assists in 26 games for Werder Bremen this season explains why the 23-year-old’s value has dipped so dramatically.
30. Stephan El Shaarawy | Shanghai Shenhua
Market value at start of season: £27 million
Current market value: £14.4 million
Another player who has failed to light up the Chinese Super League, despite arriving with a massive reputation, Stephan El Shaarawy only managed to score one goal in 10 league games for Shanghai Shenhua last season.
29. Alexis Sanchez | Inter (on loan from Man Utd)
Market value at start of season: £31.5 million
Current market value: £18 million
Quite how Alexis Sanchez’s career ended up falling off a cliff so spectacularly will always remain something of a mystery.
The Chilean has been trying to rediscover his form and confidence at Inter Milan in recent months.
28. Marko Arnautovic | Shanghai SIPG
Market value at start of season: £27 million
Current market value: £14.4 million
In his 30s? Check. Left Europe for China? Check.
Despite finding the back of the net consistently since joining Shanghai SIPG from West Ham, Marko Arnautovic has seen his market value slashed.
27. Paulinho | Guangzhou Evergrande
Market value at start of season: £34.2 million
Current market value: £20.7 million
Unlike a few others on this list, Paulinho has actually been a big success in China, scoring 35 goals in 61 games from midfield.
The 31-year-old’s dip in market value is more to do with his age than anything else.
26. Eric Dier | Tottenham
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £22.5 million
It hasn’t been a great season for Eric Dier, who was even involved in a bust-up with one of his own fans at the start of March.
The versatile Tottenham midfielder is only 26 but his value now stands at just £22.5 million, according to Transfermarkt’s latest figures.
25. Manuel Akanji | Borussia Dortmund
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £22.5 million
A 2018 signing from Basel, Manuel Akanji has one of the lowest average ratings (6.53) of any Borussia Dortmund player this season, per WhoScored.
24. Marcos Alonso | Chelsea
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £22.5 million
A full-back who tends to divide opinion, Marcos Alonso has only made 11 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season - although he does have four goals to his name.
23. Edinson Cavani | PSG
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £22.5 million
A wonderful striker in his pomp, it’s beginning to feel like Edinson Cavani’s best days are now firmly behind him - which perhaps isn’t that surprising considering he turned 33 in February.
22. Ivan Rakitic | Barcelona
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £22.5 million
Another former star in the autumn of his carer, Ivan Rakitic is likely to leave Barcelona in the not-too-distant future.
21. Granit Xhaka | Arsenal
Market value at start of season: £40.5 million
Current market value: £27 million
It’s been a tough season for Granit Xhaka, who was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy back in November after swearing at the club’s fans during a match.
Although things aren’t as bad for the Swiss midfielder now, it still wouldn’t be a shock if he leaves the Emirates Stadium when the transfer window re-opens.
20. Sergio Busquets | Barcelona
Market value at start of season: £45 million
Current market value: £27 million
If any club managed to sign Sergio Busquets for £27 million - even at the age of 31 - it would be an absolute bargain.
The Barcelona star remains one of the world’s best midfielders, although his performances haven’t always been top drawer this season.
19. Luis Suarez | Barcelona
Market value at start of season: £45 million
Current market value: £27 million
Luis Suarez is 33 now and, despite the drop in his market value, has posted impressive numbers for Barcelona this season.
Fourteen goals and 11 assists in 23 games is an excellent return from the Uruguayan.
18. John Stones | Man City
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £40.5 million
John Stones is 25 and his best years may still be ahead of him, but question marks remain. Is he top, top class? Or is he just an average top-flight centre-back? The jury is still out.
17. David de Gea | Man Utd
Market value at start of season: £58.5 million
Current market value: £45 million
There’s no doubt that David de Gea has been below-par over the past 18 months or so.
However, it would be wrong to say the Spaniard is no longer a top quality goalkeeper. Manchester United’s No. 1 is still one of the best in the business.
16. Cristiano Ronaldo | Juventus
Market value at start of season: £81 million
Current market value: £67.5 million
Twenty-five goals in 32 games tells you all you need to know about Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still arguably the best goalscorer on the planet - even at the age of 35.
To be worth £67.5 million in your mid-30s is pretty incredible.
15. Christian Eriksen | Inter
Market value at start of season: £90 million
Current market value: £76.5 million
Christian Eriksen was poor during his final months at Tottenham and was still finding his feet at Inter Milan before the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to Italian football.
14. Jesse Lingard | Man Utd
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £19.8 million
It’s reached the point where it feels like it would be in the best interests of all concerned if Jesse Lingard left Man Utd when the transfer window re-opens.
The 27-year-old has been poor for a long time now, but some of the criticism and abuse has still been totally unnecessary.
13. Suso | Sevilla
Market value at start of season: £36 million
Current market value: £19.8 million
Loaned to Sevilla from AC Milan in January, 26-year-old Suso has endured a difficult season.
12. Naby Keita | Liverpool
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £37.8 million
It’s been a stop-start spell so far at Liverpool for Naby Keita. We’re still waiting to see what all the fuss was about.
The former Red Bull Salzburg midfielder has shown glimpses of his quality for the Reds this season, but he needs to become more consistent in order to become one of the first names on Jurgen Klopp’s teamsheet.
11. Marco Asensio | Real Madrid
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £36 million
Marco Asensio looked unbelievable a few years ago but a combination of injuries and poor form have impacted his market value.
The Real Madrid midfielder hasn’t played all season after tearing his ACL in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal.
10. Luka Jovic | Real Madrid
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £36 million
Two goals in 24 games simply isn’t good enough for a Real Madrid striker.
The 22-year-old was prolific for Eintracht Frankfurt last term but has struggled with the step up this season.
9. Kepa Arrizabalaga | Chelsea
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £36 million
Speculation is rife that Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will replace Kepa Arrizabalaga when the season finishes.
The Spaniard, who has one of the lowest save percentages of any Premier League goalkeeper this season, has seen his market value drop by a hefty £18 million.
8. Allan | Napoli
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £36 million
A series of underwhelming performances for Napoli this season means Allan’s value has also dropped substantially.
7. Nabil Fekir | Real Betis
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £36 million
This is quite a puzzling drop considering Nabil Fekir has been pretty good in his debut season for Real Betis.
Seven goals and six assists in 23 games is hardly a poor return, so we’re not quite sure why his market value has dropped so much.
6. Gareth Bale | Real Madrid
Market value at start of season: £54 million
Current market value: £36 million
It’s hard not to feel at this stage that stubbornness is costing Gareth Bale some of the best years of his career.
He needs to leave Real Madrid, even if that means taking a pay cut. He’s still a class player but he hasn’t shown it too often this season.
5. Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid
Market value at start of season: £63 million
Current market value: £45 million
Yes, it’s been a difficult second season at Real Madrid for Vinicius Junior, but it’s important to remember that he’s still only 19 years old.
The Brazilian is still a massive talent - as we saw during the most-recent Clasico - with a huge future ahead of him. Write him off at your peril.
4. Philippe Coutinho | Bayern Munich (on loan from Barcelona)
Market value at start of season: £81 million
Current market value: £63 million
There’s talk that Philippe Coutinho could be heading back to England after two-and-a-half difficult years since leaving Liverpool.
The Brazilian, who is on loan from Barcelona, hasn’t been bad at Bayern Munich this season - scoring nine goals and registering eight assists in 32 games - and £63 million would be a bit of a steal for the 27-year-old.
3. Neymar | PSG
Market value at start of season: £162 million
Current market value: £144 million
Neymar’s market value is still a ridiculous £144 million, so this drop of £18 million is hardly anything to worry about.
The Brazilian has scored 18 goals and set up 10 more in 22 games for PSG this season.
2. Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona
Market value at start of season: £90 million
Current market value: £63 million
Ruled out for up to six months in February after suffering a hamstring injury, Ousmane Dembele is still young enough (he turns 23 in May) to bounce back stronger.
1. Eden Hazard | Real Madrid
Market value at start of season: £135 million
Current market value: £90 million
By his own admission, Eden Hazard’s debut season at Real Madrid hasn’t been good enough.
Injuries certainly haven’t helped the Belgian winger - he’s spent most of the season on the sidelines - but one goal and five assists in 15 appearances is a poor return from such a talented player.
Hopefully we’ll see him back to his brilliant best next season.