Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Raheem Sterling Europe's most valuable young player, says study

Raheem Sterling has been named the most valuable young player in Europe, according to a Soccerex study.

The report, compiled by former Barcelona Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Esteve Calzada, said the Liverpool winger is worth £35 million.

Manchester City have had a £35 million bid for the 20-year-old rejected with suggestions they will raise their bid to £50 million -- £15 million more than the value Soccerex have placed on him.

Sterling, who has returned to training with Liverpool but has rejected a new contract with them, has helped them finish second in the Premier League, twice been shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award and won 16 England caps.

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazil international Marquinhos was named the second most valuable young player in Europe, with a value of £28.3 million -- £6 million more than the French champions paid Roma for the defender.

Netherlands international winger Memphis Depay, who Manchester United have signed after he was the top scorer in the Dutch League last season, was third.

But while United have paid £25 million for the 21-year-old, the report said he is only worth £23.9 million, while it also suggested they overpaid for left-back Luke Shaw, who cost an initial £27 million last June but is valued at £17.7 million now.

The top 10 was completed by Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, Atletico Madrid's Jose Maria Gimenez, Bayer Leverkusen's Hakan Calhanoglu, Inter's Mateo Kovacic, Valencia's Jose Gaya, United's Shaw and Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte.

Nine Premier League players are named in the top 20, with Liverpool having three -- Sterling, Emre Can (15th) and Divock Origi (17th).

Kurt Zouma (11th) is the only Chelsea player included but there are two from Arsenal with Calum Chambers in 19th, one place ahead of Hector Bellerin.

Sterling, Shaw, 16th-placed John Stones and Chambers gave England four players in the top 20, more than any other country.

Only players who were 20 or under on Jan 1. 2015 qualified for the survey.

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