Transfermarkt values are not always the most accurate reflection of a footballer’s value. See, for instance, their valuing of West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen at just £30 million.
David Sullivan slapped a £150 million price-tag on the skipper’s head once upon a time. Now, this does not mean Jarrod Bowen is worthy of becoming the most expensive footballer in Premier League history. But it does reflect just how priceless he is from a West Ham United perspective.
What stats site Transfermarkt do well, though, is charter the rise of players on the up.
Take El Hadji Malick Diouf, for instance. They have increased his ‘market value’ substantially since he swapped Slavia Prague for the London Stadium. Freddie Potts’ own value has tripled since October.
Of course, the Hammers would never even consider selling the fan favourite academy graduate for just £7 million, but the overarching point is that Potts has come on leaps and bounds over the last two months.
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Just like another young midfielder enjoying a breakout campaign of his own.
Bochum coach Uwe Rosler warns West Ham United about Cajetan Lenz value
Sky Deutschland reported in November that West Ham have approached Cajetan Lenz of VFL Bochum. Still only 19 and playing in Germany’s second tier, the Hammers are hardly the only club to express an interest. Seemingly every side in the Bundesliga is hot on Lenz’s heels, too.
On Transfermarkt, meanwhile, the teenager’s near-vertical trajectory is reflected in the fact their value of him has soared from £350,000 in September to £5 million now.
Not that a bid of £5 million would be enough to get Uwe Rosler’s Bochum sitting down at the negotiating table, though.
Rosler, a former Manchester City winger and one-time Leeds and Brentford manager, is the man in charge at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion these days.
He handed Lenz his senior league debut back in August. And the Germany Under-20 international has been a near-ever present since.
Rosler was quizzed by BILD this week about Lenz’s newly-acquired Transfermarkt value, though, and insisted anyone hoping to land the youngster for just £5 million would be sorely mistaken.
“That’s certainly recognition, but you have to keep proving it,” Rosler said. “Of all the young players, he’s developed a very high level of consistency. His peak performances are very high, and his low performances are still respectable.
“Even when he’s not having his best day, you know what you’re getting from him. That’s a real compliment.
“Nobody is getting Cajetan for six million euros!”
Germany U20 ace shares similarities with a young Declan Rice
Standing at 6ft 3ins, Lenz is an imposing physical presence even at his young age.
While some may draw comparisons with Joshua Kimmich – Germany’s go-to number six also started out in the 2.Bundesliga -Lenz’s height and physique arguably makes him more reminiscent of a young Declan Rice, for instance.
Especially at the beginning of Rice’s West Ham career, when he tended to stay at the base of midfield and before he had unlocked those barnstorming box-to-box qualities. Lenz averages nearly two tackles per game already, though a tally of seven yellow cards from 13 starts shows that his timing must still improve.
“I can confirm that many clubs, both domestic and international, have contacted me,” agent Makram Naceur told Sky recently. “However, Cajetan is completely focused on his boyhood club, VfL Bochum.”
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Lenz is not the only up-and-coming, European-based, tough-tackling midfielder under consideration.
Africa Foot broke the news last week that West Ham have scouted Tochukwu Nnadi in action for Belgian outfit Zulte Waregem this season. Mark Noble, the former captain-turned-sporting director, is reportedly a big fan of the 20-year-old ball-winner.
Nuno Espirito Santo might see Nnadi in action during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, meanwhile. The Hammers boss plans to tune in, not just for El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Nnadi has just been called up to represent Nigeria in the tournament.
“Of course [I will be watching AFCON], especially the matches our players will be involved in,” Nuno said last week. “But normally, I see all the competition.
“The African Cup of Nations is always very enjoyable because the games are open and you can see good actions.
“I don’t go there to work, just to enjoy the football.”
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