Papy Djilobodji: Value for money

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Papy Djilobodji (Nantes' 25 year old Senegalese center back) is a tough 6ft 4in central defender currently valued at 4million Euros by Transfermarkt.com. 
• Strong in the air, Djilobodhi is currently ranked 5th best in the air among Europe's top 5 leagues having won 78 aerial duels which is 79.59% aerial success rate (See "Best in the Air" charts below from BSports) 
• So far this season, Djilobodji has been inspirational at the back racking up 2356 minutes in 27 matches, and was part of the Senegalese team that narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification losing to a strong Ivory Coast team in the CAF playoffs
• Djilobodji, who has no significant weaknesses to his game, has been linked with Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund and has expressed his desire to play for team regularly competing in the Champions League

Most Prolific Defender Leaderboards from BSports (Updated through 3/11/2014):

Toronto FC has the highest Average Player Value (APV) index in Major League Soccer due to Bradley, Defoe and Cesar acquisitions

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Following the acquisition of Bradley, Defoe and Cesar, Toronto FC has the highest average player value (APV) in Major League Soccer
• Toronto's 0.75M Euro APV is 129% higher than Major League Soccer's 0.33M Euro APV
• Toronto's APV would be eight highest in Brazil's Campeonato Brasileiro, 7th highest in Argentina's Torneo Inicial, and 15th highest in Mexico's Liga MX
• Seattle Sounders FC (0.64M Euro APV) has the second highest APV in the league largely in part to their recent investments in Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins
• 4 other clubs (Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, LA Galaxy and FC Dallas) make up the 6 MLS clubs whose APV is higher than the league's average
• San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo and Philadelphia Union all have an APV equal to the Major League Soccer's 0.33M Euro APV
• The New England Revolution have the lowest Average Player Value in MLS at 0.18M Euros, 44% below the MLS league average

3 Major League Soccer prospects for Europe's big leagues:

• Maximiliano Urruti (Portland Timbers): 23 year old Argentine striker valued at 2M Euros
• Samuel Rosa Goncalves (LA Galaxy): 23 year old Brazilian striker on loan from Fluminense valued at 1.5M Euros
• David Texeira (FC Dallas): 23 year old Uruguayan striker who joined MLS from FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie. Valued at 1M Euros

Top 3 Individual Player Transfer Market Value (TMV) Increases in 2013:

• Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC): 29 year old Nigerian International striker saw his TMV increase 40% from 2.5M to 3.5M Euros
• Kei Kamara (Middlesbrough FC): 29 year old Sierra Leone International striker saw his TMV increase 60% from 0.5M to 0.8M Euros as he transferred from Sporting Kansas City to Middlesbrough via a loan move to Norwich City
• Jose Correa (Gimnasia): 21 year old Colombian striker saw his TMV increase 33.3% increase from 0.75M to 1M Euros as he transferred from Chivas USA to Gimnasia

MLS Average Player Value Index (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

Analysis of Raja Casablanca Individual Player Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In December 2013, Raja Casablanca became only the second African club team ever to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, losing 2-0 in the final to Bayern Munich in Marrakesh
• Raja Casablanca has a transfer market valuation (TMV) of 10.5M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 0.46M Euros
• Casablanca's APV is higher than the APV of Major League Soccer (0.33M), and would be 3rd highest in the league behind Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders
• Abdelilah Hafidi (22 year old Morrocan International striker) is Raja's most highly valued player with a transfer market valuation of 1.3M Euros (183% higher than Raja's 0.46M APV). With 3 Senior International caps (and a goal) to his name, Hafidi has the potential to earn a move to one of Europe's top leagues in the next 3 to 5 years

Raja Casablanca Market Value Index Chart as of 3/16/2014 (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

Lucas Orban: Value for money

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Lucas Orban (Bordeaux's 25 year old Argentine International left-back) is a solid (if unadventurous) full back currently valued at 3.5million Euros by transfermarkt.com. He's third best in tackles in Europe's top 5 leagues (See Bsports charts below)
• So far this season, Orban has racked up 1467 minutes in 17 league appearances in Ligue 1, and earned his first cap for Argentina against Ecuador in November
• The Buenos Aires native who came through River Plate's renowned academy system prior to starring for rival club Tigre reportedly agreed terms with several European clubs (including Sunderland in Premier League) before signing with Girondins de Bordeaux last summer
• A talented left-back, Orban is strong in the tackle, likes to defend, is strong in the air and has good concentration, but is prone to the occasional foul. Given how problematic it can be for clubs to fill the left-back position, Orban's current transfer market value could prove to be a steal for one of Europe's top clubs

Most Prolific Defender Leaderboards from BSports (Updated through 3/4/2014):

Danubio won Primera Division Uruguaya with only the 4th highest Average Player Value (APV) in the league

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Despite only having the fourth highest average player value (APV) in La Primera Division Uruguaya, Danubio clinched the Apertura title in dramatic fashion last December. River Plate's draw and Nacional's loss meant that Danubio won their fourth title and first since 2007

5 players who possess the potential to earn moves to Europe over the coming years:

• Emiliano Velazquez: 19 year old Uruguayan Youth International centre back currently valued at 1.1M Euros
• Camilo Mayada: 23 year old Uruguayan Youth International attacking midfielder currently valued at 0.65M Euros
• Salvador Ichazo: 22 year old Uruguayan Youth International goalkeeper currently valued at 0.5M Euros
• Hugo Soria: 24 year old Uruguayan defensive midfielder currently valued at 0.475M Euros
• Fabricio Formiliano: 21 year old Uruguayan Youth International center back currently valued at 0.425M Euros

Uruguayan Primera Division Average Player Value Index as of December 2013 (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

Scouting Ecuador's Emelec

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Ecuador's Emelec won the most recent edition of the Ecuadorian Serie A in 2013, representing their first title in 11 years
• 24 year old Ecuadorian International Enner Valencia (valued at 1.6M Euros) was arguably the most valuable contributor to Emelec's success with 4 goals and 5 assists in 1339 minutes in the 2nd phase of the league (Serie A Segunda Etapa), as he forced his way into the Ecuadorian National Team and earning himself a move to Liga MX's Pachuca
• Other key performers with potential to perform at a higher level of world football are as follows:
• Denis Stracqualursi (valued at 2.4M Euros): 26 year old Argentine striker who formerly featured for Everton in the Premier League contributed 10 goals and 2 assists in 1307 minutes during the Serie A Segunda Tapa
• Fernando Gaibor (valued at 1.4M Euros): 22 year old Ecuadorian International midfielder contributed 4 goals and 4 assists in 1548 minutes during the Serie A Segunda Tapa
• Marcos Caicedo (valued at 1.25M Euros): 22 year old Ecuadorian Youth International winger contributed 2 goals and 3 assists in 328 minutes during the Serie A Segunda Tapa
• John Narvaez (valued at 1.2M Euros): 22 year old Ecuadorian Youth International center-back contributed 1 assist in 1739 minutes during the Serie A Segunda Tapa

Emelec Absolute Player Transfer Market Valuations as of 3/3/2014 (Market value data from transfermarkt.com):