A talkSport article identifying every Premier League club’s most valuable player has named American full-back DeAndre Yedlin as Newcastle’s most cost-effective asset.
Earning £30,000 per week, Yedlin is one of Newcastle’s lowest paid players, yet he is a nailed on starter in the team’s first XI.
The article chose 20 players from each club in their list, taking into account every league player’s collective earnings and then dividing them by the minutes they’ve played so far.
And although he’s not the most consistent performer, Yedlin has proven to be a cheap option in the right-back role.
The defender has played a phenomenal 2,025 minutes of Premier League football this season, missing just two matches.
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These figures mean that Yedlin has cost Newcastle just £385 for every minute he’s played this season.
But although he’s potentially Newcastle’s most cost effective player, he’s certainly not their most valuable.
To determine the team’s most valuable player, the player’s performance on the pitch is surely just as important as their price?
Although working out a team’s most valuable player it not an exact science, there’s one player who shouldn’t have been ignored.
Newcastle’s real MVP?
Given Newcastle’s most recent starting line-ups, there can be no denying that Sean Longstaff is the side’s most cost effective player.
The midfield youngster signed a four-year contract in November last year, but his current wage bill is unknown.
However given his tender years and lack of experience, it’s unlikely Longstaff is a top earner at Newcastle.
In fact, he’s probably the lowest earning player in Newcastle’s starting line-up.
But in just six appearances in the league, he has established himself as a key figure in Rafa Benitez’s side.
He was particularly impressive against Man City, where he stifled the talents of the best in the league.
In his little playing time so far, he has racked up an impressive 71% tackle accuracy.
He also has the second best tackles per game ratio in the squad (2.3) after Mo Diame (2.9).
His performances have garnered rave reviews from pundits and fans, which will only add to his current value.
Longstaff is primed to become the most expensive player in the squad should he keep up his form.
Young English players have skyrocketed in value in the past decade, especially if they have a degree of talent.
Longstaff is still inexperienced, but going off what we’ve seen so far, he is potentially the future of Newcastle United.
But if he continues to improve, it’s only a matter of time before one of the bigger clubs comes knocking.
