Dan James has a history of transfer deadline day drama and that was once again the case this summer when departing Leeds United for Fulham on a season-long loan deal. It brought an end to growing speculation over his future with a number of clubs interested in a player who Leeds finally got their hands on last summer, ending their own long pursuit of the Hull-born player.
James still has four years to run on a deal that cost Leeds £25m only a year ago. While neither the player nor the club have cut ties and ruled out a return to Elland Road at the end of the season, there is an expectation among many that James' tenure with the club is now over.
If that is to be the case Leeds will look to try and recoup as much as they can of the £25m they paid Manchester United last summer, but getting a repeat of that price tag may prove difficult as the latest CIES Football Observatory findings show. The experts at CIES Football Observatory use a complex matrix to work out transfer values, taking into account a number of variables such as contract duration, performance, age, career progression, international status, inflation and club level and wealth.
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Ahead of his move from Old Trafford, James was valued between £43m-60m, but that price has since dropped quite dramatically. A year later James is now valued between £17m-25m, with the CIES value significantly higher than what a club pays for a player, meaning the Whites would find it hard to recoup the £25m they paid.
Much of James' value will depend on his form for Fulham this season and his contribution to their aim of staying in the Premier League, as well as his performances at the World Cup should he make the final squad as expected.
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