In modern football, potential can often be worth more financially than actual reality. Clubs are asked to pay for what players could become rather than what they currently are, and it’s one of the factors which has helped push transfer fees higher.
Such a scenario surrounds Brajan Gruda at the moment, with Sportbild reporting Newcastle United and Aston Villa have him on their signing list.
Bayern Munich have gone a step further and made contact with Mainz for the 20-year-old, and it looks like Newcastle and Aston Villa would have an almighty fight ahead of them if they proceed.
According to Sportbild, Mainz want €50m for the youngster. Their record transfer is currently Abdou Diallo’s move to Borussia Dortmund for €28m.
Brajan Gruda played 29 games for Mainz last season in various attacking positions, scoring four goals and adding three assists. That was his breakthrough campaign, with the previous season spent mostly at youth level.
Transfermarkt value him at €20m, and whilst that can never be taken as gospel, it feels closer to reality than the €50m.
Should that genuinely be Mainz’s asking price, then there are certainly less risky deals out there.
