Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has recently branded the valuations of home-grown talents such as Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane as 'a joke.'

Sterling's current club Liverpool are reportedly holding out for a £50m transfer fee for their young forward, whilst Tottenham have slapped a £40m transfer fee on striker Harry Kane in hope of warding of interest from Manchester United.

And you would could well say Ferdinand is completely right, there is no way that these English players despite their careers being ahead of them, they shouldn't be valued so highly.

Take Andy Carroll for example. signed for £35m at a similar age to Kane who proved he was eventually worth just half of Newcastle's original evaluation.

These English talents like Kane and Sterling are undoubtedly quality players, but in truth they have achieved little when compared to their professional rivals, who have achieved so much more at both club level and international level.

As well as this their levels of goals and assists are well short of the players valued of similar prices like Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero, who produce far more and have cost far less.

Ferdinand said via social media: "English players are soooo overpriced right now it's a

joke!

"Kane & sterling have huge potential but 40m & 50m...aguero 38m & sanchez 32m!!!"

And you would have to say Ferdinand is right the prices for these players are simply  a 'joke.'

But why they cost so much is a mystery really, as they aren't as good as their professional counterparts and should be valued sometimes £15m less at times.

However this has been the case for a long, long time now. Liverpool brought Stewart Downing for £17m and Jordan Henderson for £20m when you could argue both of those players, especially Downing, could've been £7m less.

Perhaps the reason why English players are so over valued is down to the fact that we as a country overrate our English stars to the extent where their prices are ridiculously hiked up, and until clubs start being more realistic the prices will stay continue to rise.

Looking at the two players Ferdinand mentioned and comparing them with the prices of Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez, who are absolutely outstanding players of world class quality, and whilst Kane and Sterling are hugely talented they are not playing for elite clubs and have a way to go before being regarded as world class.

And by comparing the quoted valuations and what was paid for the South American duo, something like £20-25m as a price for both Kane and Sterling is fair, as at that price their potential is valued whilst the fact they aren't world class is taken into account.

But it is difficult to see how these 'joke' prices are going to change as it is tricky to change the mindset of English clubs and change the way that they value their home-grown talents, but clubs should start making note of the prices paid for foreign players to English and lower their prices.

And maybe this is happening with the deal for Nathaniel Clyne who looks likely to move to Liverpool for £12.5m (BBC), a good price for his quality and not over hiked, and maybe the tide is changing.

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