Following one incredible season with the AS Monaco senior side, and having seen Manchester United fail in their attempt to sign a host of huge name strikers, then-19-year-old Anthony Martial signed for the club in a deal that obliterated the previous record for a teenager.
With all the add-ons and bonuses, Martial will cost Manchester United a whopping £58 million. His initial transfer fee was around the £43 million mark and that in itself is a ridiculous sum for someone who was yet to fully turn up.
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Yet, given the inflation in the market currently, Martial’s valuation already seems little compared to how much other teenagers are supposedly commanding. It’s almost two years since the Frenchman switched the Stade Louis II for the Theatre of Dreams but who are the teenagers in the current crop of youngsters who could beat his transfer record?
#5 Gianluigi Donnarumma – AC Milan
Italian goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma is widely tipped to become the world’s most expensive goalkeeper and one who could potentially break Anthony Martial’s record to become the world’s most expensive teenager.
The Milanese man needs to seal a move by the winter transfer window in January 2019 to be counted for this feat. Donnarumma’s contract with AC Milan, however, runs out at the end of next season and should rumours stand to be true, he’s in line to sign a new blockbuster deal with the club; one that could very well ensure he becomes the most expensive teenager should the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona come calling.
Donnarumma could go for a fee as high as £52 million (€60 million) and that’ll shatter the record fee paid by Louis van Gaal when he signed Martial. The Italian keeper will command such a huge fee because he already has more than 50 appearances for the club in the Serie A and is en course to finish his second full season with them.
#4 Alexander Isak – Borussia Dortmund
17-year-old ‘next Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ Alexander Isak is en route to break Martial’s record because of two reasons: he’s a striker and he’s European.
Isak has shown a lot of promise and has no release clause as such with Borussia Dortmund, but should he transfer by the 2018 summer transfer window, he could very well break the record set by Frenchman, Martial.
Even though he’s only 17, Isak has represented and scored for the senior Swedish national side – something that could very well open new doors for the youngster. And having Ibrahimovic’s recommendation is something that’ll help his market value rise, too.
#3 Youri Tielemans – RSC Anderlecht
Perhaps the finest young defensive midfielder coming out of Belgium’s leagues is RSC Anderlecht’s Youri Tielemans. The 19-year-old has been sensational for the champions over the past few years and has already established himself as one who could very well mix it with the best.
Tielemans has three full years left on his contract at the end of the current season and with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Manchester United all fighting for his signature, his club are going to take maximum out of the chance to milk the highest bidder of a fee that’ll easily eclipse Martial’s valuation.
The Belgian has to move in the upcoming summer transfer window for him to be eligible to break the record. And given how well he’s playing and how much the aforementioned clubs have been scouting for a midfielder, it seems highly likely he’ll break the record this year.
#2 Renato Sanches
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wants Renato Sanches to already abandon his mission at Bayern Munich and instead join him at Real Madrid for the foreseeable future. Sanches, given his lack of game time under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, could very well jump at the chance.
Should Real Madrid firm up their interest in signing the Portuguese midfield sensation, they’ll easily have to pass the £60 million mark. But given the kind of talent they’re receiving, they might not hesitate.
And it's Real Madrid we’re talking about. With Luka Modric getting older and Toni Kroos looking for another midfielder to partner him ahead of Casemiro, this may seem like the kind of opportunity the club will refuse to roll over.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
Already commonly known as ‘AS Monaco’s next Anthony Martial’, it was pointless to put anyone else on this list than the 18-year-old. Kylian Mbappe has been exquisite this season with 18 goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances for Leonardo Jardim’s side.
There isn’t a release clause in his contract but should interested clubs come forward with bids, don’t drop your jaw if that figure easily surpasses the £70 million mark – including bonuses, at least.
Mbappe is quick, full of tricks with the ball at his feet, is adept with either foot and is one hell of a finisher. There aren’t many more qualities a young striker needs to be touted as one of the world’s next big things. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are all reportedly interested in fighting for his signature.
