Rio Ferdinand: 'English players are overpriced'

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Harry Kane and Raheem SterlingImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

England internationals Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling have both been linked with £50m moves

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has questioned the value of English players in the transfer market.

Ferdinand, 36, retired from football in May and was the world's most expensive defender when he joined Manchester United, external for £29.1m in 2002.

"English players are so overpriced right now it's a joke," he said.

However, England internationals such as James Milner and Tom Cleverley have agreed deals with Liverpool and Everton on free transfers this summer.

Defender Micah Richards also moved to Aston Villa for free, Tottenham signed full-back Kieran Trippier for £3.5m, while Burnley will be due compensation when striker Danny Ings joins Liverpool.

Most expensive English players

Andy Carroll: Newcastle United to Liverpool, £35m

Rio Ferdinand: Leeds United to Manchester United, £29.1m

Wayne Rooney: Everton to Manchester United, £27m

Luke Shaw: Southampton to Manchester United, £27m

James Milner: Aston Villa to Manchester City, £26m

Meanwhile, Manchester United have been linked with a £50m move, external for 21-year-old Tottenham striker Harry Kane this summer, and Manchester City have had a £40m bid rejected for Liverpool's 20-year-old Raheem Sterling. The Reds value the forward at £50m.

Kane has scored 36 goals in 77 appearances for Spurs - including 31 last season - while Sterling has played 124 games for Liverpool.

Ferdinand feels foreign players such as Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez represent better value by saying on Twitter:, external "Aguero £38m and Sanchez £32m."

Andy Carroll remains the most expensive British player signed by a British club, after Liverpool paid Newcastle £35m for the striker in January 2011. He played just 46 Premier League games for the Reds, scoring six goals.

Most expensive British transfers:

Image source, Reuters
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Angel Di Maria is the most expensive British transfer after Manchester United paid Real Madrid £59.7m for the Argentina winger

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Spain striker Fernando Torres joined Chelsea from Liverpool for £50m

Image source, PA
Image caption,

Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil signed for Arsenal from Real Madrid for £42.5m

Image source, Reuters
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Argentina forward Sergio Aguero left Atletico Madrid for £38m to join Manchester City

Image source, Reuters
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Manchester United paid Chelsea £37.1m for Spain midfielder Juan Mata

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