Ahead of the new season, we're having at gander at player and club market values: what are they good for? Absolutely nothing, some would argue, and they may well have a fair point.
That as it may be, the controversial footballer valuations do offer a fair indication of the divide in wealth within any given league, and also open up a debate over whether the wildly inflated transfer market provides an accurate representation of footballers' true worth.
Transfermarkt have recently updated their player market values ahead of the 2021/22 Championship campaign, and we've taken a look at where Preston North End' s overall squad value ranks alongside the 23 other second-tier sides.
As well as that, we've identified every club's most valuable player, as well as the average squad age, as anticipation continues to heighten ahead of the new season:
![Squad's overall current market value: £148.5m. Most valuable player: Andre Zambo Anguissa (£22.5m). Average squad age: 27.7 years-old.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgyMzRjOGU5LWRjZjQtNGMxYS04MTk0LTgzNmMzNDU2ZTVhZTpkYmQ5MDJhOC05NzE3LTQzYTYtOTdmNS00NTAwM2FkNGE3ZDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. 1st - Fulham
Squad's overall current market value: £148.5m. Most valuable player: Andre Zambo Anguissa (£22.5m). Average squad age: 27.7 years-old. Photo: CLIVE ROSE
![Squad's overall current market value: £113m. Most valuable player: Sander Berge (£16.2m). Average squad age: 26.5 years-old.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM3ZGYwMzFhLTk2ZWUtNGIxYS05YWRjLTliYmJlMDYxNWFlMDo3ZTllYTQyYS1jNWQwLTQ2MWMtODE3MC1kMzBkOGNlMmQwODY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. 2nd - Sheffield United
Squad's overall current market value: £113m. Most valuable player: Sander Berge (£16.2m). Average squad age: 26.5 years-old. Photo: PETER POWELL
![Squad's overall current market value: £105.2m. Most valuable player: David Brooks (£14.4m). Average squad age: 25.2 years-old](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFmZWE2MWVlLTE5M2UtNDBkNi1iY2Y3LTcyZDI4YzgxODc1YzpjZTdhMTUwOS1iNDZlLTQxMDgtYjQ5OC05OWE3YjA3YjJlZGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. 3rd - Bournemouth
Squad's overall current market value: £105.2m. Most valuable player: David Brooks (£14.4m). Average squad age: 25.2 years-old Photo: Jacques Feeney
![Squad's overall current market value: £80.8m. Most valuable player: Matheus Pereira (£13.5m). Average squad age: 27.4 years-old.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVjM2NmYmI3LWYyZWYtNDAwNC1iYmI2LTYwZGQyZWZkOGUwODo4NjcyM2ZiZi0yNjlkLTQwZWEtYTZkZS03ZDUyZDYyNTA2ZGI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. 4th - West Brom
Squad's overall current market value: £80.8m. Most valuable player: Matheus Pereira (£13.5m). Average squad age: 27.4 years-old. Photo: Pool