Chelsea Star More Valuable Than Christiano Ronaldo

Chelsea's Eden Hazard is the second most valuable footballer in the world, according to a new study.

Hazard is now more valuable than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sergio
Aguero with a valuation ranging between €135.4m (£152.1m) and €148.9m, say CIES Football Observatory, an academic research group based in Switzerland.

Hazard, this season named the Premier League's player of the year, is only 24-years-old and increased his worth recently with a new five-year contract worth £57m.

In contrast Ronaldo, who was valued at between €113.3m and €124.7m, will soon be on the wrong side of 30 and has only three years remaining on his deal with Real Madrid.

The Football Observatory calculates transfer values based on an econometric algorithm that takes into account player performance, age, position, contract duration and results achieved by their team.

Chelsea currently boast a total of five of the world's 20 most valuable players - more than any other club - and 10 of the top 100. Diego Costa is ranked eighth while, Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and Oscar also feature in the top 20.

Jose Mourinho has steadfastly denied speculation that Hazard could be sold, and with Chelsea in a secure financial position, it would surely take a spectacular offer to tempt Roman Abramovich to let his prized asset leave Stamford Bridge.

One player whose future is less decided is Liverpool's Raheem Sterling - ranked the sixth most valuable player in the world in the research. It's calculated Liverpool could fetch between €73.7m and €86m for their want-away youngster.