Brighton star Pascal Groß off the list - But many Premier League stars still await a call-up

“I was surprised too,” Brighton star Pascal Groß said when he found out about his nomination to the German national team at the tender age of 32. “I have always said that representing my country would be a dream come true. Now I get to live my dream.” The midfielder was one of the most valuable German players never to have represented his country. 

With a market value of €8 million, Groß was among the most valuable German players never to have represented his country. But not the most valuable. That title goes to Brentford star Vitaly Janelt. The 25-year-old has a market value of €20m and, after successfully representing his country at the U21 level, is yet to be called up by Germany boss Hansi Flick. Two other players ranked ahead of Groß are Burnley’s Jordan Beyer (€16m) and Nashville SC and Major League Soccer MVP Hany Mukhtar (€12m). 

Germany, however, is not among the top nations when it comes to the most valuable players that are yet to represent their country. In fact, the Bundesliga offers a comprehensive list of star players who have never played for their national teams. Gladbach’s Manu Koné and the two RB Leipzig stars Castello Lukeba and Mohamed Simakan are without games for their native France. Leverkusen’s Spanish left-back Alejandro Grimaldo has not played for his national team yet. 

Most valuable non-national team players – England and France, dominate 

Koné, with a market value of €40m, is the second most valuable non-national team player on the planet. But a nomination to the national team during this window would have likely come too early anyhow. The midfielder suffered a knee injury at the U21 European Championships and only returned to Gladbach’s team training this Wednesday. A nomination only appears a matter of time as only Eduardo Camavinga has a higher market value among France’s midfielders. 

France has a wealth of options. A list of the players with the highest market value without a nomination to the national team also includes Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, Elye Wahi from RC Lens, and Amine Gouiri from Stade Rennais. Further down the list is Rayan Cherki from Olympique Lyon and Pierre Kalulu from AC Milan. Then there is Allan Saint-Maximin, but whether the French forward will ever represent France after moving to the Saudi Pro League is questionable. 

Not that that would necessarily mean that those players will never play at the international level. Saint-Maximin could also represent Guadeloupe. Whether it is Wahi (Ivory Coast) or Gouiri (Algeria), many of the French players have alternative options. Olise could even represent England. Not that there would be any less competition for a spot at the Three Lions. Led by Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, England have six eligible players among the most valuable non-national team players in the top 10 alone.