<h3 style="text-align: justify">Liverpool FC winger Raheem Sterling is the most valuable young player in Europe, ahead of PSG centreback Marquinhos and Manchester United's Memphis Depay in third, according to a new study.</h3> <p style="text-align: justify">The Soccerex 20 U21 Report ranks the top 20 players in Europe aged 20 or younger as of January 1, 2015. The rankings are compiled using the Football Value Index, a player valuation methodology which takes into account various metrics including age, position, minutes played and technical quality to rank the players.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify">Liverpool FC winger Raheem Sterling, who is <a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/2015/liverpool-to-reject-manchester-citys-impending-improved-bid-for-raheem-sterling/">subject of a failed A?40m bid from Manchester City</a>, has been given the highest value of A?35m by the Soccerex 20 Football Value Index.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Sterling is around A?6.7m more valuable than his nearest competitor, Paris Saint-Germaina s Brazilian defender Marquinhos, while Manchester Uniteda s new signing Memphis Depay is third with a value of A?23.9m a despite Manchester United just purchasing the player for a A?32m fee.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">In total, there are nine player from the English Premier League in the top 20. Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw made the top ten by sneaking in at the ninth place.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">While Manchester United paid A?30million to acquire Luke Shaw's services from Southampton, last summer, the study values the 19-year-old left back at A?18m after his first season at Old Trafford.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Chlesea FC defender Kurt Zouma narrowly missed out on the top ten with a 11th place finish at a value of A?16.2m having broken into Chelsea FC first team last season. The 20-year-old French defender impressed for the champions and earned his first France cap in a friendly against Denmark in March.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The other Premier League players in the top 20 are Everton's John Stones at 16th and Arsenal FC defender Calum Chambers at 19th place.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The author of the study Esteve Calzada says the English Football Association's rule of Premier League clubs should have eight home-grown players in their squads makes English players more expensive.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">England's total of four clubs having their players in the list is more than any other nation.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"That shows the strength of the competition," Calzada said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We are used to seeing high-value domestic-only transfers in the UK. This is just another way to prove that."</p>