The true value of every squad in the Championship has been revealed, which identifies in particular how impressive the top three of Leeds United, Sheffield United and Norwich City have been this season.
According to data from Transfermarkt , league leaders Norwich have an overall squad value of £48.96m, less than half the value of Stoke City who, despite sitting 15th in the Championship, have the highest squad value at £115.43m.
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Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, meanwhile, have the seventh most expensive squad in the division, while Sheffield United, another side pushing for automatic promotion, sit 15th with a squad value of £41.13m.
Preston North End, led valiantly by Alex Neil, have the fifth-lowest squad value at just £22.5m but have shone this season, sitting 12th in the standings and at one point looking capable of pushing towards the playoff spots.
True to Steve Lansdown's process of careful, considered and clever investment in Bristol City's playing squad, the Robins are four places higher in the Championship table than the value of their squad.
Unsurprisingly, some of the sides with the lowest squad value are hovering near the foot of the table, including the likes of Rotherham, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Wigan Athletic.
You can see the squad values of every squad below.
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24. Rotherham United
Squad value: £6.84m
League position: 22nd
Difference: +2
2018/19 record signing: Matt Crooks from Northampton Town for an Undisclosed fee
23. Millwall
Squad value: £16.52m
League position: 19th
Difference: +4
2018/19 record signing: Ryan Leonard and Tom Bradshaw from Sheffield United and Barnsley for £990,000
22. Bolton Wanderers
Squad value: £19.04m
League position: 23rd
Difference: -1
2018/19 record signing: Josh Magennis from Charlton Athletic for £203,000
21. Ipswich Town
Squad value: £21.02m
League position: 24th
Difference: -3
2018/19 record signing: Kayden Jackson from Accrington Stanley for £1.62m
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20. Preston North End
Squad value: £22.50m
League position: 12th
Difference: +8
2018/19 record signing: Ryan Ledson from Oxford for £990,000
19. Wigan Athletic
Squad value: £23.99m
League position: 21st
Difference: -2
2018/19 record signing: Josh Windass from Rangers for £2.1m
18. Blackburn Rovers
Squad value: £25.79m
League position: 16th
Difference: +2
2018/19 record signing: Adam Armstrong from Newcastle for £1.71m
17. Birmingham City
Squad value: £30.20m
League position: 17th
Difference: =
2018/19 record signing: Kristian Pedersen from Union Berlin for £2.25m
16. Queens Park Rangers
Squad value: £31.95m
League position: 18th
Difference: -2
2018/19 record signing: Two players for free
15. Sheffield United
Squad value: £41.13m
League position: 3rd
Difference: +12
2018/19 record signing: John Egan from Brentford for £4m
14. Reading
Squad value: £42.84m
League position: 20th
Difference: -6
2018/19 record signing: Sam Baldock from Brighton for £3.5m
13. Brentford
Squad value: £42.98m
League position: 14th
Difference: -1
2018/19 record signing: Ezri Konsa from Charlton Athletic for £2.57m
12. Sheffield Wednesday
Squad value: £43.11m
League position: 10th
Difference: +2
2018/19 record signing: Michael Hector, Rolando Aarons and Josh Onomah on loans
11. Hull City
Squad value: £43.16m
League position : 9th
Difference: +2
2018/19 record signing: Reece Burke from West Ham for £1.53m
10. Bristol City
Squad value: £43.74m
League position: 6th
Difference: +4
2018/19 record signing: Adam Webster from Ipswich for £3.6m
9. Norwich City
Squad value: £48.96m
League position: 1st
Difference: +8
2018/19 record signing: Ben Marshall from Wolves for £1.53m
8. Swansea City
Squad value: £50.18m
League position: 13th
Difference: -5
2018/19 record signing: Bersant Celina from Manchester City for £3.1m
7. Leeds United
Squad Value: £59.40m
League Position: 2nd
Difference : +5
2018/19 record signing: Patrick Bamford from Middlesbrough for £10m
6. Derby County
Squad value: £68.27m
League position: 8th
Difference: -2
2018/19 record signing: Martyn Waghorn from Ipswich for £5m
5. Nottingham Forest
Squad value: £70.88m
League position: 11th
Difference: -6
2018/19 record signing: Joao Carvalho from Benfica for £13.5m
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4. Middlesbrough
Squad value: £78.17m
League position: 7th
Difference: -3
2018/19 record signing: Aden Flint from Bristol City for £7m
3. West Bromwich Albion
Squad value: £103.46m
League position: 4th
Difference: -1
2018/19 record signing: Sam Johnstone from Manchester United for £6.5m
2. Aston Villa
Squad Value: £105.08m
League position: 5th
Difference: -3
2018/19 record signing: Lovre Kalinic from KAA Gent for £5.4m
1. Stoke City
Squad value: £115.43m
League position: 15th
Difference: -14
2018/19 record signing: Benik Afobe from Wolves for £12.15m
