The worst time to buy a player is on the back of a stellar World Cup campaign. Value is inflated and the sample size is both small and potentially unrelated to the demands of club football, where a player's tactical set-up with country is antagonistic to the system employed in domestic leagues.
There are also players who shine internationally only to shrink for club. Chile's Eduardo Vargas, take note.
Regardless, the World Cup is a quadrennial spotlight conveniently nestled in the middle of the summer transfer window that boosts the profile of players both established and relatively unknown.
James Rodriguez's Golden Boot performance at the 2014 World Cup for Colombia is a prime example of how a player can help his professional cause with a strong international showing. Los Cafeteros' No. 10 used his performance in Brazil to snag a €63-million move to Real Madrid, though not all summer switches are as opulent as Rodriguez's.
Here's a look at 10 players who could translate a strong World Cup into a summer move, covering the spectrum from big-money transfers to shrewd sales:
Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Second fiddle to Harry Kane at Spurs, Denmark's main man Eriksen shines in the unmistakable Hummel red. With all to play for in a group that lacks a definitive bridesmaid to France, a masterful display in Russia will only boost the legend of a player destined for a big-time move. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy may find a bid in the neighbourhood of £75M hard to resist.
Estimated transfer fee: €80 million
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia)
On a shortlist of players poised to become football's next €100-million transfer, Serbian attacking midfielder Milinkovic-Savic was one of the best players this season in Serie A. Built like an 18-wheeler but blessed with the touch of a feather, the 23-year-old was unplayable at times with Lazio, combining a bevy of world-class skills that should merit a massive fee.
Estimated transfer fee: €75 million
Timo Werner (Germany)
The focal point of Germany's attack, RB Leipzig's industrious striker Werner is poised to follow in the footsteps of fellow Die Mannschaft forwards who've starred on football's biggest stage. A German has finished either first or second in each of the last four World Cup Golden Boot sweepstakes, and with the likes of Mesut Ozil feeding the 22-year-old stud, the sky's the limit.
Estimated transfer fee: €60 million
Goncalo Guedes (Portugal)
With parent club PSG looking to recoup some euros to avoid Financial Fair Play penalties, Portugal attacker Guedes could build on a valuable loan campaign at Valencia with a good showing in Russia. Set to profit from playing up top alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese talent hub Wolves can expect company in its interest in the 21-year-old.
Estimated transfer fee: €42 million
Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
When Hirving "Chucky" Lozano swapped Pachuca for Eredivisie behemoth and sage incubator of Mexican talent PSV in June 2017, there were rumblings that the winger merited a higher-profile move. A year later, the 22-year-old's 17 goals in 29 PSV outings has prompted reports of a luxury move with a hefty price tag - something a strong showing in Russia will surely drive up.
Estimated transfer fee: €40 million
Benjamin Pavard (France)
The only member of Didier Deschamps' 23-man France squad based in Germany, Pavard's virtues are flying under the radar amid a star-studded Les Bleus side. Typically used as a centre-half at Stuttgart, Pavard is in the running to start over attack-minded Djibril Sidibe at right-back. And with skills like this on offer, the 22-year-old will be in high demand.
Estimated transfer fee: €30 million
Gelson Martins (Portugal)
While Bernardo Silva is likely to start on the right and Ricardo Quaresma lays claim to super-sub for Fernando Santos' Portugal, Martins, 23, has a locker packed to the brim with the kind of skills that trigger "oohs and ahhs." Faster than a bullet train late for tea, Liverpool had reportedly sniffed around last summer before luring Mohamed Salah to Anfield, as has Arsenal.
Estimated transfer fee: €30 million
Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria)
Like a tidy blue oxford or pair of white tennis shoes, technically astute tough-tackling midfielders never go out of fashion. On the back of a breakthrough first season at Leicester City, Nigeria's Ndidi, 21, is set to be a calming force behind an exuberant attack in Russia that could merit attention from some of Europe's biggest clubs.
Estimated transfer fee: €25 million
Breel Embolo (Switzerland)
A fractured ankle and fibula with substantial ligament damage sidelined Embolo's promising career in 2016, limiting the attacker to a handful of appearances in his maiden Schalke season. Fit again, the 21-year-old had a positive half against Spain on June 3, finding spaces up front with occasional dalliances out wide.
Estimated transfer fee: €20 million
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
The Atlas Lions lay in wait while Iberian duo Spain and Portugal hog the group headlines, though it would be daft to take Morocco for granted, especially with Ziyech set to star. The frenetic attacking mid has already told Ajax he's leaving, and after controversially turning his back on a Dutch youth career to play for Morocco, Ziyech could be in line to repeat the career-defining switch for club.
Estimated transfer fee: €20 million
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
