Luton Town: Where Elijah Adebayo ranks among the most valuable EFL Championship stars | OneFootball

We looked at where Luton Town striker Elijah Adebayo ranks among the most valuable players in the Championship.

It has been an incredibly disappointing start to life back in the Championship for Luton Town.

The Hatters were relegated from the Premier League last season after just one year in the top flight, but they are widely expected to be among the promotion contenders in the Championship this campaign.

It was a relatively quiet summer at Kenilworth Road in terms of incomings, with just six new players joining the club, and much of the budget was spent on the signing of defender Mark McGuinness from Cardiff City in a deal that could be worth up to £10 million.

There were also a number of departures, including the likes of Gabriel Osho, Ryan Giles, Dan Potts, Luke Berry, Ross Barkley, Fred Onyedinma, Chiedozie Ogbene and John McAtee, while Jack Walton, Allan Campbell, new signing Lamine Fanne, Dion Pereira and Aribim Pepple are among those who have left the club on loan.

Many had tipped Luton to challenge for an immediate return to the Premier League this season, but it has been a poor start for Rob Edwards' side, and they head into the international break sitting 23rd in the table after picking up just one point from their first four games.

The Hatters have also only scored one goal in that time, which is surprising considering the attacking options Edwards has at his disposal, but it will surely not be long until strikers Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo find their form.

Luton kept hold of Adebayo this summer despite reported interest from Premier League side Everton and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce, who are managed by Jose Mourinho, but their resolve could be tested in the January transfer window, with The Sun claiming the Toffees are set to make the 26-year-old their top target, while Crystal Palace are also said to be keen.

As speculation about Adebayo's future continues to gather pace, we looked at where the striker ranks among the most valuable players in the Championship.

Elijah Adebayo's value compared to the rest of the Championship

Adebayo joined Luton from League Two side Walsall for a reported fee of just £250,000 in February 2021, and he will arguably go down as one of the club's greatest ever signings.

While it was a tough season for the Hatters in the Premier League, Adebayo impressed in the top flight last term, with the highlight of his campaign coming when he scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion in January, but he sustained an injury shortly after which ruled him out for almost three months, and his absence was certainly damaging to his side's survival hopes

According to Transfermarkt, Adebayo is the joint-sixth most valuable player in the Championship at €12 million (£10.1 million), and he shares that rank with a number of players, including Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham, Plymouth Argyle's Morgan Whittaker, Burnley's Mike Tresor, Sheffield United's Vinicius Souza, Sunderland's Anthony Patterson, Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson and his Luton team-mate Teden Mengi.

Adebayo is the second-highest Hatters player on the list, with his strike partner Morris ranked just above him at €13 million (£11 million).

Leeds United's Illan Meslier, Burnley's James Trafford and Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodzic are considered to be the most valuable players in the Championship at €18 million (£15.2 million), with Leeds duo Wilfried Gnonto and Ethan Ampadu next on the list at €17 million (£14.3 million).

While Adebayo is valued at just over £10 million on this list, it seems Luton's asking price for the striker is much higher, with the Hatters said to be open to a sale in the £15-20 million range.

That would be a significant profit on the fee the club paid for Adebayo three-and-a-half years ago, but retaining him will be crucial if Edwards' men are to challenge for promotion, so they will be desperately hoping that Everton and Palace turn their attention elsewhere before the January window.