Thread by @nonewthing

Strikers are rated in the pro sphere by potential/effectiveness at these:

—Buildup: ball-manipulation, strength, height, zones of comfort

—Transitions: pace, movement, pass range/incision, span, ballstriking

—Box: ballstriking, height/span, movement, creating separation

There are other qualities considered in these phases that are not listed but these are the general ones. Having a short backlift for instance is important to do it in the box.

And most strikers don't need to have every single quality in one phase to be very effective in it.

Most world-class strikers are usually very effective in at least 2 of these. Top strikers are very effective in at least one.

Take Mitrovic at Fulham. Tall, extremely strong and very good off-ball movement. Makes him extremely effective in the box however the ball comes to him.

Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal is one of the best buildup strikers around. Ticks every single box, plays everywhere, can even dribble and take out opposition, extreme levels of technical quality in general and can't be bullied with his back to goal. Harry Kane is another example.

Physical profiles are very, very important because of the necessity of span/height to dominate aerials in the box and in the buildup, among other qualities such as pace and span to reach balls.

Tall strikers are often preferable for many clubs because of this.

Jonathan David has not gotten a move from Lille because of the fact that he barely dominates any quality in any of these categories beyond off-ball movement.

Not too technical, not too fast, not too tall at 180cm, not too anything. But he will be there. Elite clubs are wary.

Erling Haaland is supremely effective because he dominates all the qualities you need to do it in the box. Even has a short backlift despite his height and can generate some level of separation in the box.

Then he also completely dominates in the transition phase, too.

Lautaro Martinez at Inter has a short backlift and good ballstriking but lacks something important in terms of ball-manipulation (which relates not to his pure technical ability as per but to how dynamic he can be on the ball: can he drive/turn and maintain separation with it?)

which, in combination with his lesser physical dynamism compared to Aguero/Jesus and lesser physical robustness compared to Julian Alvarez, incredibly limits his potential of effectiveness in the build-up phase.

Given his span to dominate aerials in the box, it's therefore

reasonably difficult to see many elite sides consider him value for money in a setup that doesn't involve two strikers (with one able to do the things he cannot especially in terms of box domination) that generate spaces for him.

As for Eddie Nketiah, he is one of those Not Enough/Do-A-Bit-Of-It-All CFs, although on a higher end, especially in buildup.

Why?

Eddie Nketiah has manipulative capacities on the ball like a winger as well as extreme upper body strength and comfort in wide zones.

In comparison to Jonathan David for instance, he is way more valuable in the buildup situation. David is necessarily 'stiffer' while not being more athletic or technical.

In the other two phases, they are similar. By this consideration, Eddie Nketiah is the better value CF.

Some players like Harry Kane of Tottenham nearly dominate every single quality in every single phase. Except for top-level pace. Evan Ferguson of Brighton is a full dominator in this manner as well. As well as Karim Benzema and Kai Havertz.

Kai Havertz dominates at box qualities such as short backlift, span/height, movement, ballstriking as well as transition and buildup qualities.

This essentially informs why Arsenal, Madrid, Bayern and Manchester City were all very interested in him despite down years at Chelsea.

I hope this thread helps us better perceive the differences in strikers at different/similar levels and why the market reacts to them differently as in Rasmus Hojlund versus Folarin Balogun or without much justification beyond potential.