Ryan Giggs would be worth £2bn in today's 'mind-boggling' transfer market, claims Roy Keane

The Manchester United great has given his withering take on the current state of football

Roy Keane believes a number of his former Manchester United teammates would be worth more than £1bn (Man Utd via Getty Images)

Manchester United great Ryan Giggs would be worth £2bn in today’s "mind-boggling" transfer market, according to former teammate and captain Roy Keane.

The Republic of Ireland assistant manager has described his shock at the fees being paid for “average players” this summer.

Paris St Germain have forked out a staggering £200million for Neymar and are preparing to invest heavily once again in Monaco's Kylian Mbappe, however, it is the prices which have been paid for players lower down the food chain which have surprised Keane.

“It's mind-boggling, the figures that are out there - especially for the average players,” Keane said.

“If ever there was a time to be a professional player it's now. Average players are going for £35m. My goodness.

“I don't really analyse it too much, but that's the market place at the moment. There aren't many top players out there. The really big players are going for big money and it's filtering down now.

“When average players are going for £30-40m, it does make you scratch your head. But if the clubs are prepared to pay that, then it's not the players' fault.”

Keane, of course, played in Sir Alex Ferguson's all-conquering Manchester United side alongside the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, as well as Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who cost Real Madrid £80m when he left Old Trafford eight summers ago.

Asked what Van Nistelrooy would cost now, he replied with a smile: "Ruud would certainly be worth in the market now probably a billion."

"David Beckham?". "A billion." "Ryan Giggs?" "Two billion."

Asked further how much he himself might cost nowadays, he answered: "£3.75m, I think."