Tag: AS Monaco

Meet AS Monaco’s Lamine Camara: The Rising Star of Senegalese Football

Meet AS Monaco’s Lamine Camara: The Rising Star of Senegalese Football

The Senegal national football team is currently undergoing a transformation following their victory in the African Cup of Nations in 2021.

Since then, Senegal has faced a mix of successes and setbacks. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, they were placed in a tough group with the Netherlands, Ecuador, and Qatar, managing to win two out of three group matches.

Everton’s Illiman Ndiaye celebrates scoring for Senegal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

However, their journey ended in the Round of 16 with a defeat against England, marking a bittersweet conclusion to their campaign.

Although they exited the tournament at the knockout stage, the performance was commendable and instilled pride in Aliou Cissé and his squad. Expectations were high as they approached the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with many anticipating that they would advance to the later stages once again.

Unfortunately, their campaign took an unexpected turn when they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by the Ivory Coast. The match went to penalties, and despite their earlier promise in the tournament, they were unable to overcome the eventual champions. This early exit was a disappointing surprise for a team many expected to go far.

This transformative period has led to significant shifts in team dynamics and player development. Alongside these changes, a notable managerial transition has occurred, culminating in the departure of Aliou Cisse (BBC Sport), who was at the helm for nearly a decade.

His tenure brought both challenges and triumphs and now, the team embarks on a new chapter, seeking to redefine its identity and direction.

To do that, the squad needs a major overhaul with players such as Sadio Mane, Idrissa Gueye, Nampalys Mendy and Abdoulaye Seck into their twilight years.

Excitingly, this transformation is already in motion. A wave of young and talented players is emerging, showcasing their skills at prominent clubs across Europe. These rising stars are not only making their mark at club level but are also being integrated into the national team, earning their place on the international stage.

Among them, Lamine Camara, the dynamic midfielder from AS Monaco, has begun to capture attention with his impressive performances and growing reputation.

At 20 years of age, Camara has already taken the footballing world by storm on Africa’s biggest stage. His breakout moment came at Senegal’s AFCON triumph in 2022 where he not only claimed the Best Young Player of the Group Stage but also orchestrated the winning penalty in the final, earning him the Man of the Match award.

His tremendous upward trajectory didn’t stop there. He also won the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title and earned the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year award.

Such recognition rewarded him with a move to French Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco from FC Metz for a transfer fee of €15 million (£12.6m) where he enjoyed a stellar 2023/24 campaign, registering two goals and five assists.

Beyond these statistics, he captivated fans and analysts alike with his remarkable presence in midfield. He combined technical finesse—displaying skilful dribbling, precise passing, and sharp vision—with a robust and tenacious demeanour, marking him out as one of Senegal’s most unique and complete midfield profiles to emerge from the scene over the last decade.

AS Monaco has built a reputation for its strategic approach to the transfer market, effectively identifying and acquiring talented players for modest fees and then selling them for significant profits. Given this track record, it is likely that Camara will not stay at the Louis II Stadium for an extended period. His impressive skill set and potential have attracted the attention of numerous elite clubs across Europe.

As a result, the competition for his services is heating up, suggesting that a transfer may be on the horizon sooner rather than later.

WHO IS LAMINE CAMARA?

Lamine was born in Bignona, located in the south-west of Senegal, where his love for football developed at an early age. He was so passionate about the sport that he often walked around with a ball at his feet.

After convincing his father to support his passion, he began his training at Galaxy FA in Dakar and later moved to Casa Sport in his home region, where he was consistently promoted in his development.

His talent quickly caught the eye and was spotted by a well-renowned football school in the country: AS Génération Foot – a school most famous for developing Sadio Mane before his emergence on the scene.

Génération Foot, a prominent football academy based in Senegal, has established a partnership with FC Metz, a club competing in France’s Ligue 2.

This collaboration has paved the way for young talent to transition to professional football in France. In February 2023, the opportunity arose for him to join the esteemed Lorraine club, taking a significant step in his football career and pursuing his dreams on European soil.

Camara made his much-anticipated debut for FC Metz toward the latter part of the 2022/23 season, entering the match as a substitute in a commanding 3-0 victory against Bordeaux. This initial appearance marked the beginning of his journey with the club, showcasing his potential to contribute to the team’s success.

During the subsequent season, Camara solidified his position within the first team, demonstrating his growth and skill on the field.

One of his standout moments came in October 2023 when he netted his first goal for FC Metz against his current employers AS Monaco, where he executed an extraordinary long-range strike from his own half—a goal that showcased not only his technical ability but also his huge confidence on the ball.

Despite the team suffering a 2-1 defeat in that match, Camara’s goal made a lasting impression not only on Metz but Monaco who would go on to sign him for the 2024/25 campaign after appearing in 31 of 38 league games and proving a notable success for Metz despite their relegation to Ligue 2.

The Senegalese international has swiftly begun to leave his mark at his new club, dazzling fans and teammates alike with his impressive skills on the field. As of now, he has already netted three goals and provided one assist, demonstrating his remarkable ability to contribute to the team’s success.

He’s fast becoming a household name for Senegal too, not only establishing himself as a first-team regular but making telling contributions at the highest levels, most notably at the last Africa Cup of Nations in January, scoring twice against Gambia in their opening group game, the second an absolute pearler from outside the box in a comfortable 3-0 win for the Senegalese.

These early achievements suggest that the £12.6 million spent on his transfer could be just a fraction of his true value and might turn out to be a fantastic bargain for the club.

Furthermore, in line with AS Monaco’s strategic transfer policy, there is a growing sense of optimism within the corridors of the Louis II Stadium that Camara could eventually command a transfer fee that is three times the original amount invested, highlighting his immense potential and appeal in the football market.

WHAT IS CAMARA’S STYLE OF PLAY?

At the age of 20, Camara is emerging as a well-rounded and sophisticated player, showcasing a level of completeness in his game that is often hard to find among athletes of his age.

He is incredibly versatile, capable of performing roles as a combative #6 in a pivot, a swashbuckling and dynamic #8 or even as a creative and imaginative outlet in the same role.

He combines an impressive work ethic and industry with technical prowess and exceptional physical attributes. This combination makes him an invaluable asset to any team, whether they prioritize maintaining possession of the ball or preferring to utilize a counter-attacking strategy.

It’s why he became a key figure for FC Metz throughout his time at the club but already in a more advanced style of play and environment at AS Monaco, he’s thriving due to his tremendous tactical understanding and intelligence.

His versatility shines through in various match scenarios, demonstrating that he is comfortable in both controlling the tempo of the game and adapting to more dynamic situations.

Having already earned 23 caps with the Senegalese national team, Camara has proven his ability to compete at higher levels, reflecting both his individual talent and his capacity to contribute to his team’s success in any context.

Defensive screening, solidity & Awareness

Like during his tenure at FC Metz, Camara is strategically positioned as a crucial component of the midfield pivot for AS Monaco, usually alongside the experienced former Juventus player and Chelsea loanee, Denis Zakaria.

In this role, he is entrusted with the vital task of safeguarding the Monaco defence, acting as a protective barrier against opposing attacks. Beyond this defensive responsibility, Camara is also charged with the important duty of facilitating ball retention, even in high-pressure situations. His ability to maintain composure allows him to navigate challenges and effectively transition the play into more advanced attacking positions, providing essential support in moving the team forward.

First and foremost, his most standout quality is his defensive prowess. He is a tenacious ball-winner in the middle of the park, displaying excellent positional awareness and the ability to break up opposition attacks. His tackling is clean and effective, often winning duels without committing unnecessary fouls. He is particularly effective at intercepting passes, reading the game, and stepping in front of opposing attackers to disrupt the flow of play.

For instance, in the image below, Camara comes up against LOSC Lille’s tricky and exciting winger Edon Zhegrova out wide…

The Senegalese international does superbly well to match the Kosovan’s pace and acceleration. Where most defenders get left behind in their wake, Camara reads what the winger is going to do next…

…before successfully committing himself to the tackle and knocking the ball out for a throw-in.

At just 20 years old, he stands at 6’0″, which may not make him the tallest player on the field.

However, what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for with his remarkable agility and leg reach. His long, powerful strides enable him to match the pace of even the quickest opponents, allowing him to close gaps and cut off passing lanes with ease.

Additionally, his exceptional coordination and timing equip him to execute precise and combative tackles, effectively disrupting the flow of the game and thwarting opponents’ attempts to advance the ball. His physical presence and athleticism make him a formidable force on the field.

In another instance, AS Monaco’s midfield shape is stretched and one simple pass could allow their opponents an easy route to goal…

…Camara, however, positions himself excellently at the last moment…

… disrupts the play…

…intercepts the pass…

…and more crucially, gets his team on the attack.

The Senegalese international so far this campaign averages 3.1 tackles per game, 1.4 interceptions, 5.6 balls recovered and is dribbled past only 1.1 times per game [SofaScore] from only eight starts highlighting his all-action and combative style in the middle of the park.

Furthermore, he ranks in the top six per cent of midfield players in Europe’s top-five leagues for balls recovered per 90, the top ten per cent for tackles won per 90 and the top 21 per cent for tackles + interceptions per 90, as per FBRef.

Camara is tactically astute for his age. He knows when to press and when to hold his position, understanding his role within a defensive setup, whether it’s defending in a high press or a mid-to-low defensive block.

In any of those setups, it is crucially important for any team to have a midfield outlet capable of covering large spaces, is dynamic to get himself about but more importantly, to dominate his zones, having the readiness and presence of mind to anticipate the opponent’s actions.

Camara’s reading of the game allows him to predict opposition moves and react accordingly, making him a key player in Monaco’s midfield structure.

However, the Senegalese talent does tend to struggle defending wide spaces, hence why he cannot play in a lone #6 role, but a coach would certainly be nullifying his best attributes if deploying him there, he’s better when marauding forward.

Passing, poise and progression

While Camara’s standout attributes consist of him winning back possession for his team and his tremendous dynamism in midfield, his ability on the ball cannot be understated or dismissed – it is arguably his best attribute.

Camara’s ball skills are equally noteworthy; he possesses a keen vision for the game and an impressive ability to execute precise passes but only making note of his flexible and octopus limbs when it comes to his ball-winning does his physical qualities a disservice…

His dribbling confidence allows him to navigate through tight spaces, creating opportunities for his teammates and helping to maintain possession during crucial moments. This combination of attributes not only showcases his all-around midfield prowess but also emphasizes his importance as a driving force when approaching the final third.

It is why he can be an effective and influential component further forward on the pitch, as a box-to-box outlet or even as an advanced and imaginative #8.

Before we delve into that, it’s essential to discuss the evolving role of midfielders in modern football, particularly regarding their ability to control and distribute the ball during play. Today’s managers demand that midfielders be proficient not only when they are in possession but also in how they navigate tight, pressurized situations.

In the modern game, a midfielder’s effectiveness is often determined by their skill in receiving the ball on the half-turn under pressure or utilising bounce passes as a tool to move the opposition’s pressing structure and evade it.

The best midfielders are adept at evading defensive pressure; they utilize body feints, quick touches, and sharp footwork to slip away from opponents. Once they have evaded pressure, their next critical task is to progress the ball into attacking areas, often transitioning the play seamlessly into the final third of the field.

This combination of skills—vision, technique, and composure under pressure—defines top-tier midfielders and is vital for a team’s overall success, as it facilitates successful ball progression to create scoring opportunities through concise, imaginative and coordinated patterns of play.

Camara is superbly adept at receiving the ball with his back to goal, on the half-turn and finding a telling pass to evade an opponent’s high-press.

As shown in the image below, Camara (BLUE) receives the ball from his defender in a pressurised scenario, with his back to goal…

…although the opposition’s press turns out to be passive at best, Camara still has the presence of mind even when surrounded by the opposition to receive on the half-turn and progress the ball to a more advanced teammate (RED) in the middle third.

In another instance, the 23-time Senegal international uses exceptional football and body feint to evade pressure.

Camara receives a pass from his defender on the half-turn…

…faced with an onrushing opponent armed and ready to dispossess him in his defensive third and an attacker behind him.

Many of his peers could be guilty of taking one too many touches in this instance, becoming hesitant and succumbing to the opponent’s press, but not the 20-year-old dynamo.

Camara drops a shoulder and feints his body to his left to fool his opponent…

…before manipulating the ball to his right with his right foot and evading the tight scenario with tremendous ease and class.

Getting out of that pressure then allows Camara to get the ball to his teammate through the lines and up against the opposition’s back four.

Camara serves as an explosive ball carrier, although he tends to sometimes be caught in possession for lack of strength when engaged, nothing that physical conditioning wouldn’t solve over time. His heat map (SofaScore) so far this season reflects his effectiveness and industry all across the pitch, as well as a willingness to engage in all phases of play.

The 20-year-old also possesses an excellent passing range, picking up the ball in space and performing long switches to locate other avenues of the attacking third and an opposition block his team can exploit.

So far this season in Ligue 1, he’s successfully completed 75% of his long balls at a rate of 2.7 per game (SofaScore). Also, as per FBRef, he ranks in the top 9% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for switches per 90 highlighting his bravery in possession and the rate at which he takes responsibility for his team’s progression.

Deceptive creator

So far this season, Camara has also been a significant contributor for AS Monaco in Ligue 1, in the final third averaging 1.6 key passes per game.

This impressive stat highlights his dual effectiveness; he not only excels in the middle third of the pitch but also showcases his ability to impact the game in the final third, where his deceptively good vision and quickness of mind leads to decisive plays when creating goal-scoring opportunities.

His versatility in that respect makes him a strategic asset for the team, as he can adapt to various roles on the field. This unique skill set is particularly valuable, not just for Monaco, but also for his national team, where such a jack-of-all-trades profile is increasingly rare and desirable.

It’s no wonder Transfermarkt has also marked out another one of his positions in the midfield as a #10. We’ve already seen his qualities in the role for Senegal, showcasing his nimble and small-space qualities at the last Africa Cup of Nations, registering two goals, and averaging 1.7 key passes per game.

When getting into the attacking third, and given the license to roam into it, Camara is tremendous at finding spaces in between the opposition’s defence and midfield, threading through balls and linking up with his teammates.

In one instance for Senegal during the Africa Cup of Nations group stage fixture against fellow giants Cameroon, the 20-year-old is found in a dangerous position to exploit…

He has two options, one of them Sadio Mane on the left…

…Camara picks out the former Liverpool with a well-timed pass in space and clean through on goal…

Mane fails to convert the opportunity due to good defending from Cameroon but it is a move/situation which certainly shows the quality of Camara’s decision-making at that split-second moment.

The AS Monaco dynamo is tremendous when making lambasting runs into the box or just outside it. As stated previously, he knows where to be in such situations to create goalscoring opportunities.

The first of his two goals against Gambia at AFCON is a perfect example…

Once Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr receives a line-breaking pass, the 20-year-old again has the presence of mind and awareness to exploit a gap in Gambia’s defence and makes a stunning movement to receive the pass…

…before showcasing his tremendous ball-striking to find the bottom corner with a lovely low-piercing drive.

His second goal was even better, calling for a pass outside the D before placing a wonderful curling effort over the keeper and into the top corner.

These goals certainly show Camara has the nous and qualities to get into the right positions from his box-to-box midfield role and contribute to attacking moves, meaning he can certainly add more goals and assists to his game.

Despite the above scenarios, Camara can be guilty of some rash moments not just in the final third but deep in his own half but with fine-tuning and refined coaching, those deficiencies will certainly be ironed out in due time – it’s incredible to remember, he’s only 20 but already encompasses a well-roundness in his game that belies his tender years.

What does the future hold for Camara?

The Diouloulou-born maestro’s all-around prowess will firmly place him among the elite midfielders in the years to come, making it increasingly likely that AS Monaco will struggle to keep him after this season or even the next. This season is his first also playing elite-level football in the UEFA Champions League so his experience in that respect will take him very far.

Camara is an outstanding football operator renowned for his exceptional close control of the ball, which allows him to navigate tight spaces effortlessly – elements which aren’t known to be associated with many African footballers.

His quick thinking and ability to make decisions under pressure set him apart, enabling him to maintain possession even when faced with aggressive defending. He possesses a remarkable capacity for deception, using feints and body movements to mislead opponents, all while remaining composed in challenging situations.

Moreover, Camara stands out as a relentless workhorse when his team is out of possession. His understanding of the game is unparalleled; he reads the flow of play astutely, anticipating the movements of both teammates and opponents. This allows him to engage effectively in individual duels, showcasing remarkable mental resilience and physical agility.

His ability to track opponents is noteworthy; his long strides and impressive speed allow him to close down spaces quickly, making it difficult for rivals to find openings. He often tackles opponents from their blind side, catching them off guard, and his interception skills are exceptional, allowing him to step in and break up plays. This includes making crucial interceptions that even his defensive-minded international teammate, Gueye, may find difficult to achieve.

Overall, Camara’s combination of technical skill, tactical awareness, and relentless work ethic makes him a flawless asset to any team, so don’t be surprised to see an elite European side make their interest in him official beyond this season.

He’s got all the ingredients necessary to become one of the best of his generation and arguably the best talent Senegal have seen since Sadio Mane burst on to the scene ten years ago.

The only way is up for Lamine Camara. Watch this space.

Under-the-Radar Young Talents to Watch at the 2022 World Cup

Under-the-Radar Young Talents to Watch at the 2022 World Cup

After 12 long years of build-up, controversy and debate, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is now just days away as 32 nations take centre stage in rather unexpected territory with the global showpiece taking place right in the middle of the 2022/23 campaign.

Nonetheless, it’s football all the same. Questions around some of the competitions best teams are already emerging. Can Brazil end 20 years of hurt? Will Lionel Messi finally lead Argentina to global glory? What about the Cristiano Ronaldo and his own expected last hurrah with Portugal? Have Gareth Southgate’s England got what it takes to finally go all the way?

All the answers to these various question will begin to take shape in the coming weeks, but as the competition kicks off, it’s important and rather intriguing to find out which burgeoning young footballing stars can emerge on the grandest stage.

Playing well at a World Cup can seriously launch a young footballer’s career into the stratosphere. 

And amongst the 32 participants, there are some flawless wonderkids who possess the abilities and personality to become future world stars.

#AnthonyScouts has got you covered, so here are 13 exciting under-the-radar footballing talents to watch over the coming weeks:

ENZO FERNANDEZ – ARGENTINA

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

AGE: 21

CLUB: SL Benfica

POSITION: Centre Midfielder

Argentina has long produced some of the continent’s most established and decorated footballing stars in recent memory, and it’s no surprise to see the South American giants still producing some of the best young and exciting stars for the future.

One player currently turning a whole lot of heads across the continent right now after his recent move from southern half of South America at River Plate, currently being touted as one of the most coveted and exciting young midfielders to emerge from Argentina is Benfica’s Enzo Fernández.

The 21-year-old midfield dynamo has only been in Europe three months, and he’s already making a real splash both in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the UEFA Champions League, and long may it continue because Enzo Fernandez is certainly on the right path to become one of the most complete midfield weapons of his generation.

Capable of playing in a variety of roles across the midfield either at no.8 (as he was deployed regularly for River Plate), no.6, no.4 and even as a creative and influential no.10, the 21-year-old mixes excellent technical proficiency with tremendous levels of effort, endeavour and application + a highly intelligent tactical understanding to boot.

The £18m-rated midfield dynamo is your perfect archetypal Argentinian midfield player. He is very combative in his midfield duels, protects the space and his backline incredibly well, a wonderful passer of the ball with excellent vision and high levels of accuracy, is very purposeful in his midfield actions and can dribble into dangerous territory or out of it to devastating effect.

If ever there was an archetypal Argentinian midfielder well-versed in battling hard, performing with real technical elegance along with an assuredness and arrogance steeped from the footballing history of such a decorated footballing nation then Fernandez is the perfect embodiment of those characteristics.

For all his good work in deep-lying roles, 2022 has seen Fernández develop into a truly all-round midfielder, adding goals and assists to the less-heralded elements of his game.

So far this season for Benfica, he’s registered three goals and three assists from 22 outings and is already a fully-fledged member of the Argentina senior contingent, so far rewarded with two international caps.

Expect that number to rise over the course of the tournament as the 21-year-old is highly rated by Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni. Fernandez is already on the radar of several elite clubs across Europe, and the World Cup will provide him with the perfect platform to truly showcase his unique and flawless abilities.

MOISES CAICEDO – ECUADOR

AGE: 21

CLUB: Brighton & Hove Albion

POSITION: Centre Midfield

All was not lost for Brighton & Hove Albion when they lost Yves Bissouma to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window. Due to their excellent and sustainable club model, they’d already possessed a young starlet perfectly capable of filling the Malian’s position and much more.

Step forward the Ecuadorian midfield maestro Moises Caicedo.

So far this campaign, the 21-year-old has become one of the success stories of the Barclays Premier League season. It all started when he bossed the park at Old Trafford in the first game of the season in Brighton’s 2-1 win over Manchester United – a further indication of the prodigious talent Brighton have on their hands in the Ecuador international.

A few months on, and we already looking at one of the potential midfield stars of the future. A player blessed with technical quality and excellence, vision, passing acumen, youthful exuberance and dynamism and a consistency level that well belies his tender age.

Caicedo is an integral component to the Brighton midfield, first under the departed Graham Potter who joined Chelsea and is continuing to excel under the fresh stewardship of talented manager Roberto De Zerbi. If you’re looking for a complete young midfielder to feast your eye on, the 21-year-old maestro is your man.

He’s started in all of Brighton’s 14 Premier League games this season, scoring once, averaging 67.8 touches per game, 1.1 key passes, 1.4 interceptions, an astonishing 3.1 tackles and also winning 57% of his ground duels. In fact, in the English top-flight, he ranks ninth in the whole division for progressive passes (65), eighth for through balls (8), and 6th for tackles (43), forming an incredible and well-rounded partnership with Alexis Mac Allister in the Seagulls midfield.

Caicedo is also a crucial midfield outlet for Ecuador too, establishing himself as a high-level performer across 25 appearances for his country over the past two years, swiftly becoming an integral part of the young side coach Gustavo Alfaro will lead to the World Cup after finishing fourth in South American qualifying with results that included draws against Brazil and current Copa America champions Argentina and a 4-2 victory over Uruguay, who came third. The Santo Domingo-born midfielder already possesses the tools, characteristics and mettle needed to perform and excel on the grandest stage.

Both Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked with his gifted services recently, and his stock and price tag will almost certainly double by the time Ecuador’s World Cup campaign comes to a close.

ILIMAN NDIAYE – SENEGAL

Images/Paul Burrows

AGE: 22

CLUB: Sheffield United

Position: Attacking Midfield/Forward

Senegal will be entering the World Cup this month fresh from their historic African Cup of Nations triumph back in February and arguably one of the most likely African teams to make it to the latter stages. However, those ambitions have taken an unexpected hit with the suspected absence of Sadio Mane who picked up an injury playing for Bayern Munich last week.

Although the former Liverpool man was still called up to be a part of Aliou Cisse’s talented squad, there’s no guarantee the 30-year-old will feature during the tournament which means the Lions of Teranga will be calling upon a new star to guide them in Mane absence and there’s arguably been no attacking player in Cisse’s squad in as good a form as Sheffield United’s unsung hero Ilman Ndiaye who has undergone a remarkable upward trajectory this campaign.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a productive 2021/22 campaign, breaking through into the first team during a 6-2 victory against Peterborough where he grabbed two goals and an assist to ensure everyone at Bramall Lane was paying attention.

He ended the season with seven goals and two assists as Sheffield United fell to Nottingham Forest in the play-off semi-finals. However, this season he’s reached remarkable new heights emerging as a pivotal figure in Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades side. So far this season, the 22-year-old has registered nine goals and two assists in 21 Championship games.

Ndiaye has enjoyed a rather unique journey throughout his career, born in Rouen, France to Senegalese parents, he started his career at Rouen Sapins FC before moving to Rouen. He then spent four years (2010-14) in the Marseille academy before signing with AS Dakar Sacré-Cœur in Senegal. In 2016, Ndiaye signed with Boreham Wood FC where he would stay until 2019 when Sheffield United came calling.

He would spend six months on loan at Hyde United to gain some first-team experience for the latter half of the 2019/20 season. The following season saw then-temporary manager Paul Heckingbottom grant Ndiaye his debut in a heavy 5-0 loss to Leicester City. The rest has become history, becoming a crucial and influential component in Heckingbottom’s 3-5-2 system at Bramall Lane offering great flexibility, attacking variation and dynamism stemming from his versatility in fulfilling a number of positions in attack and his unique tactical understanding that has immediately made him a cult hero in Sheffield.

Ndiaye has formed a devastating attacking partnership with Bramall Lane regular Olie McBurnie in which the duo have already notched 18 Championship goals between them. If Aliou Cisse can provide Ndiaye with similar conditions to thrive, there’s no reason why the one-capped international can become an instant hero on the biggest international stage for Senegal.

XAVI SIMONS – NETHERLANDS

AGE: 19

CLUB: PSV Eindhoven

POSITION: Attacking Midfielder

If you’re an avid follower of football in Europe and all it’s complexities especially within the young and emerging stars department, then you will be fairly familiar with the name Xavi Simons.

The curly-haired and wiry-eyed Dutchman has been a subject of much internet hype in the past, ever since he was a child, playing in Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy, whilst another Xavi, the legendary Spanish midfielder, was still excelling with the club’s senior team.

Developing as a deep-lying midfielder at Barcelona, the Dutchman took the plunge to join French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 and has not looked back since. He’s only gone and transformed himself into fully burgeoning and decisive creative and attacking outlet, back in his home country Netherlands for PSV Eindhoven, after taking the decision to further enhance his development with more opportunities and exposure in the first team.

Without a single senior international appearance to his name, Simons has still managed to catch the eye of one of football’s most revolutionary coaches in Dutchman and current Netherlands boss Louis Van Gaal, and that is an impressive feat for the incredibly gifted 19-year-old.

To put it simply, Simons deserves the call-up and could almost certainly emerge as one of the world’s hottest footballing properties, if he isn’t already. He’s one of them players that conjures up highlight reels on social media because of his unconventional and unique footballing style. A small, nimble player who loves to get on the ball, even in the most congested of spaces and weave his technical excellence, characteristics he’s crafted at youth level both for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

For PSV, the 19-year-old has been successfully utilised as a ’10’ this season. Though, he’s been tasked in fulfilling a number of roles under the tutelage of footballing legend Ruud Van Nistelrooy, some in central midfield as a ‘free-8’ in a 4-3-3, at times as a false-nine but mostly as a no.10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, styles heavily utilised and mastered by the likes Van Gaal in the past.

10 goals and three assists at the time of writing, in his first year at senior level, just four months into a season is exceptional reading. In fact, the Dutchman is exceeding expectations. He’s outperforming his xG (expected goals) of 5.4 by 4.5 and also outperforming his xA (expected assists) of 2.1. Meaning, Simons isn’t just getting himself into great positions to score and create, he’s exceeding the goals and assists probability expected of him.

The World is simply his oyster, and to perform at one of football’s most prestigious competitions will only aid Simons’ development even further. He is a talent you cannot afford to miss, providing he gets the opportunity during the tournament.

KAORU MITOMA – JAPAN

AGE: 25

CLUB: Brighton & Hove Albion

POSITION: Winger

Yet another Brighton & Hove Albion employee on this list, and that says a lot about the work going on behind the scenes in the south east of England. Mitoma is the oldest on this list, but he’s a talent who simply cannot go through this football carnival unnoticed.

Japan possess some exciting footballing products in their weaponry right now and Mitoma is arguably the most exciting to watch. He’s picked up form for De Zerbi’s Seagulls at just the right too which means he enters this tournament with some renewed momentum and confidence and that can only do Japan – arguably one of the competition’s most picked dark horses – the world of good.

It’s also vital to mention that Japan are in arguably the most exciting group at the World Cup – Group E – where they will be mixing it with the likes of Spain, Germany and Costa Rica, and that can only provide Mitoma with the ample opportunity and platform to announce himself on the world stage.

The 25-year-old scored his first Seagulls goal in a 3-2 win over Wolves last weekend, before netting again four days later as his side dumped Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup.

Signed in August 2021, the winger has had to wait for his opportunity at the Amex after notching an impressive 30 goals and 20 assists in 62 appearances for J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale.

He was immediately shipped out on loan to Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise for the 2021-22 campaign — a club owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.

Eight goals and four assists in Brussels was enough to convince former manager Graham Potter to keep him around the first team squad. Though, opportunities were hard to come by, but since De Zerbi’s appointment after Potter joined Chelsea, Mitoma has impressively emerged from the shadows.

Since being named in a Premier League XI for the first time against Chelsea last month, Mitoma has not looked back. An electric and rampant display by the Seagulls saw them inflict a 4-1 defeat on Potter’s Blues on the Englishman’s return to the South Coast and Mitoma was heavily influential.

After a bursting onto the scene for Brighton, he’s now adding goals and assists to his game, contributing to three goals (2 goals , 1 assist) since the Chelsea win. Also, Kevin De Bruyne (3.8) has created more chances per 90 minutes in the Premier League than the Japan international (2.9), while only Allan Saint-Maximin (4.06) has completed more take-ons than his 2.61, highlighting his swift impact on De Zerbi’s men.

Incredibly fast, agile, technically gifted and tricky on the ball, Mitoma is an unpredictable outlet for both Brighton and Japan, it’s amazing to think that the 25-year-old was still fighting for a place in his university team during the 2018 World Cup tournament in Russia. Four years on, he could well emerge as one of Japan’s key protagonists in their exciting journey in Qatar.

YUNUS MUSAH – USMNT

AGE: 19

CLUB: Valencia

POSITION: Midfielder/Winger

You can’t form a list of highly coveted young stars to watch out for at a major international tournament without giving the United States of America recognition for their work in moulding some of football’s most hottest young properties.

Coach Gregg Berhalter certainly has a whole host of them in his squad to choose from, but one young man who will be central to his plans in Yunus Musah – a player who could well have been representing England despite being born in New York. The 19-year-old has already made a number bold decisions that has shaped his footballing career till now.

Leaving the Arsenal youth setup to join La Liga outfit Valencia at the age of 16 was one, opting to represent the USA after playing his youth football with England was another one, and looking at his progress right now, those decisions have proven smart and mature choices for a player still developing and plotting his trade at the top level.

Musah used to line up alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Folarin Balogun before opting to leave for Spain and at the La Liga outfit, they believe they have on their books one of the most complete and well-rounded young midfielders on the continent. Ever since he broke into the first team at 17, Musah has gone on to make 82 appearances for Valencia, registering five goals and also more crucially become an important figure for the country of his birth.

“His technical ability is so good,” former USMNT footballer Stuart Holden said of Musah. “He’s a guy that, under pressure, can get out of tight spaces; he has great balance and movement within that; he’s a guy that can link up play and drive the ball forward with his dibbling.”

Indeed, Musah is a technically gifted footballer, but that’s not all, he combines that with stunning tactical understanding, flexible versatility and levels of application that so many of his peers lack, even at the top level. Blossoming at Valencia, he’s emerged as an effective and energetic midfielder disrupter averaging 1.9 tackles per game, and winning 57% of his ground duels whilst also establishing himself as an influential ball-carrier and a calming presence when the ball is at his feet, owing to his capabilities in also playing out wide.

Amongst midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 365 days, Musah ranks in the 92nd percentile for dribbles completed per 90and in the 99th percentile for shot-creating actions from dribbles per 90. If Musah can add goals and assists to his gifted arsenal, there’s no reason why he can’t become one of the best midfielders of his generation. His country will need him at his influential best during the tournament.

JESPER LINDSTROM – DENMARK

AGE: 22

CLUB: Eintracht Frankfurt

POSITION: Attacking Midfielder

Denmark will gracefully be another of the World Cup’s dark horses akin to their tremendous form over the past year, especially at Euro 2020 last June where they shocked the whole continent reaching the semi-finals especially after the near-fatal incident involving Christian Eriksen during the competition’s group stages. Their performances then transformed perceptions around the whole nation, also turning head coach Kasper Hjulmand into a cult hero and national celebrity.

Now, expectations have risen, especially with Eriksen continuing to be at the forefront of their aspirations after his health scare, excelling tremendously at Manchester United. However, Danish eyes thankfully won’t just be pinned on him during the World Cup. Hjulmand now possesses a whole batch of game changers, none quite as exciting as the swiftly emerging, incredibly and uniquely gifted Eintracht Frankfurt magician Jesper Lindstrøm.

The 22-year-old has been a revelation since his move to the Europa League winners back in July 2021 from Danish side Brøndby IF. He registered five goals and four assists during the 2021/22 campaign, emerging as a burgeoning young talent in German football. So far this campaign, he’s elevated himself to a whole new ceiling so far contributing seven goals in all competitions.

What has stood Lindstrøm out from his peers is his incredible versatility. He predominantly operates as a right-winger. However, he has played on either wing, as a centre-forward and as a 10 for Frankfurt throughout his emergence in Germany. He isn’t your typical winger, getting to the byline and crossing, he’s a player well-versed in locating dangerous pockets between the lines and consistently hurting the opposition through stunning movement and intricate passing techniques.

The former Brøndby IF maestro has also forged his reputation on electric dribbling and tidy footwork. He is excellent at beating defenders, using either a tricky touch or a clever use of his body to mesmerize opponents and create space. These moves allow him to create a high number of chances for his teammates, but so do his clever passes.

He’s also a true goal threat, as shown by his six goals in the Bundesliga so far, but also him ranking in the 78th percentile amongst attacking midfielders/wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for xG (expected goals) per 90 (0.39) and 86th percentile for non-penalty goals xG per 90 (0.39) highlighting how effective and potent he’s become in front of goal. Goals win you games, especially in international tournaments, and Lindstrøm should ultimately prove an effective and decisive presence when Denmark need him most.

He’d be a terrific outlet in the Premier League, so don’t be surprised to see him linked with some English top flight clubs, providing he excels in the coming weeks.

YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO – GERMANY

AGE: 17

CLUB: Borussia Dortmund

POSITION: Striker

Timo Werner’s injury at RB Leipzig has proven a cruel and crucial blow for Hansi Flick, especially as the Germany head coach has always been a big fan of the former Chelsea forward, even despite his numerous detractors.

However, noises around Werner’s injury haven’t lasted for long, the Germans possess a devastating blend of attacking weaponry in their arsenal including a 17-year-old forward who is simply getting better with every passing week.

Without a senior international cap to his name, Youssoufa Moukoko has proven too hot and too good for Flick to ignore, rewarding him with his first senior call up, not for a meager friendly, no, for an international footballing carnival, the World Cup – the grandest stage in football. A platform Moukoko, despite his tender age simply deserves to grace.

Six goals and four assists in all competitions for the 17-year-old makes for incredible reading, especially considering Borussia Dortmund have been struggling for an accomplished presence up front, since Sebastian Haller’s cancer diagnosis. Moukoko has swiftly come in to the fold, and set the whole of the Bundesliga alight.

No player has reached 10 league goals at a younger age than the 17-year-old. More importantly for both Germany and Dortmund, Moukoko has proven himself a rapidly maturing striker who can make things happen all on his own. The forward’s movement of the ball, work rate, ability to play between the lines, decision-making and devastating finishing levels are unlike many we’ve seen especially amongst players as young as he is.

You know you are a decorated footballing nation when you can call upon talents such as Moukoko to stand-in and replace the likes of Timo Werner. Moukoko may just prove the difference maker for Hansi Flick’s side at the World Cup, who knows, maybe the footballing gods have a script especially tailored for the flawless 17-year-old.

DIOGO COSTA – PORTUGAL

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

AGE: 23

CLUB: FC Porto

POSITION: Goalkeeper

Another one of the dark horses at this World Cup, even though they can be considered as one of the competition’s favourites. Portugal do in fact enter this winter showpiece possessing one of the most complete and talented squads. And an area which has undergone a stark change in Fernando Santos’ talented group is in between the sticks.

When you’re imminently chosen to replace Rui Patricio as Portugal’s number one goalkeeper, you know you’re a special talent capable of keeping the whole nation’s destiny in your hands, and that man is FC Porto’s tremendous and decorated young goalkeeper Diogo Costa who is enjoying a sensational campaign and is now being considered one of Europe’s best in between the sticks.

Costa is even now drawing favourable comparisons to Vitor Baia, a predecessor with both Porto and Portugal in the 1990s.

His distance kicking, building from the back and ability to be active against crosses are his standard qualities but it is his penalty record that has truly made the 23-year-old a stand out goalkeeper on the continent. It is why Manchester United reportedly want to make Costa their number one goalkeeper to replace David De Gea for the long term.

Last month Costa became the first goalkeeper since Opta began in the 2002/3 campaign, to save three penalties in a single Champions League season.

Also, the opposition have only scored 15 of the 26 penalties he has faced in his senior career. The average penalty conversion rate is around 76 per cent, but it is only 57 per cent against Costa.

In his seven caps for Portugal, the Porto shot stopper has conceded just three goals. At the age of just 23, Portugal possess a goalkeeper they can rely on for the next 10-15 years, who knows he may be the one that finally hands them a World Cup gong.

MOHAMMED KUDUS – GHANA

AGE: 22

CLUB: Ajax

POSITION: Attacking Midfielder

After a dreadful African Cup of Nations campaign where Ghana were knocked out in the group stages after losing two of their three games and drawing the other, the Black Stars will be hoping they can provide their nation with some pride at the World Cup.

In all fairness head coach Otto Addo has been dealt a tough hand, where they will meet Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H – one of the more exciting groups in the whole competition. Ghana head into the tournament the least likely to make it out an incredibly difficult group, but this is tournament football. Anything can happen.

In order for the Black Stars to both impress, and possibly cause a World Cup fairytale upset as they did in South Africa 2010, they will certainly need their most talented stars out on the pitch. Something they failed to do back in February at AFCON. One man missing from that competition and is arguably their most in form player in the lead up to the tournament is Ajax’ Mohammed Kudus.

The 22-year-old attacker has enjoyed a sensational start to the 2022/23 campaign, registering 10 goals and 2 assists in all competitions for the Dutch giants. Kudus also has five goals and three assists in his 18 caps, and is a graduate of Ghana’s famous Right To Dream academy.

While Kudus is predominantly an attacking midfielder, he’s featured as a very influential and tactically masterful false-nine in Alfred Schreuder’s Ajax side, taking an average of 1.8 shots, making 0.5 key passes and completing 1.6 successful dribbles per game.

His ability to drop into dangerous pockets of space, link play but also be a threat in behind opposition defences makes him a unique commodity in the Black Stars setup, and there is an argument to be made that Addo surely has to build his team around the qualities of the 22-year-old maestro. He is their most in-form player heading into the tournament, and is certainly the one to watch alongside Kamaldeen Sulemana.

NICO WILLIAMS – SPAIN

(Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

AGE: 20

CLUB: Athletico Bilbao

POSITION: Winger

While his older brother has chosen to represent Ghana in Qatar, Nico Williams could argue that he could be the one spending the longest time on the World’s most prestigious stage and is the more likely to create history.

And that is not only down to the qualities Luis Enrique possesses in his Spanish armada but also down to the wonderful and exciting footballing gifts that the 20-year-old harnesses.

Williams has enjoyed a stunning season so far at Athletico Bilbao in the Spanish top-flight, registering three goals and three assists in what is his breakthrough campaign as a senior player.

And amongst Enrique’s quality arsenal, Williams possesses a talent that is unlike the rest.

The 20-year-old is certainly one to watch because of his amazing trickery, speed, acceleration, his ability to weave past defenders most especially in 1v1 duels.

Williams so far this season is averaging 1.4 key passes per game, and has created two big chances. He isn’t just a dribble merchant, but a player capable of beating his man and also providing the telling passes, qualities which may prove crucial for Spain as they attempt to breach and disrupt low blocks against their possession-based style.

YOUSSOUF FOFANA – FRANCE

AGE: 23

CLUB: AS Monaco

POSITION: Defensive Midfield

World Cup holders France may well be without Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante for this winters tournament, but Didier Deschamps and his side are very much in safe hands in midfield.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are both catching the eye at Real Madrid this season, but it’s another midfield player that could prove crucial to France’s chances and is arguably the younger version of the legend that is Kante, and that man is AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.

The hard-working and swash-buckling 23-year-old formed an effective engine-room duo with Tchouameni at Monaco last term and has shown promising signs in his two international appearances so far that he could be the man to fill the huge gaping void created by Kante’s absence.

Born in Paris, Fofana like so many of his peers broke free from the struggles to make an impression at Paris Saint-Germain, in order to hone his craft and trade elsewhere.

After being released by the national academy at Clairefontaine aged 13, he bounced around clubs both at Red Star FC and JA Drancy before being picked up by RC Strasbourg Alsace in 2017. Le Racing handed him his Ligue 1 Uber Eats debut a year later, in a 1-0 win over FC Metz.

After an impressive season-and-a-half in the Strasbourg first team, Monaco snapped him up in January 2020, signing both Fofana and Tchouaméni from Strasbourg and Girondins de Bordeaux respectively for a combined €35m, and the pair quickly formed one of the most formidable midfield partnerships in France.

Fofana made his international bow against Austria in September, and did not look out of place, expertly breaking up play with such sublime aggression, and assuredness whilst also providing a valuable and influential source in France’s build-up play. The 23-year-old is a midfield freight-train, powerfully built and capable of fulfilling a number of roles in midfield; as a dynamic box-to-box presence as well as a destructive defensive midfielder.

On his France debut, he impressively won 12 out of his 14 duels, showcasing his tremendous qualities to break up opposition attacks, something Kante has forged his reputation on. He’s averaged 0.9 interceptions, and 2.6 tackles per game for Monaco so far this season, but also holds the qualities to provide for his teammates in possession averaging 0.7 key passes and creating two big chances. During the 2021/22 campaign, he provided the fourth most through balls (19) of any player in Ligue 1.

Kante’s absence is a cruel blow for the French, but they needn’t worry as they possess a ready-made replacement in Youssouf Fofana.

ANTONIO SILVA – PORTUGAL

AGE: 19

CLUB: Benfica

POSITION: Centre-Back

Wonderkid defender Antonio Silva has swiftly gone from making his first team debut for Portuguese giants Benfica in August to becoming one of the most sought-after centre-backs on the continent, in just a matter of months.

His deserved call-up to Portugal’s squad is a just reward for his tremendous performances and the maturity and consistency he’s exerted ever since his first professional appearance for Benfica.

Standing at 6’2” (188cm), Silva possesses a searing physical presence especially for his tender age, and he uses it incredibly to his advantage, winning many of his aerial duels and physical battles with strikers.

Perhaps his best attributes, though, are ones tied with most modern day centre-backs.

His anticipation of when to step in and make a challenge or interception is outstanding for a player of his age, and during the early weeks of his first-team career he has regularly snuffed out attacks with well-time interventions.

He is also extremely comfortable when in possession, with his mid-to-long passing ability a real standout part of his game.

Silva has so far featured in 10 of Benfica’s 13 Liga Nos games and in all six of their Champions League group stage already highlighting just how crucial he is to the The Eagles, even though he’s only been apart of the squad for all of just four months.

Picking up an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.45, he’s bagged two league goals, successfully completed 92% of his passes, contributed to five clean sheets, averaging 1.7 interceptions, and 2.0 tackles per game. As mentioned previously, Silva is a dominant presence in the air, winning an astonishing 72% of his aerial duels at a rate 2.3 duels per game.

The 19-year-old who has been linked with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Liverpool following a series of matured and dominant performances against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus in this season’s UEFA Champions League, could well force his way into Fernando Santos’ Portugal XI during the tournament, and with Pepe not getting any younger, Seleção have already found his heir apparent in the Benfica academy product.

ZENO DEBAST – BELGIUM

AGE: 19

CLUB: R.S.C Anderlecht

POSITION: Centre-Back

If you’re frequent watchers of the Belgian international team, we can almost predict that you’ve grown tired of constantly seeing the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Dedryck Boyata lining up in Roberto Martinez’ three-man defence.

Isn’t time they finally move on from the so-called Golden Generation? Out with the old and in with the new? Well, if you’ve ever doubted whether Belgium have any heirs in their centre-back pool, then you’re totally wrong.

We’ve got to give an honorable mention to Leicester City’s Wout Faes who has taken to the rigors of Premier League like a duck to water since his move to the King Power from Stade Reims over the summer, and he will certainly become a prominent figure for Belgium, hopefully at this tournament, and certainly beyond.

And there’s another talented and gifted young diamond in the Belgium centre-back talent pool and that’s Anderlecht’s 19-year-old rock Zeno Debast. Highly regarded and a much publicized wonderkid in Belgium, Debast was rewarded for his phenomenal performances for Anderlecht with a dream call-up to the World Cup squad, and there’s no doubt that Debast won’t be around to just fill the quota in Martinez’ 26-man squad.

Born in Halle to a football-mad family, with both his parents playing to a decent level, he joined the Anderlecht academy at the age of six.

A boyhood fan of the Purple and White, Debast was often initially deployed as an attacking midfielder, not least because of his diminutive stature.

It was not until 2019, when Debast, in the midst of a growth spurt, was moved back into defence, and he hasn’t looked back since.

He made his first-team debut for Anderlecht in May 2021, and followed that up with six further appearances over the next 12 months as Vincent Kompany slowly introduced him into the senior ranks.

Incredibly robust, mobile and very adept and progressive on the ball, owing to his past life as a creative midfielder. He possesses a superb range of passing, and can regularly be seen pinging balls across the pitch in a bid to launch Anderlecht attacks.

He is also a confident dribbler, and more often than not finds himself carrying the ball over the halfway line and even into the final third when given space to drive forward by the opposition. Debast is also incredibly skillful too. Standing at 6’2 (189cm), he is adept in the air and has shown enough in his short career to suggest that he is not shy of a tackle either.

Having learned under Kompany at Anderlecht, it is perhaps fitting that Debast has been tipped to become the next great Belgian defender, and he certainly has that in his locker. The future is in fact bright in the Belgium defence.

JEWISON BENNETTE – COSTA RICA

AGE: 18

CLUB: Sunderland

POSITION: Winger

The youngest player to ever represent Costa Rica having made his international debut in August 2021, Bennette has already earned himself some European recognition after his move to Sky Bet Championship side Sunderland over the summer.

The 18-year-old will be looking to announce himself on the world stage for Costa Rica, and he’ll be given the perfect World Cup platform to do just that with his country placed in the same group as Spain, Germany and Japan.

Bennette has made an encouraging start to his Sunderland career in the Championship and his form heading into the tournament has been promising too. He provided the assist for Joel Campbell to score the goal that sealed their place in Qatar during their play-off win over New Zealand, before bagging the first international goals of his career with a brace against South Korea in September.

Bennette is certainly one of the most promising teenagers to watch at the tournament.

3 defensive midfield options Manchester United should look to sign this month

3 defensive midfield options Manchester United should look to sign this month

It’s been evidently clear for a long period of time that Manchester United are in desperate need of investment and improvement at the base of their midfield if they are to match the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

The club have made slight improvements under German revolutionary and tactician Ralf Rangnick, but those those glaring issues still rear its ugly head, and its costing United a place in the Premier League top four.

In Rangnick’s 4-2-2-2, he’s had to use a combination of Fred, Scott McTominay, and Nemanja Matic as his midfield base, none of whom are ideal fits for what Rangnick requires in his engine room, although McTominay has impressed there in recent weeks.

Against Burnley, the pairing of Matic and McTominay worked well, with the Serbian acting as a deep-lying progressor of the ball and the Scotsman providing the dynamism and energy to push up the pitch and support attacking moves. At 33-years of age, Matic cannot be relied on long-term to be United’s main midfield anchor, while his lack of mobility could also pose issues against teams who offer more of an attacking threat.

While both Fred and McTominay both bring energy, tenacity and aggression to the midfield, neither are reliable ball distributors, players who can break lines, feeding the ball to teammates in much more dangerous areas like that of the two no.10s behind the two forwards. And as a result, United are unable to penetrate teams with the preciseness and ruthlessness as their rivals and control games the way Rangnick wants.

According to The Athletic, Ralf Rangnick has already identified the midfield area as a point of addressing, so might we finally see some investment from Manchester United in that area in January?

If so, Iet’s have a look at three potential options Rangnick could look at to address the problem and how might they fit in at Old Trafford.

Amadou Haidara, RB Leipzig

(Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Given the weaknesses in United’s existing options in midfield, their reported interest in RB Leipzig’s midfield dynamo Amadou Haidara makes perfect sense. However, this may be a difficult deal to pursue as Haidara will be on international duty for Mali at the African Cup of Nations. If United still go ahead with trying to acquire his services, he may not be available until late January, which could prove costly for United if they desperately want to address their glaring issue in midfield.

The 23-year-old midfielder still makes for smart and astute piece of business. The Malian credits Rangnick with pushing for his transfer from RB Salzburg to Leipzig in 2019, proving a key figure for the German during his time at the Red Bull Arena. Haidara is crucially the sort of all-round central midfield who has thrived in the system Rangnick is attempting to implement at Old Trafford.

During his three years at Leipzig, Haidara has wonderfully developed his craft and effectiveness in Leipzig’s high-intensity style, becoming the well-rounded midfielder who can adapt well to the specific roles he is given. Upon his arrival at Leipzig, the 23-year-old impressed as an energetic ball-winning midfielder primed in breaking up attacking play, counter-attacks (a problem United suffered against Newcastle during Christmas) as well as supporting the press, and progressing the ball through bulldozing running and fine passing.

His ball-carrying was initially the foremost way he could break opposition lines, which he still does with such impressive precision. The Malian has successfully completed 75% of his dribbles, performing 1.55 successful dribbles per 90 minutes so far this season. Haidara has also recorded 4.12 progressive carries and 1.24 carries into the final third highlighting his knack of breaking through opposition lines to progress his team up the pitch.

However, its his passing that has proving increasingly incisive, and a trait Rangnick will not be able to ignore. Haidara holds a short passing success rate of 88%, and his long passing 68% showing his incredible distribution of the ball. So far this season per 90, he averages 6.32 progressive passes placing him in the 92nd percentile of midfielders across Europe’s top-five leagues. Also, he averages 3.30 final third passes, and 1.44 passes into the penalty areas showing he is very adept at finding his more forward-thinking teammates in more dangerous areas of the pitch.

If he were to move to Old Trafford, he would of course be playing with either of Fred or McTominay in Rangnick’s 4-2-2-2. Given the caliber of offensive talent ahead of him, Haidara will be tasked in fulfiling more defensive duties. In possession, his technical quality and acumen and desire to progress the ball will be extremely pivotal for United’s patterns of play.

Almost a third of Haidara’s passes travel more toward the opposition goal, significantly more than both Fred and McTominay, in which he performs significantly more progressive passes (6.32) than the Brazilian (5.06) and the Scotsman (4.56) and also performs more passes into the opposition penalty area. Clearly, Haidara would add much more needed ball retention and progression to the United midfield.

However, Haidara’s defensive metrics are, while reasonably solid, not paticularly impressive. Though, much of that will be down to the inconsistent form of RB Leipzig this season, rather than his own struggles. He averages a quite impressive 6.70 successful pressures per 90, 10.2 in the middle third and 3.30 in the attacking third highlighting that he is very effective when playing a pressing game. Still, his tackles and interceptions are not particularly the highest (2.27) amongst the most dominant midfielders in the English top-flight but Haidara would still so much more elite dynamism, aggression and most of all ball progression that United so desperately need in their engine room.

Provided Rangnick earmarks his former player as a target in January, United are likely to swoop in and pay his £33m release clause to acquire his services from RB Leipzig. However, having already inherited an excess number of players, the German will be aware of shipping out players ahead of demanding new signings over the coming transfer window.

Boubacar Kamara, Olympic de Marseille

Amongst the many exciting talents waiting on a big move next summer, Boubacar Kamara is likely to attract many suitors over the coming transfer windows. The midfielder has undergone remarkable development, having come through the French club’s academy, and remains amongst the most coveted defensive-midfield prospects in Europe.

Despite only being 21, the midfielder has already amassed 107 Ligue 1 appearances, playing close to 8,000 minutes across five seasons in the French top-flight. A ball-winner in multiple forms – a presser, a dueler and interceptor – but he’s also as comfortable against the press as he is when pressing himself. The 21-year-old is typically Marseille’s deepest midfielder in possession of the ball, very comfortable in drawing opponents in through ball retention, then bypassing them through silky footwork, mazy runs or passing combinations with his teammates.

Largely deployed in a double-pivot under Jorge Sampaoli this season in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Kamara has excelled under the tutelage of the former Chilean head coach. In a system which allows for much freedom and rotation positionally, Kamara is the one player who’s position remains constant although he does hold the tactical intelligence to perform those free-roaming roles when required.

Sampaoli’s system strongly requires the full use of Kamara’s skill-set. He is extremely composed in possession, dictating the tempo at his own pace possessing the ability and understanding to know when the slow the game down, and when to speed it up. A skilled and well-timed passer of the ball, with a good first touch, but without the ball he’s a tenacious, aggressive and methodical ball-winner who is strong in the tackle.

At Marseille, Kamara is used as the pivot point, keeping the ball moving with short simple passes, creating angles for the centre-backs or central midfield players like his partner Matteo Guendouzi. Kamara’s role is incredibly integral to Sampaoli’s positional play as he’s always available for a pass acting as a short passing outlet allowing his side to transition into their attacking pattern of play.

Boubacar Kamara’s season heatmap

More importantly, if given the space, Kamara is so good at breaking opposition lines with decisive swift passes, but also progressing it over long distances with a lovely range and superb vision and scanning of his surroundings. Kamara holds a short passing success rate of 94.7% and a long passing rate of 73.8%, highlighting how pivotal he is to Marseille’s build-up play, whilst also averaging a stunning 5.93 passes into final third per90.

He’s just as good in his reading of the game, often the man to help out his defence when dealing with the threat of attacking moves, winning the ball with strong standing tackles, but also having the speed of thought to distribute to his teammates and start attacking moves. While he does often drop deep, he’s very adept in the mid-block situations engaging opposition receivers and intercepting them from behind.

During the past year, Kamara has been successful with 36.9% of his pressing which ranks him in the 97th percentile for central midfielders across Europe’s top-five leagues. A stat Rangnick will certainly be proud of. He also wins 2.04 tackles per 90, ranking in the 87th percentile of midfielders, also winning 46% of his challengers against dribblers ranking 91st percentile amongst midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues. Despite standing at 5’10, he’s also a very good aerial ball-winner winning on average 1.4 aerial duels per 90 with a 61.7% win percentage ranking him in the top 13% of central midfielders across Europe.

With him in the team, United could potentially have another promising prospect on the books, capable of developing into a world-class footballer, thus, lessening their need to spend big money on future transfers for the position. United are in dire need of an adept ball-winner but also a player who is just as effective and as incisive with his ball-progression. Boubacar Kamara fits the bill.

Although the Frenchman remains likely to leave in the summer with his contract at Marseille expiring in June, United are reportedly hopeful of luring him to the club as early as January. Provided the Red Devils see an opening, given Rangnick’s preference for developing youngsters as opposed to seasoned players, Kamara could potentially prepone his plans of moving clubs this month.

Joining Manchester United now seems as attractive as ever, considering the amount of potential in the squad.

Aurelien Tchouameni, AS Monaco

Like his fellow French compatriot, Aurélien Tchouaméni is amongst the most highly coveted young central midfielders in Europe, let alone the French Ligue 1. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season at AS Monaco under now former coach Niko Kovac, and is reportedly on the list of a lot of top clubs around Europe for his signature.

If Manchester United are indeed serious about addressing their serious issues in midfield then acquiring the services of Tchouaméni should be priority number 1. However, it will take big bucks to prize him away mid-season from Monaco who still remain in Europe’s second competition, the UEFA Europa League and still remain in the hunt for Champions League football next season.

But, the club are in a state of flux right now, and Manchester United should take advantage of the ongoing issues currently plaguing such a decorated club in France, after Niko Kovac’s surprise sacking.

The midfielder is earning such glittering praise in France right now, simply because of his expert performances at the base of Monaco’s midfield in the French top-flight. Not only has he garnered exceptional praise at club level, but in his native France colours too, aiding their Nations League success earlier this season.

Tchouaméni is superbly athletic, dynamic workhorse of a midfielder who combines his sharp turn of pace with a fine-tuned and unique anticipation and reading of the game.

As a result, he is perfectly capable of fulfilling a number of positions in the midfield making him one of the most complete performers in the French top-flight: no.8, no.6, or no.4, you name it. He is right at home in each of those positions dominating, harrassing his opponents but also providing Monaco’s frontmen with the perfect platform to attack without any real concern of what may occur behind them.

Tchouaméni is an absolute nightmare to play against. Just when attackers think they’ve broken clear of the Monaco midfield, he quickly and consummately arrives out of nowhere to snap at their heels and win back possession.

Not only does he win the ball back for Monaco with astonishing regularity, but he moves it along beautifully once he has, with an impressive range of passing allowing the midfield runners in front of him to dart into space in advanced areas knowing that possession, and therefore the space behind them, won’t be ceded.

Standing at just 6ft, 2in Tchouaméni may not at first viewing look the dominating and imposing figure that he cuts out to be, but the aura and confidence at which he performs in midfield means he is every player’s nightmare when coming up against him.

Astonishingly, Tchouaméni made more tackles than (133) than other player in Europe’s top-five leagues in 2021.

In fulfilling his role as a capable defensive midfielder, Tchouaméni performs it with such expert assuredness and brimming confidence. He is an exceptional tackler and reader of the game making him so appealing to clubs who are in dire need of the safety he brings, clubs like Manchester United.

So far this season, he ranks in the 99th percentile for midfielders in the top 5 European leagues with 3.97 tackles per 90 meaning he is in the best of the best company with the likes of Fabinho, Casemiro and N’Golo Kante combining his aggressive nature in defending and his awareness of attacking situations developing around him meaning he can time his challenges well in order to halt opponent’s attacks.

With a unique combination of size, strength, timing, and coordination, he is quite proficient at cleanly dispossessing his markers at an exceptional rate. He is a very athletic and mobile, imposing presence, who stands at 1.87 meters (6’2”), and has extremely long legs which help him with many defensive actions – like tackling. Furthermore, his long legs mean he has a big stride when covering long distances, covering all areas in front of his defence both on and off the ball.

He would be the perfect component for Rangnick’s high-intensity style not because of his assuredness in the tackle but his ability cover all areas of the midfield pivot in the 4-2-2-2 system. He is a naturally fast player with a great engine meaning that much of the work isn’t overwhelming for him. So far this season, he’s won 1.85 tackles per 90, and performed 3.33 interceptions. In fact, his tackles + interceptions average reads at 6.42 per 90. All of it makes for superb reading, he is very adept and efficient in his role.

Even though he shows excellent balance and agility on the ball, Tchouaméni isn’t much of a ball carrier, a progressive one in that fact – he attempts 4.88 progressive carries per game, though on the rare occasion where he attempts to carry the ball over and progress it over larger distances, he seems fairly uncomfortable able to dribble out of tight areas, or muscle his way out of opponent’s pressure, though working under better elite coaches means that will only improve vastly. He holds tremendous ball control, agility and technical qualities when on the ball meaning it is incredibly difficult to dispossess him.

In terms of pass progression, Tchouaméni also operates at such a high level. Once he receives a pass, the 21-year-old always knows where he play before he even receives it, or his body positioning when he receives means he is more than capable of progressing even when it seems difficult. As stated previously, he is excellent technically and his range of passing is amongst the best in Europe, let alone Ligue 1.

Tchouaméni completes 90.9% of his short passes and 77.1% of his long passes making him a superb outlet when progressing the ball to players in more advanced areas – a trait United could do well in acquiring in the near future. He is better than Fred (87% & 77%) and partly better than McTominay (89% & 81%) at progressing the ball, averaging 5.37 progressive passes per 90, and an 5.43 final third passes. Once he receives the ball, he is not afraid to attempt to find his attacking teammates in more dangerous areas or pockets of space.

With his blend of size, mobility, dynamism, defensive intelligence, and progressive passing that will surely improve, he would be an excellent addition for a number of top teams all over Europe including Manchester United, becoming the complete performer for the here and now and at just 21 years of age, he looks to be a player who could be one of the best defensive midfielders in world football within the next 5-10 years. 

A no-brainer addition to fully complement Ralf Rangnick’s style of football.

Youri Tielemans’ return from injury a timely boost for Leicester City

Youri Tielemans’ return from injury a timely boost for Leicester City

To say Leicester City have endured an inconsistent season so far is very much an understatement. After finishing the 2020/21 campaign with a fifth placed finish in the Premier League, and securing their first FA Cup triumph – marking it a very successful season for the Foxes – many fans had hoped the club would build from that with a fast start in the Premier League, but things haven’t quite gone to plan.

At the time of writing, Brendan Rodgers’ men sit eighth accumulating 22 points from a possible 48 before Christmas with six wins, four draws and 6 defeats. Leicester have conceded the most goals out in current the top 10 and the fourth most goals in the Premier League (27).

Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia heads towards goal before team-mate Ezri Konsa (centre) scores their side’s first goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park

Injuries and absentees have played a huge part, key individuals like Wesley Fofana and James Justin are yet to feature this season after long-term injuries, and injuries to other key stars such as Wilfred Ndidi, Jonny Evans, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand and Youri Tielemans have certainly unsettled Rodgers’ side and as a result, their form has suffered including getting knocked out of the UEFA Europa League in a 3-2 defeat against Napoli.

Though, their matchday 16 triumph over Newcastle provided fans with a taste of what they have been crying out for especially in the form of their midfield maestro Youri Tielemans who put in a show-stopping performance alongside in-form James Maddison and Patson Daka.

A lot has been made in recent weeks about how much Leicester City have missed Tielemans. In truth, the results and performances have been poor with and without the Belgian. But, the win over Newcastle capped a perfect display, their first clean sheet since the opening day and a partnership that could really be used as a stepping stone to improve on their fortunes heading into the busy festive period.

What Leicester have been plainly missing in recent weeks – that emerged for the first time this season on Sunday – was the combination of their two most creative players. The James Maddison-Youri Tielemans axis which could destroy just about club in the English top-flight.

Newcastle were of course the latest in a long line of potential victims.

The pair had started eight games together before they took Newcastle apart at the King Power, but they were inconspicuous displays in which one or both of them fell short of the mark during Leicester’s struggles.

Maddison, by his own admission, was way off it at the end of last season and the start of the current campaign. However, fast forward a few weeks and the 25-year-old now has four goals and four assists in his last six games and is again showing the sort of form that had him in the mix with Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish for a coveted England place.

James Maddison was truly outstanding and left the field to a rapturous ovation with a few minutes remaining having had a hand in all four goals against a ragged struggling Newcastle United side, he provided everything Rodgers needed, carrying on his stunning form. Though, it was the little Belgian magician alongside him who grabbed control of proceedings demonstrating why he is one of the most coveted midfielders in the Premier League, and the heartbeat of Leicester City.

Making his first Premier League appearance since early November, after being sidelined with a calf injury, Tielemans delivered a stellar performance. “He really is a complete player”, Brendan Rodgers said post-match.

Indeed he is. It’s remarkable to note that the Belgian now has five goals and two assists so far in the Premier League this season. Combined with James Maddison, they’ve contributed to 14 of Leicester City’s 27 goals, that’s just under half which is quite telling.

Against Newcastle, Tielemans was the orchestrator providing Leicester City with the tempo, incisive passing, defensive assurance and the control in possession that much of their play has missed in recent weeks. He was everywhere: heading balls clear in his own penalty box, shielding the make-shift back four with timely tackles, knitting play together with his sumptuous and clever passing and more importantly scoring twice on his 100th Premier League appearance.

The first was expertly dispatched from the penalty spot after James Maddison was adjudged to have been fouled by Newcastle Jamal Lascelles, and the second swept high into the roof of the net after a neat lay-off from James Maddison.

But Tielemans’ ability to take the ball on his back foot and play passes through the lines that makes him so dangerous, and Leicester such an attractive team to watch, particularly when Maddison is the recipient. The way they both bounce ideas off each other in the final third with such flowing, intricate and measured passing which dissected Newcastle’s defence with consummate ease.

Not only is Tielemans Leicester’s standout performer, but he has also been arguably the finest midfielder in England in 2021-22. Signed initially on loan from AS Monaco in January 2019, Tielemans has come to define the Rodgers era at Leicester City as much as the manager himself. After all, he’s only missed twelve out of 136 matches since the former Liverpool and Celtic boss took charge, shortly after Tielemans had made the move from Monte Carlo.

Aged just 24, it says everything about Tielemans’ character, abilities and understanding of the game that staff and teammates at the club already see him as a future coach when he hangs up his boots. Technically superb, the Belgian possesses the game intelligence, positional awareness, vision and range of passing to become one of the most coveted players in Europe let alone the Premier League.

Against Newcastle, it was the complete showing, making challenges and interceptions, box-to-box runs, telling distribution with the ball, making late runs into the box, along with an eye for goal and the ability to finish off moves that so few midfielders in Europe can boast to possess.

Both Tielemans and Maddison both possess the abilities and nous to become so effective when creating chances and scoring goals.

Both of them hold such wonderful vision and time on the ball due to their often immaculate first touches. They combine the ability to see passes many players don’t and the ability to pull them off in a variety of ways: outside flicks like one particularly outstanding Maddison through ball for the Daka goal; driven balls with the laces to slice through opposition midfields, as Tielemans performs with stunning accuracy and regularity.

Amongst midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues, Tielemans ranks in above the 90th-percentile for shot-creating actions (3.33), progressive passes (6.27) and expected assists (x.16) highlighting how crucial he is to Leicester City’s build-up play. They are much more efficient, effective and potent with both Tielemans and Maddison in the team as Newcastle found out. Also, the Belgian maestro has averaged 1.86 key passes, 5.76 final third passes and 1.19 passes into the penalty area despite performing much of his game from deep.

However, for Leicester City to become as potent as they have been for the past two years, Rodgers acknowledges the fact that he’ll need both Maddison and Tielemans operating closer to Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka/Jamie Vardy. 14 goal contributions between the two proves just why.

Out of contract in 18 months, it will certainly be intriguing to see what happens with Tielemans’ future at the King Power hanging in the balance. Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with his signature in the past, and there’s no reason why they won’t return with fresh approaches. For now though, Rodgers will be very glad to have him back fit and firing.

As the game against Newcastle proved, Tielemans is incredibly vital to Leicester City’s ambitions this season.

Tielemans has come to represent the best things about Rodgers’ Leicester: talent, tenacity, and tactical acumen. He’s a player who has won admiring glances from across the continent and one who faces a big decision in the months to come over his future.

For now, Leicester fans, soak in his incredible gifts while you can.