Austrian giants Salzburg, in its current capacity under Red Bull ownership, is only 16 years old and yet the club has consistently spilled out some of the world’s most flawless young talents over the past decade.
Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Kevin Kampl, Naby Keita, Dayot Upamecano and so many others have passed through the Salzburg system and now their current side is about to propel several players onto the radar of many across the globe.
One player that is still in his infancy is Benjamin Šeško, one of the club’s most promising attacking players under the age of 20.
The Slovenian had to wait for his chance to secure his spot for Salzburg having spent two seasons on loan at FC Liefering, and even then Sesko struggled for regular minutes.
As such, Sesko scored just five goals across 24 appearances, largely playing second fiddle to Karim Adeyemi and Noah Okafor, but the former’s move to Borussia Dortmund this summer means the teenager has been handed the chance to consolidate a starting spot and he’s took the opportunity with both hands as he netted the opener in Salzburg’s opening day 3-0 win over Austria Wien last week.
However, he won’t be a Salzburg player for too long, with sister-club RB Leipzig securing his services for the 2023/24 campaign and beyond for a fee of around £55million.
The 19-year old, who had been targeted by Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle throughout the summer, will stay at Salzburg on loan for the season before joining Leipzig next summer.
The Slovenian international has signed a five-year contract until 2028 at the Red Bull Arena.
So who is he, and what could he bring to the German Bundesliga?
Who is Benjamin Šeško?
Born in Radeče, Slovenia, Šeško began his youth career at his local side Radece before landing with several other sides in his native country.
In 2019, he joined Red Bull Salzburg and spent time with the club’s reserve side FC Liefering, where he began to shine over several seasons.
While his first season at Liefering wasn’t particularly special, his second season there was fantastic as he registered 21 goals in 29 appearances.
He returned to Salzburg last summer and he managed 11 goals and 7 assists in 37 games in all competitions last season.
He’s begun the 2022/23 brilliantly, though notching 4 goals in pre-season including two against Ajax and Liverpool and has already opened his account in the Austrian League after only two games.
Eligible for Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (due to his mother hailing from Doboj), Šeško opted for the former, having represented the country at the under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-19 levels.
In May 2021, the forward was called up to the senior team manager Matjaž Kek for a pair of friendlies. He debuted for Slovenia in a 1–1 friendly tie with North Macedonia the following month at the age of 18 years of age and 1 day old, the youngest debutant in the national team, surpassing the previous record set by Petar Stojanović seven years earlier.
He notched his first goal for his country in October 2021 in a World Cip qualification match against Malta becoming Slovenia’s youngest ever goalscorer at the age of 18 years, 4 months and 8 days.
Šeško has been likened to Haaland because of his elite combination of size, a 6’4″ frame, and pace.
“My team-mates at the club tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed,” Šeško said. “Most of them even tell me that I’m better than him.”
Obviously that’s a very glowing endorsement from his teammates considering what Haaland is accomplishing at such a young age, but anyone that watches Šeško recognizes his athleticism and application is elite and if given the opportunity he could truly evolve into one of Europe’s best strikers like his predecessor.
So how good is Benjamin Šeško?
When feasting your eyes on the Slovenian hitman, one striking element of his is his sheer size and imposing figure, standing at 6’4″. He is capable of towering over his markers and he uses his powerful build to get the better of defenders.
And like Haaland, despite his stature, the teenager has ample pace to either drive past opponents or time his runs to perfection in his quest for goal – he’s tall, long, quick for his size and their movement styles are strangely similar, with gangly arms and lengthy strides. His timely runs can be to either capitalise on parried shots on goal or if he does hang off the shoulder of the last defender, to beat the offside trap.
At just 19 years of age, and without top level European experience under his belt yet, Šeško possesses the ingredients, know-how and attributes needed to morph into a well-rounded complete centre forward in no time at all.
Capable of finishing well with either his right or left foot, the two-footedness to his game means he can at times prove difficult to read for defenders.
This quality has helped raise Šeško’s profile considerably and when you take into account only eight players scored in excess of five goals with their right foot and their left foot in Europe’s top five leagues last season, it’s a desired attribute in the modern game, and it’s shown that most of the top-level forwards in the game right now possess such a key characteristic, so Šeško is well on the right path to European stardom.
Šeško is also a solid aerial threat inside the opposition area, so seems the archetypal battering ram of a frontman.
A striker who is physically strong, tall, possesses a real presence in the box but also holds the capabilities to link effectively with his fellow attacking outlets are of high demand in the modern game and Šeško impressively fits the mould.
The role of a striker has tremendously evolved in recent years, with managers no longer desiring a sole penalty box predator – unless you’re Robert Lewandowski of course – but a frontman capable of becoming crucially involved and influential in an around the final third.
The Slovenian’s link-up play and off-the-ball movement is a huge asset in his game. As he’s 6’’4, it’s not surprising that he’s very good aerially making him a threat in the opposition’s box from crosses and set pieces. Despite being so tall, Šeško also possesses incredible pace. His pace as well as strength and skillfulness make him a nightmare for any defender to play against.
The youngster is able to find pockets of space between the defence and midfield that enables him to link up play in attack. He can then use his strength to hold off pressure from markers and allow those in support to make runs in behind, maximizing the space he has worked in the process.
Šeško would be an absolute dream for attacking midfielders and wingers, due to his unique nous of running beyond defensive lines, latching on to through balls through his searing speed and acceleration, and more importantly his off-the-ball movement.
The 19-year-old is also very good at exploiting space. His high-end speed enables him to attack weak areas of opposition defences, especially when on the counter attack, leaving defenders in his wake. While he is quite skilled at carrying possession, most of his best in these transitional situations are done when latching on to the end of passes, not in possession.
He is also a threat in the air, combining his sheer size and leap with good timing and technique to consistently redirect crosses towards goal – albeit by darting across a centre-back or competing from a standing leap. He is yet to find that clinical edge as a finisher, like Haaland has always possessed.
Last season, the Austria international finished the season with five goals and three assists. However, this season he started the fastest out of the blocks.
He bagged in their opening league game of the season and has gone on to bag four goals in nine league starts at the time of writing. He appears to improve game upon game, with his ceiling seemingly growing as the seasons’ progress.
Šeško is known to be prone to snatching at chances, despite striking the ball well, his finishing is rushed at times and would need development, but at the tender age of 19, those raw tendencies will be ironed out with more maturity, time, top-level coaching and of course more exposure to first team action at the elite level.
Though, his finishing qualities was clearly evident in his recent goal for Slovenia in the UEFA Nations League during the September internationals where he became an instant internet sensation, hitting a first time volley from an impossible angle with stunning precision following such fine and predatory movement.
As expected, interest in Šeško has risen tremendously in recent months, with Manchester United recently amongst those keenest on the Slovenia international. However, it is RB Leipzig who have managed to tickle his fancy as the club he wants to join and continue his fine development, taking on a similar route to one of his Salzburg predecessor in Erling Haaland.
The 19-year-old is the perfect signing for both parties with the Germans acquiring a striker who they could mould into a world beater, and Šeško joining a side he can gain much better recognition and platform that he is getting in Austria.
The forward has also been lauded as a “generational talent” by journalist Ryan Taylor, and it is easy to see why clubs such Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea were all linked with his services in the past.
Given his high ceiling and unique style of play, Šeško seems the perfect calibre of forward to adjust seamlessly and thrive in the German Bundesliga.
The UEFA Champions League is back on screens this week.
How we’ve missed that awe-inspiring, harmonious and breathtaking Handel-inspired Champions League anthem on our speakers, but we’re so glad its back as we look forward to another year of juicy European ties.
It might have taken two attempts to complete the draw in December but the round of 16 has certainly pulled out some exciting fixtures, with some of Europe’s heavyweights and a few of the most decorated up and coming clubs on the continent go head-to-head.
Other than the usual suspects like Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski, who are some of under-the-radar players to look out for?
#AnthonyScouts picks out nine exciting footballers enjoying stellar campaigns, who could make their name on the grandest European stage…
Karim Adeyemi, Red Bull Salzburg
This will be RB Salzburg’s first-ever Champions League knockout tie after negotiating a tricky and exciting group containing Wolfsburg, Sevilla, and Lille.
The Austrians possess a decorated history in bringing through bright, young talent, including Takumi Minamino, Patson Daka, Dominik Szoboszlai, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland in recent years.
Though, the current jewel in their crown and arguably Europe’s most exciting young striker is 20-year-old Karim Adeyemi, who has lit up the Austrian Bundesliga so far this season and looks well equipped to become one of Europe’s biggest stars.
Adeyemi is reportedly on the radar of a number of clubs on the continent including Barcelona, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, and he could well be on his way the latter with the German giants reportedly close to securing Adeyemi’s signature for next season.
The Germany international has consummately sharpened his attacking output with an incredible 14 league goals in 18 games for RB Salzburg in 2021-22, eclipsing his return of eight goals and seven assists in his first full season last year. In eight UEFA Champions League games this season, including the early qualifying rounds, Adeyemi has notched 4 goals.
Besides possessing a unique eye for goal, Adeyemi is a stunning player to watch, a flawless young forward, blessed with such searing pace and acceleration, incredible close control and amazing trickery making him an absolute nightmare for opposition defenders. He regularly looks to pull wide and attack the penalty area with his low centre of gravity to make space for a shot.
Two of his three goals in the Champions League have come from the penalty spot and Adeyemi will be eager to add to his tally in Europe. Salzburg have been handed a very tough draw against Bayern Munich but Adeyemi’s incentive to impress on the grandest stage will be heightened by the fact he was released from Bayern’s academy at the age of 10. They are also one of the clubs that have been most heavily linked with a move for him in the summer.
This could well set up to be one of the most captivating headlines of the campaign.
Pedro Gonçalves, Sporting Lisbon
One of Portugal’s hottest prospects and a player certainly on a mission to force his name in the European headlines is Sporting Lisbon’s incredibly gifted forward, Pedro Gonçalves.
The former heir to Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes’ throne at the José Alvalade Stadium, has, incredibly, proven even more prolific for the Portuguese champions than the Manchester United ace.
Gonçalves was an integral figure in helping Sporting win their first Primeira Liga title for 19 years last season, finishing as the league’s top goalscorer with 23 goals from a scarcely believable xG total of 11.6.
Fernandes had a stupendous season in 2018-19 for Sporting, scoring 20 league goals, but Pedro Goncalves outdid him last season.
In doing so, he became the Primeira Liga’s first Portuguese top scorer since Domingos back in 1996.
This goalscoring feat is made all the more impressive given the 23-year-old’s position. Sporting operate in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Goncalves as a hybrid attacking midfielder/forward between the lines — often drifting to the right-hand side. His ability to locate spaces in between the lines and in the half-space is incredible and highlights his wealth of tactical knowledge and super versatility.
His finishing isn’t too bad either, as his phenomenal stats show.
Naturally right-footed, Gonçalves is capable of clinical strikes with his left foot as well, and his great form has continued into this season.
Pedro Gonçalves, nicknamed “Pote” has netted six times in the league so far and added two braces versus Besiktas and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League as Sporting survived defeats in their opening fixtures to qualify for the last 16. He’s also recorded five assists in the league highlighting his wonderful gifts in not only scoring goals, but creating them too.
Gonçalves was previously on the books at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and his impressive performances in the Champions League will no doubt have caught the eye of more Premier League sides with a view to bringing him back to England in the very near future.
It could be the perfect audition, given that Sporting play Manchester City in what could potentially be a tasty tie in the round of 16. Pep Guardiola’s men are likely to be strong favourites, but Pote could make life difficult — and maybe make Pep take notice too.
Arnaut Danjuma, Villarreal
When Arnaut Danjuma joined Villarreal from AFC Bournemouth last summer for €25m, little did we know he’d make such a telling impact in Unai Emery’s progressive side so soon.
A few months into his Spanish top-flight career and the recently-made Netherlands international has become one of La Liga’s blossoming individuals so far this season.
After hitting 17 goals and 7 assists in the Sky Bet Championship last season, the former Club Brugge forward was always destined for bigger and better things but many thought he’d make that step up in the Barclays Premier League rather than beyond borders.
With several clubs interested in his services last summer, it was Villarreal who took a punt on his flawless abilities, and its safe to say the 24-year-old hasn’t looked back.
20 appearances, 9 goals (5 in La Liga, 4 in the Champions League), and 3 assists, Danjuma has certainly showed he is good enough and ready to cut it amongst the most elite footballers in Europe. The slippery Dutchman has gone from the Championship to the Champions League without batting an eyelid at the transition.
Danjuma’s trajectory over the past year has been nothing short of sensational, and already he is showing his talents on the most prestigious of footballing stages in the UEFA Champions League.
If you need any pieces of evidence as to how good he is, not only that, but how invaluable he’s become to Unai Emery’s side in short space of time, check out his performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the group stages.
It was simply jaw-dropping, giving full-back Diogo Dalot a torrid evening.
Danjuma may have been one of La Liga’s most expensive transfers this summer, but is currently proving he’s worth every penny spent. The Europa League winners were looking for a player who could help them jump forward to the next level tactically and in attack and Danjuma is keeping his part of the bargain.
Unai Emery’s men are clearly more efficient, potent and exciting on the attack and much of that is down to Danjuma’s unpredictable nature on the left-flank.
Villarreal have a tough fixture against Juventus in the knockout stages, and they will need Danjuma firing on all cylinders after his return from injury to have any chance of causing yet another Emery-European-upset.
Jonathan David, LOSC Lille
Since his move to Lille from Belgium outfit Gent in the summer of 2020, Canadian Jonathan David has come on leaps and bounds, although he did endure a difficult start – going on a run of seven games without a goal.
However, in the second half of last season, his form picked up.
Eleven of his 13 league goals in 2020-21 came after the turn of the year, as Lille done the unthinkable, finishing the campaign as French Ligue 1 champions.
This season, Lille have struggled to maintain their form as they currently sit in mid-table in Ligue 1. However, Jonathan David has continued his tremendous development. He is Ligue 1’s second top scorer with 12 goals from 19 appearances, just two goals behind AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder.
In a league including Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, that is a superb feat.
An extraordinary unique forward, blessed with great pace, skill, tenaciousness, trickery and acceleration. The Canadian is tremendously versatile too, capable of playing anywhere in attack; as a no.9, right-winger, left-winger, and a no.10. If fast and speedy players are your type, then Jonathan David is your man.
A player whose game is based on an exciting blend of technique, mental sharpness and tremendous physical attributes.
The Canadian has excelled in his work-rate and off-the-ball attributes. So far this campaign, he is recording 5.39 successful pressures per 90minutes. He is in the top 10 percent of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to pressures off the ball owing to his tremendous energy, enthusiasm and work rate. David has traded off some of that defensive work, and remodeled himself as a poacher in front of goal. A record of 0.48 non-penalty goals per 90 is brilliant and is simply going to get better.
David’s scoring form in Ligue 1 over the past two seasons, and for Canada where he’s been the top CONCACAF scorer in World Cup Qualifying, suggests he could score more goals for any of Europe’s top clubs, and with his name reportedly in the headlines for a number of top European outfits this summer, he could well be on the move.
First he’d have to help Lille navigate through a tough fixture against last season’s European champions Chelsea, and there is no doubt that the young Canadian forward will be central to any potential upset.
Jurrien Timber, Ajax
Ajax’s youth academy has been providing Europe’s biggest clubs with elite talent for decades now and with the likes of Jurrien Timber emerging the trend is not slowing.
There’s been no change in the Ajax philosophy ever since: they invest tremendously in youth, making sure that the players receive the best physical and mental development, and even more importantly, that they are granted the earliest possible trust at the highest level.
Timber is the latest of those entrusted with significant responsibility in the first team, and is thriving as a result.
The youngster earned Erik ten Hag’s trust with his composure and vision as he reads the game well and fits Ajax’s strategy perfectly. His displays granted him a regular starting spot which he hasn’t taken for granted and has used to prove his qualities while becoming one of the team’s key players.
While they have always been successful in attack, this term their defensive performance has been exceptional. At the time of writing, Ajax have only conceded FIVE league goals in 22 games, which is a remarkable record and underlines the importance of their defensive players.
Ten Hag’s side also made history in the Champions League by winning all their games in the group stage, outplaying Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund and Beşiktas.
Ajax are currently the best performing team in Eredivisie, displaying high awareness, composure and consistency. The team’s well-measured actions and anticipation skills result in a high success rate in almost every aspect.
The Ajax players are proficient in winning their challenges clearly, despite actually having the highest challenge intensity (duels, tackles and interceptions per minute of opponent possession) in the league. They are first in the league in terms of successful actions with 66.9% of won defensive duels on average.
Despite the lack of experience, Jurrien Timber has successfully contributed to Ajax’s unbreachable defence possessing impressive composure in defence which puts him ahead despite his lack of physicality and height. His technique and confidence on the ball allow him to dive into challenges and escape pressure through dribbling which helps the team in retaining possession.
His composure results in winning 76.2% of his defensive duels, which is a better percentile compared to his centre-back partner, Lisandro Martínez (73.5%).
What makes him successful defensively, though, is his positional sense. Timber’s ability to read the game helps him in anticipating the oppositions’ movement and move into spaces so he can pressurise his opponents and block their attacking efforts. He contributes with 13.35 recoveries per game and roughly four of them are in the opposition half.
This underlines his strong positioning and anticipation skills, although it also indicates the whole team strategy, which has the defensive line positioned high in possession.
The key qualities that have led to his valuable contribution are his concentration and work ethic. The 20-year-old is constantly aware of his surroundings and it is difficult to catch him out of position and unprepared. If their opponents Benfica are to triumph in this tie, they will have to do incredibly well to bypass Jurrien Timber and his resilient defensive counterparts.
Ridle Baku, Wolfsburg
Ridle Baku has enjoyed a seismic rise over the past 18 months, swapping relegation-threatened Mainz 05 for Champions League football at the Volkswagen Arena.
At an age where many of his peers are just beginning to take their first steps in the Bundesliga, Baku has already started over 100 topflight Bundesliga matches, won a U21 European Championship, and narrowly missed out on Germany’s Euro 2020 squad.
With summer interest from PSG & Bayern, and Tottenham Hotspur it won’t be long before Baku is tearing up the pitch for Hansi Flick’s national team and competing for silverware at one of Europe’s elite outfits.
The right-sided midfielder, come right-back is an incredibly astute, tactically aware and all-round footballer.
The young right-back was an influential piece in the Germany U21 side that won the European Championship in June and as a result, is already attracting significant interest from clubs around Europe. Baku was named Player of the Match in the U21 final against Portugal and even concluded the tournament with the highest assists (3).
In the 38 appearances Baku made for German side Wolfsburg last term, he recorded an impressive 16 goal involvements, recording 6 goals and 6 assists in the German Bundesliga.
This season, he has continued his fine contribution to Wolfsburg’s goal threat, with two goals and two assist whilst also scoring in the Champions League group stages against RB Salzburg in November.
The 1.76m-tall defender, who can even be deployed as a midfielder, lead the ranking for the Bundesliga with 1,061 sprints last season. This season’s tally may have decreased, but he’s still within the top 10 sprinters in the division with 598 sprints. Few players covered a greater distance last season than him. He was the 10th-best runner with 351 km run on the field.
The 23-year old is always more than willing to make lung-busting runs forward as well as make the hard yards back to rescue a situation defensively.
Baku is highly versatile too having already played in all possible positions on the right-flank for the team. He’d prove a valuable asset for any top outfit in Europe owing to his incredible versatility but also providing his side with the opportunity to be tactically flexible. Wherever he is deployed, Ridle Baku will give his utmost.
With quick changes of direction, a glue-like control, and fluid movement, Ridle Baku is able to wriggle free from any lunging challenges and create the attacking impulses which have made him such a resounding success at the Volkswagen Arena.
The 23-year-old has brought lofty comparisons to Germany and Bayern Munich icon Philipp Lahm, showing what a generational talent Wolfsburg have on their books.
Though Ridle Baku has a long way to go before winning 113 national team caps, and 17 major titles, the intelligence in his positional play is right in line with FC Bayern’s former captain. Whereas Lahm made the switch from rightback to defensive midfield in the latter stages of his career, Baku has undergone the opposite transition, playing primarily as a midfielder for Mainz before operating almost exclusively on the right flank at Wolfsburg.
Just as Lahm was adept at moving inside from right-back or dropping into the wide channels from a midfield role, Baku’s ability to drift into the half-spaces have made him an absolute nightmare for opposition fullbacks. The Under-21 European Championship were perhaps the best example of this. Baku, operating primarily at right midfield in a classic 4-2-3-1, was electric from start to finish, ending the competition with the most goal contributions as Germany lifted the title with a 1-0 victory over Portugal.
Baku completed the 5th most crosses of any Bundesliga fullback last season, routinely searching for the head of new Burnley striker Wout Weghorst or providing a driven ball into the run of an advancing midfielder. Whilst he may not be as prolific as either Borna Sosa of Stuttgart or Filip Kostić of Frankfurt, the variety of ways Baku can hurt an opposition defense makes up for his somewhat inconsistent crossing.
Ridle Baku may have only registered 2 assists from the wide right channel this season, but when afforded time and space he is more than capable of finding his target.
Nuno Mendes, Paris Saint-Germain
Nuno Mendes has been getting rave reviews since making the move from Lisbon to Paris last summer as PSG’s new left-back.
At just 19 years old, Mendes has adapted well from a wing-back role in a 4-3-2-1 at Sporting Lisbon to a full-back role within PSG’s 4-3-3, but his skill set remains unchanged.
The Portugal international has made 15 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in Ligue 1 this season, alongside his six appearances in the UEFA Champions League. Touted as one of the finest talents of his position on the continent, Nuno Mendes is certainly on his way to world-wide stardom.
Last season at Sporting, Mendes cemented his status as the finest left-back in Portugal thanks to a deadly combination of speed, explosive movement, and close control which allows him to create danger either from a standing start or whilst on the counter-attack.
Apart from his dribbling, Mendes boasts an excellent crossing ability whether tightly marked or open in space, and his physical prowess allows him to beat out opponents to the ball either with his speed or strength.
Despite boasting such incredible speed and strength through his lambasting runs, he’s only successfully completed 0.88 dribbles per90 so far this season, but that will only increase with more playing time and development. However, he is relatively still creative with his contributions in attack, averaging 0.98 key passes, and 3.43 final third passes per90 whilst also possessing 2.64 shot-creating actions per90. He’s al an adept defender, boasting a SmarterScout defending intensity rating of 95 out of 99.
Given his speed and imposing size, he is able to recover well whenever he might be slightly out of position, frequently nicking the ball away from the opponent and often blocking crosses into the box. He averages a very good 4.12 tackles + interceptions reading per 90 minutes. For ball recoveries and interceptions, he is rated by SmarterScout 97 out of 99.
His 3.3 dribbles attempted per 90 put him in the top 10 per cent for full-backs in Ligue 1 this season, and he can be crucial in opening up space for his team-mates to exploit.
Mendes is still in the category of a raw and unpolished talent but he has all the materials and skills required to be one of the leading left-backs in world football. The pace of Mendes and Kylian Mbappe down PSG’s left-hand side is enough to give any opponent nightmares, even their knockout opponents Real Madrid. Be prepared for an enthralling tie.
Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid
It’s completely safe to say, Vinicius Jr is enjoying his best season in a Real Madrid shirt.
His 12 league goals are bettered only by team-mate Karim Benzema, with the pair contributing to a high proportion of his team’s attacking output this season as Los Blancos lead the way in La Liga, by four points.
Vinicius’ turnaround and maturity in his decision-making and all-round game over the past year or so has been nothing short of phenomenal. In 2020/21, he underperformed xG by a remarkable 3.82. For context, that’s twice as bad as anyone else in the Real Madrid squad. In 2021/22, he’s overperforming by 3.1 xG, a figure more than twice as good as anyone else, excluding Karim Benzema.
Benzema-dependencia, as the Spanish media like to call Real Madrid’s reliance on Karim Benzema for goals, well that phrase has been thrown out the window as a result of Vinicius Jr’s sudden purple patch. Now, Karim Benzema who didn’t approve of the Brazilian over a year ago, simply cannot perform without him.
While its a testament and credit to the 21-year-old, the credit must also be given to Carlo Ancelotti who has totally unleashed the Brazilian with undying belief and faith in his abilities.
He is a double threat from the left wing, scoring goals as well as creating them (8 assists so far this campaign) — largely owing to his direct play when the ball is at his feet. No player in La Liga can top his rate of 7.3 attempted dribbles per 90 this season, and goes to show how often he looks to commit defenders which can open up space for others, such as Benzema.
In this season’s Champions League, Vinicius’s 18 chances created in open play is more than any other player in the competition, as he frequently drives into dangerous areas to pull a pass back for an oncoming team-mate.
Vinicius is no longer that naïve, overconfident and inexperienced raw talent that arrived through the Real Madrid doors in 2018. He’s now more an assured, mature and decorated performer, still possessing bags of potential to become even greater and that spells such great news for Real Madrid, a healthy return on their risky investment.
Vinicius has shown this season whatever the situation, he can and will create – whether it be scoring or assisting, he is quickly becoming a central protagonist within Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Real Madrid’s upcoming blockbuster clash with PSG is arguably the pick of the last-16 matches. Having won the competition in three successive seasons from 2016-2018, Real have gone out of the Champions League at this stage twice in the last three seasons.
If they are to correct that slide, they will need Vinicius Jr at his flawless best as he’ll be coming up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria and Messi. Pick your poison.
Antony, Ajax
Already an Olympic gold medalist, Antony has enjoyed a spectacularly successful rookie season at Ajax. The Brazilian right-winger is known for his rapid dribbling, amazing ball-trickery as well as his unique eye for goal.
The fact that Ajax have two talents on this list once again highlights their incredibly bright youthful roster, and a potential prediction that they could yet again take the UEFA Champions League by storm like they did in the 2018/19 campaign.
Whilst Sebastien Haller has been the pick of a talented bunch, Brazilian wing-wizard has arguably stolen the spotlight through his showstopping performances for Ajax in this year’s Champions League.
The 21-year-old has recorded 2 goals and 5 assists in 5 games, possessing a phenomenal xA average of 2.0 placing him the top 6 of players throughout the competition. The Brazilian also ranks first in the Champions League for goal-creating actions (9) and goal-creating actions per90 (2.06). He also ranks sixth for progressive carries (52).
The Brazilian is an inventive and intelligent player. With nine goals and eight assists in his first 1,200 Eredivisie minutes, there is unlikely to be a better rookie in the Dutch top-flight this season. Antony has taken to life excellently at Ajax, and has his gifted and mastery left foot to thank.
Much of the time, Antony enjoys hanging wide on the right so he can gain momentum after picking up the ball by driving inwards. His acceleration from a standing start is explosive; his elite balance and lower body strength allows him to remain on his feet even under heavy pressure – he is a worker with great endeavour, the type of player to clean up his own mess.
In Brazil, Antony relied more on ingenuity to create his moments, and there is still an element of that to his game. Now though, after just a matter of nearly a couple years in Europe, he plays with a calculating maturity and sensibility, while retaining that endearing unpredictable streak.
As with most Ajax players under the age of 25, the Johan Cruijff Arena will not be the last stop on the Antony Express. Slotting into elite European competition without skipping a beat is a sure-fire way of alerting Europe’s financially well-endowed sporting directors.
Who knows, some more scintilating performances in the knockout rounds will certainly push him closer to one of Europe’s elite clubs, probably this coming summer. The continent is certainly Antony’s oyster.
Alessandro Bastoni, Inter Milan
Italy is without doubt the home of defending. The list of renowned defenders from Bel Paese is endless. Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Gaetano Scirea, Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta are just some of the legendary names that have represented Gli Azzurri.
As a new generation approaches for Italian football, their next great defender seems to already be turning heads across the continent.
Alessandro Bastoni was born in the small town of Casalmaggiore, Lombardy. At the age of seven, he joined Atalanta’s renowned youth sides. The young defender made waves at the Bergamo club, eventually earning himself a €31million move to one of Italy’s biggest clubs; Inter Milan.
After spending spells on loan to both Atalanta & Parma, Bastoni has now finally secured his place in the starting XI for the Nerazzurri. Currently touted as one of best defensive talents of this generation, Bastoni has immersed himself as one of Inter Milan’s most prominent figures for Antonio Conte in the title winning side last season, and for current manager Simone Inzaghi.
Bastoni’s defensive statistics aren’t spectacular, but they are exactly what you’d expect and want from a CB at a top club. He ranked 6th overall amongst Serie A defenders when defending vs. the dribble.
This season, he continues to impress within a well-rounded, cohesive and organised system in Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 shape, a continuation of Conte’s title-winning formula last season. Batoni averages 3.10 tackles + interceptions per90, an improvement from last season (2.49), 2.93 clearances per90, 1.30 blocks per90 and wins an outstanding 67.8% of his aerial duels owing to relatively tall, lean and imposing frame.
Alessandro Bastoni’s defensive ability is incredible for his age. Inter Milan have kept the 2nd most clean sheets (10) and have conceded the second least goals (20) in Serie A this season. Bastoni has been a key part of that defence, playing in 21 of their 25 of league games.
One of the areas that the Italian thrives is on the ball. Bastoni has long been regarded as one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the division. He completes 4.62 passes into the final third per 90 – amongst the best for defenders in the league. He is not only progressive on the ball, he’s very secure with it too. He has completed 93.6% of passes this season so far. Bastoni is not someone who shies away from the ball either, averaging the third most touches of Inter’s starting XI per 90 (79.7).
The Italian is clearly an incredible young defender, anybody who has watched Inter Milan this season will know this. With a tough fixture against Liverpool to come, Inter will need their stunning young centre-back in his best form if they are to stop the likes of Diogo Jota, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane from wrecking havoc.
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.
Aurélien Tchouaméni has made more tackles (133) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2021.
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 passprogression, 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.
Leicester City have confirmed the signing of striker Patson Daka from Red Bull Salzburg, with the fee thought to be around £23m.
The Zambian forward, who scored 34 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions last season, signed a five-year contract at the King Power Stadium.
A striker had been high on Brendan Rodgers’ priority list this summer, and 22-year-old Daka emerged as Leicester’s number one target despite Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard also being linked to the club.
▪️Austrian Bundesliga winner 20/21 ▪️Austrian Bundesliga POTS 20/21 ▪️34 goals in all competitions in 20/21
Leicester City have signed a special player in Patson Daka. 👏🇿🇲
“I’m so, so excited to join this great, historic club. It has been my dream and I’m so happy and looking forward to what’s coming next,” Daka told LCFC TV.
“I have followed Leicester from the time they won the league. I feel it is the perfect place for me, because it’s a team that fights for titles. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I feel ready to face this new challenge.
“I will give my best for the club each and every day, and I look forward to seeing the Leicester City fans inside the stadium soon.”
Leicester City have yet again undergone another astute piece of business, more importantly the club have also secured their future post-Jamie Vardy with Patson Daka’s capture.
The club had been monitoring Daka for a significant period of time and feel this is the perfect period for them to sign the striker, after his tremendous goalscoring feats last season in Austria, scoring 34 goals in 42 games (27 goals in 28 games in the Austrian Bundesliga).
The Zambian joined Salzburg as a teenager in 2017 and signed a five-year contract. He broke into the first team in 2019 and has been an absolute revelation since then, becoming one of Europe’s most devastating strikers. Daka was named Austrian Bundesliga player of the season this year after his extraordinary scoring record as well as providing seven assists for his teammates, finishing the season with 34 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Brendan Rodgers have been searching for an eventual successor to Jamie Vardy for a long while, searching for players with the potential to be honed and developed and one they can ease into a first-team role gradually, Daka represented the perfect addition.
Rodgers had always stated he wanted a striker who is incredibly mobile, pacey, energetic, can stretch defences by running in-behind at speed and fits the profile of his emerging side. All of those characteristics are all similarities to Jamie Vardy’s game, and Daka is built in the same mould, but a more fresh, young and vibrant alternative.
Standing at 6ft 1in, Daka also offers a physicality that is rarely seen in Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho, and a focal point that will allow Leicester City to become more flexible and devastating in the attacking third.
Patson Daka was seen as the replacement for Erling Haaland when the Norwegian left Salzburg for Dortmund in January 2020, and the Zambian has repaid that faith to such incredible effect, bagging 61 goals in 87 appearances in the last two seasons alone.
Daka is of course in a similar mould to Jamie Vardy, and that will have been plainly in the thoughts of Leicester’s recruitment team. Of course, expectations of him will be managed carefully, given that he is arriving from a league that is not as robust and competitive as the Premier League.
Once Daka is in full flow, eventually, he’d be almost unstoppable. His profile is of a player who has fantastic raw pace and great movement, one who is also of a ‘fox in the box’ ilk. He comes alive in the penalty area and like Vardy, enjoys playing on the shoulder of the last defender.
Fascinated to see how this works out for Daka. Was a case of where he'd end up, as opposed to if he'd end up somewhere really. Leicester the ideal club for his progression. His movement, with and without the ball, plus the general energy/intensity he plays with is excellent. https://t.co/6CxliEoZcA
Unlike Iheanacho, Daka rarely gets involved in the build-up – again, similar to Vardy – but once the ball comes to him, he’s either finishing moves or assisting someone else. Players like James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes would absolutely thrive playing off Patson Daka because of his energy, constant movement and ability to find the perfect pockets of space in order to get an effort on goal.
There are several key components to Daka’s style. His speed and agility over short distances stand out.
His acceleration can be devastating, tearing past seemingly flat-footed defenders with an aura of grace in his long strides. He is a tremendous athlete, incredibly energetic and a non-stop runner which is a nightmare for even the most elite of defenders.
The Zambian is so smart in how he uses his athleticism to his advantage. It makes him a very adept poacher, pouncing on loose balls in the box, reacting quicker than anyone in congested areas. In that act, he is very well capable of creating something for himself out of nothing. It’s clear, Jamie Vardy isn’t getting any quicker, so Daka represents the perfect and swift solution to fill that void.
When Daka has time on his hands – particularly when through on goal – he is at his most clinical. He possesses such a unique knowledge of when to time his runs across defenders and latch onto through balls. Once Daka takes a pass in his stride, it is simply game over for his opponent; he is simply no slouch when the opportunity arises to go in one-on-one with a goalkeeper.
Once he picks his spot, there’s no stopping him. Daka holds an assured aura about him when finishing chances, like a throwback to the great Samuel Eto’o. His finishes itself are a foregone conclusion; he is a good striker of the ball, crucially with both feet which makes him so dangerous when an opportunity arises.
Last season, he contributed 1.4 non penalty goals or assists per90 mins, the best of any player in the Austrian top-flight. Daka can also be described by casual observers as a player who relies on scoring tap-ins, but that isn’t to say most of his goals comes as a tremendous amount of luck for him. In fact, it all owes to his predatory movement and instincts in the penalty box. He knows where to be in order to score goals and that’ll be a valuable trait at Leicester City.
Patson Daka to Leicester City is smart. A ready-made Jamie Vardy succession plan for the club, while Daka joins a young, ambitious squad under a manager whose style complements his natural attributes.
Explosive athleticism, one-touch finishing, welcome to the Premier League.
At times last season, Brendan Rodgers lacked the potency to finish off chances, ultimately sacrificing a priceless Champions League spot for next season. Once Patson Daka beds himself in, he could provide that missing ingredient in front of goal, that incredible potency when needed.
In Salzburg’s customary 4-2-2-2 system, Daka usually lined up with a strike partner in Mergim Berisha or Karim Adeyemi offering such exhilarating pace, movement and the ability to stretch opposition defences. Rodgers usually favours a lone-frontman, but showed his superb flexibility tactically when proposing a twin attack of Vardy and Iheanacho towards the end of last season. Daka isn’t foreign to that, and will certainly fit in perfectly whatever formation Rodgers utilises.
Patson Daka is set to be Brendan Rodgers’ long-awaited man. While Jamie Vardy is unfortunately on the wane, Leicester City and their fans can move forward knowing that their future in attack is in safe hands.
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