Seen as the Champions League’s forgettable cousin, the Europa League has battled for relevancy and despite what the naysayers say it’s a compelling tournament in its own right.
For one, you don’t always get the usual suspects, which in turn means seeing players that don’t always hog the spotlight.
Given many of these clubs are part of Europe’s elite, meaning you’re not going to see them splurge large amounts on transfers, there’s every chance they are laden with youth prospects.
And that means potential wonderkid sightings. This season is no different. Here are 10 we feel stand above the many.
10. Patrick Cutrone
Age: 20
Club: Milan
Position: Striker
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 1 (36)
Italy’s next great number nine? His manager Gennaro Gattuso has already likened him to Filippo Inzaghi, because of his instincts inside the penalty area. No pressure then. Cutrone, in the meantime, will be looking to improve on the 18 goals in all competitions he managed last season.
He was able to force Andre Silva out of the club following a €38m move at the start of last season; this campaign, however, Gonzalo Higuain stands in his way.
9. Dayot Upamecano
Age: 19
Club: RB Leipzig
Position: Centre-back
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 1 (90)
The number of talented young French centre-backs currently playing across Europe’s big five leagues has reached ridiculous levels. Upamecano, who is enjoying a third campaign with Leipzig, is among them.
He’s quickly established himself as one of the first names on Ralf Rangnick’s team sheet, more so in the Bundesliga than Europa League, but he’ll no doubt become prominent if the east German club go deep in the competition.
8. Jovane Cabral
Age: 20
Club: Sporting CP
Position: Right-wing
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (23)
Sporting’s academy is the envy of Europe and one of the latest graduates is starting to make a name for himself, particularly in the Europa League.
Cabral, who emerged at the beginning of this season, has one goal in six league appearances to date but he’s two for two in UEFA’s second major club competition despite playing less than half an hour.
A versatile forward who can play on either wing or just behind the centre-forward, he’s already been capped by his native Cape Verde.
7. Matteo Guendouzi
Age: 19
Club: Arsenal
Position: Central midfielder
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (123)
Unai Emery has the unenviable task of succeeding Arsenal’s longest serving and illustrious manager Arsene Wenger, and so far it’s looking promising.
The Europa League master, having won the competition three years on the bounce as Sevilla manager, joined from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and one of his first major signings was the highly rated midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who also crossed the English channel.
Guendouzi, already nicknamed ‘David Luiz’ due to similar hair choices, has been near ever-present for the Gunners this season (missing just two league games to date) but it’s in the Europa League where his talent is coming to the fore.
6. Maxime Lopez
Age: 20
Club: Marseille
Position: Central midfielder
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (180)
Lopez doesn’t turn 21 until December but don’t be fooled by his age. He’s already part of the furniture at Marseille.
So far the multifunctional midfielder – who’s previously attracted the interest of Chelsea, Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool – has to date made no fewer than 89 appearances for his boyhood club, for whom he’s registered four goals and created a further 15 for his teammates.
5. Ismaila Sarr
Age: 20
Club: Rennes
Position: Left-wing
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 1 (75)
With pace to burn, Ismaïla Sarr is fast-becoming one of the most dangerous footballers operating in France’s top division. The Senegalese international, looking to forge a similar career path to ex-Rennes winger Ousmane Dembélé, has already put Ligue 1 defenders on notice and is starting to do the same in Europe.
4. Kieran Tierney
Age: 21
Club: Celtic
Position: Left-back
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (180)
A boyhood Celtic supporter and one of the club’s most successful youth products, it’s hard to see the dynamic left-back leaving Glasgow anytime soon despite heavy interest from a number of Premier League sides.
His reputation, courtesy of a string of notable performances, has grown far and wide, so much so RB Leipzig’s social media team – ahead of their meeting with Brendan Rodgers’ men on matchday three and four – felt compelled to dub him a ‘goat’ when a Celtic fan spotted a ‘goat simulator’ game in a Leipzig shop.
Kieran Tierney?
https://t.co/8R6E1a0ySK
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) October 24, 2018
3. Amadou Haidara
Age: 19
Club: Red Bull Salzburg
Position: Central midfielder
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (180)
The sky’s the limit for Haidara who has already caught the attention of Spurs and Southampton, which no doubt means he’s destined to follow in the path of so many recent ex-Red Bull Salzburg players such as Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.
Fast becoming renowned for his vision and passing he’s an integral part of Salzburg’s midfield, which in 2017/18 spearheaded them to a Europa League semi-final berth, and there’s every chance the Austrian outfit can go as far again.
2. Luka Jovic
Age: 20
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Striker
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (82)
He’s getting better and better. Jovic, a powerful centre-forward, bagged 9 goals across 27 appearances (one every 127 minutes) in his debut campaign last season.
The young Serbian marksman, entrusted with leading Frankfurt’s forward line, is starting to improve on that total. He’s matched that figure (9) across his opening 10 outings (one every 54 minutes) – five of which came in a single game against Dusseldorf last weekend – and it’s a matter of how many he’ll end up with come May.
Honourable mentions: Odsonne Edouard (Celtic), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Landry Dimata (Anderlecht), Hannes Wolf (Red Bull Salzburg), Luiz Felipe (Lazio), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal), Mert Müldür (Rapid Wien), Eljif Elmas (Fenerbahçe)
1. Kai Havertz
Age: 19
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Attacking midfielder
2018/19 Europa League appearances (minutes): 2 (160)
It feels like Havertz has been around for ages, but the highly-rated Aachen-born midfielder only turned 19 in June. With a number of clubs already circling this forthcoming campaign could be his last for Leverkusen.
Already the youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga appearances, his impact in Germany’s top-flight is well known but Europe is another matter and he’s starting to put that right.
The post Ranked: The top 10 Europa League wonderkids appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2ArVcNi
No comments:
Post a Comment