January is upon us and you know what that means?! Yes, the opening of the winter transfer window.
It’s an opportunity for clubs, after the opening half of this season, to rectify where they have gone wrong or strengthen in order to push for places and trophies.
Every single one of England’s top 20 clubs are expected to dip into the market.
Even Spurs, who didn’t make a single purchase in the summer, should surely be among them.
One area where some teams are certain to be looking at is out wide on the flanks. Wingers have long been an integral part of football and they are still match-winners.
Whether more conventional play-stretchers or fitting the new mould of wide-forward, goalscoring threats, it is an area of the pitch that must be well stocked.
However, not all get the headlines they deserve. Some, in fact, go unnoticed; under the radar if you will.
But, no more! We’ve identified a number of forwards who are enjoying stellar campaigns and which Premier League they could potentially move to in early 2019.
Marcus Thuram (Guingamp)
Who should sign him? Southampton
Being the son of a footballing legend is never an easy burden to carry, but Marcus is slowly walking out of his father Lillian’s shadow. The young Thuram unlike his World Cup-winning dad is offensive rather than defensive.
A highly-promising winger, the 21-year-old Frenchman is carving his own path and will soon be grabbing plenty of attention mostly due to his performances rather than the name he is wearing.
If the need is to not complete this season in Ligue 1 with Guingamp then joining a Premier League with a stellar reputation of developing talents in Southampton is not a bad shout. Ralph Hasenhüttl has lifted the mood in the south coast and he’s no stranger to nurturing football’s next big things.
Key stat: Marcus Thuram has completed 48 out of 64 attempted take-ons in the league this season; the fourth-most in Ligue 1.
Naïm Sliti (Dijon)
Who should sign him? Huddersfield
Things are looking bleak for the Terriers.
An apparent inability to score goals has seen them slip into the relegation zone. Unlike last season, there seems to be no way out.
Whilst their strikers have failed to score a goal between them this season, another area they’ll want to strengthen is having more attacking wing options, preferably someone with exquisite ball-carrying ability; that is where Naïm Sliti comes in.
The 26-year-old Tunisian international’s ability to move and hold onto the ball can help move Huddersfield up the pitch. Handy from set-pieces an able to play a central role, his skill set is what is lacking from David Wagner’s side.
Key stat: Sliti has completed more take-ons (44) than his next three teammates combined (41).
Joelinton (Hoffenheim)
Who should sign him? Arsenal
Unai Emery’s first six months in charge of Arsenal can be deemed a moderate success. There’s a new wave of optimism flowing at the Emirates Stadium and the Spaniard will no doubt further stamp his mark on the club in the coming weeks.
The Gunners are reportedly on the lookout for a winger, Nicolas Pépé of Lille has been heavily touted, however his price-tag could be off-putting. So, why not look around for a potentially cheaper alternative, say Hoffenheim forward Joelinton?
Joelinton's underlying numbers show just why he has had such a promising Hinrunde in the Bundesliga:
• 307/380 passes
• 31/51 dribbles
• 27 key passes
• 20/32 tackles
• 4 assists from open playHe ranks highly among the league's attacking players in each of those metrics. pic.twitter.com/Z6azxjysO8
— Scouted Football (@ScoutedFtbl) December 21, 2018
Able to play across the frontline, including centre-forward, the Brazilian has demonstrated the exact quality Arsenal are currently lacking: ball-carrying.
Despite his forays through the middle, he would be the perfect fit for the left-sided attacker in a 3-4-3 formation and could even deputise for both Lacazette and Aubameyang upfront in a 4-2-3-1.
Essentially, the Brazilian would be an upgrade on the sidelined Danny Welbeck. Come July, he could also be reunited with current Hoffenheim loanee Reiss Nelson.
Key stat: Joelinton (22) completed more dribbles whilst maintaining a 100% success rate than any other player in this season’s Champions League group stage (12/12).
Steven Bergwijn (PSV Eindhoven)
Who should sign him? Tottenham Hotspur
No matter what has come before, the Eredivisie will continue to churn out promising young footballers. Steven Bergwijn is one such current player.
His mercurial wing-play hasn’t always grabbed the headlines – he is competing with Mexico’s World Cup hero Hirving Lozano after all – but there’s no question he’s instrumental to PSV’s chances of retaining their league crown.
Hence why they would be loathe to see him leave next month. The loss of Son Heung-min, who departs for the Asian Cup in January, could see Spurs – long admirers of the Dutchman – make a move.
Impulsive as that may seem, there’s would be a clear element of long-term planning behind it: Bergwijn combines both the brilliant dribbling of Spurs South Korean star with the goalthreat needed to propel Mauricio Pochettino’s side further up the table.
Key stat: Bergwijn scored nine goals and provided seven assists in his first 16 appearances in the Eredivisie this season.
Wenderson Galeno (Rio Ave)
Who should sign him? Watford
Portuguese football is a hotbed of wingers. Luis Figo, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo are just some of the nation’s most illustrious exports but the great and the good aren’t always natives (see Angel Di Maria).
Wenderson Galeno, who has three goals and two assists across 13 Liga NOS appearances for Rio Ave this season, is expected to make a similar path in no time.
Already there are scouts watching; one such interested club is reported to be Watford, who now sit among English football’s top 10 clubs. His ability to manipulate the ball will no doubt compliment Troy Deeney – or whoever is leading The Hornet’s line – as well as see him thrive in the role that has seen Roberto Pereyra find some brilliant form.
Key stat: Galeno has won eight fouls in a single match on three occasions already in the Liga NOS so far this season; making him the second-most fouled player in the divison (50 in total).
Shoya Nakajima (Portimonense)
Who should sign him? Wolverhampton Wanderers
It won’t be long before Shoya Nakajima makes his way to English football. The buzz he’s creating ensures that. Currently plying his trade at Portimonense, it’s clear he won’t be staying there for long.
A right-footed left-winger that loves to cut inside and showcase his playmaking skills (five goals and six assists in 12 Liga NOS matches) the Japanese international is a commodity in modern football.
Given the club’s Portuguese connections, Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have already been associated with the 24-year-old, seem a perfect gateway into the Premier League; that being said, there’s no harm in Nuno EspÃrito Santo having an extra wide option.
Key stat: Shoya Nakajima was the only player to provide 10+ assists and score 10+ goals in the 2017/18 Primeira Liga season; he looks set to repeat the feat this campaign.
Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar)
Who should sign him? Newcastle United
Viktor Claesson extended his stay with Russian Premier League outfit Krasnodar in November but such is the reality of modern football there’s no guarantee of it being fully honoured.
There were talks of the forward moving to England in the summer, having credibly represented his native Sweden at the World Cup finals, but nothing came to fruition. Since then, he’s bagged six goals and created a further three for his teammates across 16 league matches.
Far from a prolific ball-carrier, the Swede’s value lies in his ability to arrive in goalscoring situations and create space for a shot in the most dangerous areas of the pitch.
Such a dependable goal-threat can be an asset to any Premier League club, especially Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United who are in dire need of strengthening if they are to maintain their top-flight status.
It will all depend on what Mike Ashley decides to do, however. So don’t hold your breath.
Key stat: No Krasnodar player has had more shots from inside the area (23) than Claesson this season.
The post Under the radar: Seven wingers and the Premier League clubs that should sign them in January appeared first on Squawka News.
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