10 players to watch in Europe before the summer transfer window
They were overshadowed by star players, their transfer fees were never reasonable. Along with the media exposure and market value disproportionate to the very low talent, these cuts will finally benefit from being recognized at their fair value.
1 – Mehdi Taremi – Porto
The Iranian international, who only arrived in Portugal in 2019 at the age of 27 and was bought by FC Porto at Rio Ave for €5 million in 2020, has certainly quickly shown that he has lost too much time to plant in the Gulf countries. “If he had come to Portugal a little earlier, he would have been one of the giants of world football” Carlos Carvalhal, his coach at Rio Avenue, noted his incredible ability to adapt to the demands of European football.
Without explanation, Taremi (30) confirmed his 5 goals and 2 assists in the Champions League in Qatar (2 goals) in his second World Cup with Melli’s team, which is an undeniable boost. year and this could be further emphasized in favor of the eighth final of the Champions League against Inter Milan in February. Like Giroud, Ibra, CR7 or Benzema, who are in their thirties to a great extent, Taremi still has a bright future ahead of him to make up for lost time.
2 – Nayef Aguerd – West Ham
This summer, West Ham signed one of the best defenders in L1 from Rennes, not suspecting that they will recover one of the best defenders in the world in January! After the “Atlas Lions” saga, the former player, who trained in Rabat and passed through Dijon, revealed himself in the eyes of the football world at the age of 26.
From 88 meters tall, with defensive quality and left-handed technique, Aguerd competed with the best centre-backs in the world, safer than Maguire, Vertonghen or Laporte or even Upamecano. From the French nationality, there is no doubt that he will start with the Blues. His absence from the semi-finals was a major blow to Morocco’s ambitions.
3 – Dusan Tadic – Ajax
At 34, he is clearly not the partridge of the year … to bring Ajax play to the point of forming a key element of his attacking animation for five seasons until the goal of the Champions League final in 2019.
After four years playing against nature for Southampton in the Premier League (and not for nothing!), he found the game that suited him just before turning 30. Watching the best young ajasid crops fly each year, seeing them get stuck far from their nests. Because we don’t find a player of his class everywhere to play others. He is Serbian, he is in “Ajax”, where he is rightfully considered a real star in his home.
4 – Heung-Min Son – Tottenham
Twice Tottenham’s player of the year, top scorer of the Premier League in 2022 (23 goals), consistency of the Korean’s performance at a very high level since his arrival in the English championship eight years ago (never less than 20). goals per season), 245 matches for 96 goals and 50 assists, should make him a headliner for Spurs.
However, the best Korean player in history only succeeds at the age of 30 in the Channel and beyond. His impeccable attitude, his very complete game, his efficiency deserved more than the five pitiful little points he got in the final classification of the Ballon d’Or in 2017, 2018, which was not even on the list of candidates. , 2021, 22nd in 2019 with 4 points.
5 – Jordan Veretout – Marseille
His inclusion in France’s squad for the World Cup, albeit late (age 29), is a fair reward for an impeccable career that has allowed him to be discovered and, above all, to win the Premier League (Aston Villa), the Serie A. A (Fiorentina and AS Roma), hardened in Saint-Etienne after starting in Nantes.
OM de Tudor’s main man since the start of the season, Veretout never disappoints his coaches, even as Mourinho, who made him one of his managers in the full game register, was the most demanding defender and able to excel in attack. participating in multiple objectives, proof that he would benefit from being a little more powerful, if not valuable?
6 – Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
The Albiceleste owe him a place in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands. And not only. The 30-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper, who joined second-tier clubs after leaving Arsenal in 2012 (Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolverhampton, Getafe, Reading), was only called up to the national team in 2021 just before the Copa America. Made his mark by stopping three shots on goal in the fateful semifinal series against Colombia.
Having settled in the Premier League for two-and-a-half years, he has almost grown in size from his double-metre peak (1m96), but is still not considered the best. And yet…
7 – Giovanni Di Lorenzo – “Napoli”
The captain of “Napoli” is an unknown person
Not close to Calcio. Di Lorenzo (29), who has not featured in the last two World Cups, was the right-back for the Squadra Azzura 2020 European champions.
However, with Napoli’s lack of capital appearances at European level, the former Empoli player’s regularity is unclear. 2023, 32 years after the last one, could be the year of a remarkable run in the Champions League before the Scudetto reaches the Neapolitans and an elusive round of 16 with Eintracht Frankfurt.
8 – Adrien Rabiot – Turin Juventus
His controversial departure from PSG in 2019 after refusing to renew his contract, as well as his two-year (2018-2020) France ban for refusing to put himself on Deschamps’ substitute list, were brutal. it cut off the trajectory that should have brought him to the top very quickly.
Failing that, Rabiot (27) drew with Juventus at a club in decline in a prime-time window to return to the French side. His performance during the World Cup only put him back where he should always be: among the best midfielders in the world.
9 – Yassine Bounou – Sevilla FC
Rarely has it been given the spotlight like Montreal, Canada. Morocco has united world football’s elite in Qatar, finally paying tribute to a goalkeeper who suffered from a lack of recognition from Sevilla FC. Blocked for long periods by Oblak and Courtois at Atletico, forced to return to the Spanish D2 for playing time, he has only been a full-fledged player for two years with Sevilla FC.
Despite XXL performances in the Champions League and being named the best goalkeeper in La Liga in 2022, he had to wait 31 years and a phenomenal World Cup to finally be considered equal to the greats. Be late, be strong.
10 – Seko Fofana – Lens
His arrival at Manchester City at the age of 18 opened the door to fame for him. But not being able to force himself to do so forced him to sidetrack with Fulham, Bastia or Udinese.
It was there that RC Lens came looking for him, taking advantage of the Ivorian international’s lack of recognition for a €10m transfer that cost €40M and €30M to manage his return to L1. Paredes and Gueye by PSG or 25 M€ spent at the same time by OM for Strootman should pay! In the “Block to Block” game registry, Fofana nevertheless offers more guarantees, with the ability to pass several additional levels in 27.
Better for Blood and Gold. and also: Sofiane BOUFAL (Angers), Jordan HENDERSON (Liverpool), Ilkay GÜNDOGAN (Manchester City), Leon GORETZKA (Bayern Munich), Rafa SILVA (Benfica), Daichi KAMADA (Eintracht Frankfurt) ), Vissan BEN YEDDER (Monaco), Steven BERQUIS (Ajax Amsterdam), Teddy SAVANYER (Montpellier), Sergey MILINKOVIC-SAVICH (Roma Lazio), Moussa DIABY (Bayer Leverkusen), Granit XHAKA (Arsenal), Romain Aut Perraudton Alejandro REMIRO (Real Sociedad)
