Scout Report: Charlie McNeill

by | Oct 27, 2020

It’s very rare that a youth level player comes with as much fanfare and hype as Charlie Mcneill did in the 2020 summer transfer window. The striker was part of Manchester United’s youth acquisition spree over the summer and made the switch from rivals Manchester City after turning heads all over Europe with some exceptional displays at many youth brackets for the Citizens. We uncover the content beyond the hype to figure out what the ‘Next Sergio Aguero’ – as he was called during his time at City – is all about.

Career History

Charlie was born on September 9, 2003 which means he celebrated his 17th birthday when his United career began last month. Unknown to many, McNeill actually began his career at United, working his way up through the ranks alongside the likes of Mason Greenwood. But he opted to make the controversial switch to cross-town rivals Manchester City in 2013 for around £12,000 as he looked to take his career to the next stage. Departing United to join City would have been hard enough for the fans in red to take, but to make matters worse, McNeill is actually a United fan himself. All said and done though, it’s safe to say the switch has worked out reasonably well for him so far.

A youngster’s goalscoring record at youth level doesn’t tell the complete story. But when a player scores over 600 goals across different age groups, then it’s clear just how special a talent he is. Yes, you read that correctly! Charlie has scored about 600 goals in his career already. To give you an idea, McNeill netted 110 goals and contributed 38 assists in just 72 matches during his time playing City’s Under-15s side. That’s just the 148 goal contributions in 72 matches. He has been scoring at a similar rate throughout his youth career. 

The teenager has developed into a pretty complete striker, while his performances have also seen him called up to the England Under-16s squad a number of times already. International recognition with England has led to 4 appearances so far for the U16s. His one goal for the Young Lions came in a 5-1 win over Moldova at the Aegean Cup last year. The goals come with trophies too making Charlie a Runner-up in the FA Youth Cup (18/19) and two-time winner of the U18 Premier League Cup (18/19 and 19/20). From his Instagram account, it’s easy to capture many other achievements of Charlie. He stands at the forefront of a group photo after City won the Premier League Under-15 International Tournament, held at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground, when they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final. There’s also a picture of McNeill holding two trophies with a medal round his neck at the equivalent under-14 tournament a year earlier.


It’s an interesting narrative that McNeill was actually the player tipped to step up and replace City’s departing Jadon Sancho – whom United chased to a dead end this summer – in 2017. Goal.com reported in an article titled, ‘Brahim and Sancho gone – but Man City have other teenage sensations’: “McNeill is just 14 but has been making a name for himself in the City academy for the past few years. Those familiar with the City youth set-up believe he is one of the best prospects of any age group and is definitely one to keep an eye on in the coming years.”

Playing Style

The variety of the goals McNeill has scored in U16 and U17 games is the most striking aspect. There are true highlights reel hits from 30 or 40 yards like this similar to those Paul Scholes used to produce while McNeill also enjoys cutting inside and bending shots across the keeper reminiscent of Wayne Rooney like this, and there are also confident traps, exquisite chips and casual bangers in the vein of Eric Cantona like these. He also appears to be an assured penalty taker with a cheeky Panenka slipped in for good measure at times. McNeill’s assist record from the U15s also suggests he’s more than happy to pass or cross when team-mates are present in better positions.

One of his U16 goals against Manchester United saw him pick up the ball wide on the left, cut inside and unleash a beautifully curled effort into the top right corner. A natural born finisher, McNeill knows where the goal is without needing to look up. Instead he ruthlessly fires home armed with two-footedness, technical prowess and a natural eye for goal most strikers crave for. Sure, he’s clinical in and around the box, but he’s also more than capable of the spectacular. Goals from the halfway line are made to seem almost easy by McNeill having scored a couple from that range at the youth level. He is a complete attacker who is more than capable of linking attacks and darting into space, while many comparisons have also been made with Wayne Rooney in regards to the way he drops deep to collect the ball at times.


(Photo by Manchester City FC/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

But perhaps what is one of his most promising traits is his mental strength and desire to never be completely satisfied with what he already has. As a result, it won’t come as much of a surprise to see the Times report that McNeill idolises Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski. His insane goal tally speaks of a player who never rests on his laurels. Always searching for more and looking at ways to improve, McNeill has the talent with the ball at his feet – but also the mentality to become a top footballer.

Transfer saga & settling in

After six years with the club, McNeill opted not to sign a new deal with City as he was said to be growing frustrated with his lack of opportunities at a higher level. He found games hard to come by in the U18s, managing just 8 appearances. In 18/19, he made just 3 substitute appearances in the U18 Premier League and that remained the case in 19/20 with just 4 substitute outings and 1 start before the season was curtailed because of the pandemic. McNeill did prove a point by scoring his first goal for the U18s in a 2-1 win over Blackburn back in February, but it was clear his time for the Sky Blues was coming to an end. The Manchester Evening News reported that McNeill saw a clearer pathway to the first team with United than at City. Italian giants Juventus and Red Bull Leipzig were also heavily linked to McNeill. But for the childhood United fan in Mcneill a chance to get back to his club was too good to turn down. With the Red Devils having built up a famous reputation with regards to first team opportunities for academy graduates and overseeing a youth revamp under Nicky Butt, the choice was obvious. McNeill returned to the United academy for an initial fee of £750,000 that could rise to £1.35million after he rejected the offer of a new contract at City in the summer. United sources say McNeill would represent an ‘absolute bargain’ even if he costs the full amount as he would have to play in a significant amount of first-team games and record noteworthy achievements to trigger the clauses. After a highly successful 6 years at City, Mcneill made the switch in September.

In true Charlie Mcneill fashion, the striker needed no time to start doing what he does best for the Red devils. His first appearance came in a pre-season friendly earlier this month against West Brom where the striker finished off a cool chance to get on the scoresheet. Last weekend, Charlie made his first official start for the U18 side against Derby U18 and – surprise, surprise! – smashed 2 goals in succession in an impressive 4-0 win. A timely dribble latching onto a through ball followed by a far-post finish and a poacher’s first time shot from a cut-back cross were enough to excite United fans about what’s to come. “First 2 of 600 goals for us” – an enthusiastic fan on social media chimed.

What next

McNeill is expected to play with the United’s U18s side for a while rather than the Under-23s, partially due to the long-term injury suffered by D’Mani Mellor. However, should he settle quickly and continue his progression, he could soon make the step up. If he keeps scoring at the rate he does, a U23 call-up is possible in the near future. Having just turned 17, Charlie has time on his side to make a mark at both levels before eyeing a main team debut. With Edinson Cavani and Ighalo, the Red devils are clearly looking at stop-gap solutions for the striker role to compete with Martial. Mcneill made the switch back to his boyhood club for a reason and if he keeps doing what he does he might just get the chance to impress the Old Trafford faithful sooner than later. 

(Image & Video Credits: Getty images & Charlie McNeill’s official Instagram account)

Scout Report: Amad Diallo Toure

by | Oct 24, 2020

Continuing with our wonderkid scout report series, the next player under the scanner is the one the Red Devils must be most excited about among the young signings. Bought from ‘La Dea’- Atalanta for an initial 21 million euros with a further 20 million in add ons – subject to medical and work permit, the transfer will be completed in the winter window (January 1, 2021- January 31st, 2021) once all the formalities are finished and paperwork is finalized. Yes, the player is Amad Diallo Toure – younger brother of De Zerbi led Sassuolo’s rising sensation Hamed Traore. This particular transfer has sent some shockwaves in the fanbase, as many are confused as to why the club has spent such a premium amount of money on a ‘foreign’ youngster who has just 120 minutes of action at senior level for the Bergamo based side. But those who have followed his journey right from the youth levels to him knocking down on the gate of the senior side, know how talented he is. Before jumping into the analysis of his game, a small glimpse on his journey till now is needed, showcasing how he can be a good ‘cultural fit’ at any club.

 

 

(Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

Career History

Born in Abidjan, Amad’s family moved to Italy when he was very young. He and his brother, Hamed, both started playing football at a young age; playing for local youth sides in Italy. He joined the youth team of Boca Barco, starting out in Giovanissimi Regionali i.e Under-14 championship in 2014. He impressed a lot of Serie A clubs with his dazzling displays which made him top scorer of the tournament. Ultimately, he ended up at one of the best academies in Italy, and the world – Atalanta Primavera. The youngster initially started out at Giovanissimi Regionali for Atalanta in 2015, but soon found himself on the fringes of the U19 team in a few months before switching back to U14 level. During this transition to the U19s, the winger scored a world class goal against Atalanta’s historic rivals, AS Roma, in the final eight and ended up winning a Scudetto.

During the 2016–17 season, he played for the U15 side before moving to the U17 side in the following season where he scored 12 goals in 27 appearances. In 2018–19, Traoré scored 12 goals and made 7 assists in 16 U17 games, and 6 goals and 6 assists in 26 Primavera games. He won the Campionato Primavera 1 with Atalanta during that season.

At the start of the 2019–20 season, Traoré won the 2019 Supercoppa Primavera, providing two assists in a 2–1 win over Fiorentina. He scored six goals and made six assists in 25 league games, helping Atalanta win the Campionato Primavera 1 for a second successive season. His performances and growth as a player earned him a first team debut against Udinese on 27 October, 2019 in which he scored just 4 minutes after coming on as a 79th minute substitute. He became the first player born in 2002 to score a goal in Italy’s top division, resulting in a 7-1 home win for Rossoblu. His first UEFA Champions League game call-up came on 11 December 2019, sitting on the bench in a 3–0 away win against Shakhtar Donetsk. Praised by Atalanta’s captain- Alejandro “Papu” Gomez himself for being ‘THE BEST’ prospect to come out of the Lombardia based club.

 

 

(Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Playing Style

A winger by trade, Amad is an ambidextrous footballer. His primary position is of a right winger where he has played for most of his youth career. He can also slot into the midfield if needed, equally capable of playing in the ‘half wing’ spaces (a ‘Mezzala’ in Italian). His ambidextrous nature and technical ability make him a versatile player. He gets involved in the build-up, equally taking part in creating the game and also trying to end into goal scoring position to finish the chances. He is more of an ‘inverted winger’- trying to cut-in and look for an opportunity to pass rather than just taking a shot. Due to his agility and good ability on the ball, he is adept at dribbling in close spaces, making progressive runs with the ball into the final third with ease.

 

 

(Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)

Tactical Analysis

Credits to MRKT Insights (@insightMrkt on Twitter) for the raw data available from Amad Traore’s 2019-20 season with Atalanta Primavera.

 

 

                                                                                                                              @insightMrkt on Twitter

In terms of attacking play, Amad has averaged 6.6 dribbles/90 mins, with a success rate of 58% – quite good for a player with raw potential. A 64th percentile on Goal Build-Up with a non-penalty expected goal + expected assist count of 0.89 make him a deadly asset from open play. In terms of passing and creativity, the teenager averages 3.82 progressive runs into the final third per 90 mins. He also plays 0.64 successful through passes and 3.26 successful passes inside the penalty area with a passing accuracy of 85.92%. In terms of defending, the Ivorian contests for 0.8 Aerial Duels per 90 mins along with 7.23 defensive duels per 90 mins. He can put in a good shift in defence if needed for more defensive stability in the team. With such brilliant ‘underlying’ numbers at youth level, this exciting prospect is justifying his potential. Given his playing style, he has the ability to finish a lot of problems this Manchester United side face, both in the attacking and defending phases. Manchester United’s inability to exploit spaces in both the right flank and the ‘half wing’ spaces on the right side of the pitch makes them devoid of creativity from this side of the pitch, overloading the left flank which has made their attacking game very predictable. They have suffered due to this inconsistency in terms of results – especially against minnows. Traore’s ability to make goal-creating actions with his technical ability can provide the Red Devils with a fresh injection of ‘creativity’ on that right flank, may it be in the form of a winger starting in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preferred 4-2-3-1 or even playing as the most advanced midfielder in a 3-man midfield setup, occupying the ‘half wing’ spaces. His defensive work rate can also provide extra stability to the right backs.

 

 

(Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

What Next

It takes a lot of things to amplify this output at senior level. Instant ‘fireworks’ shouldn’t be expected given he is a youngster with almost ZERO experience at senior level, coming to a new country, new culture and new league. He has to be eased into the team and given challenges to improve himself gradually. A right amalgam of playing time, coaching and management can amplify his potential and cut the rough edges around this ‘diamond’ who has the ability to replicate the creative numbers of the best U21 player in the world (the one Manchester United missed out on due to their indecisive nature) – Jadon Sancho. This is a signing intended for the future but work on making this ‘future’ a bright one needs to be done in the ‘present’.

Scout Report: Joe Hugill

by | Oct 21, 2020

It has been an exciting summer for anyone following Manchester United’s youth additions. A handful of players in the age group of 15 to 18 years were drafted in during the summer transfer window strengthening the club’s academy, being led by Nicky Butt, and youth policy, being championed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But, even the top brass might not have expected that one of the youth signings would settle in so well that talks of a professional contract would begin within 3 months. 16 year old Joe Hugill now has 5 goals in 4 starts and 1 substitute appearance for the United U18s and U23s. Rumours were afloat this week that Joe Hugill is expected to sign a professional contract with Manchester United until 2023. Let’s try to find out what all the hype is about.

Career history:
Born in Durham on October 19, 2003, Hugill has spent the entirety of his youth career at his boyhood club Sunderland and is considered one of their most promising youngsters. Sunderland’s ‘Academy of Light’ is considered among the best youth facilities in the country boasting past wonderkids of the likes of Jordan Pickford, Josh Maja and Conor Hourihane, but their record at U23 and U18 level was woeful last season. They failed to win a single game at U18 level. Despite their poor form, Hugill was a consistent goal scorer for the side. There’s one thing that Hugill guarantees, and that is goals. He bagged a hat-trick for Sunderland’s U18 side in an FA Youth Cup tie against Shrewsbury in November and it was no surprise to see him promoted to the U23 side, having consistently found the net at U18 level. After being promoted, Hugill bagged a brace in his Premier League 2 debut against West Ham which seemingly alerted many Premier League scouts to his potential.


(Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Playing Style:
One of the reasons Hugill was able to slot into the U23 side so comfortably is his physical attributes. Standing at 6’2″ Hugill has an obvious height advantage against most players in his age group and therefore poses a tangible aerial threat to defenders he comes up against. Strikers of a larger build are often (unfairly) criticised for their perceived lack of technical skills or pace. But the Sunderland prospect is blessed with a strong dominant left foot, a delicate first touch and the technical finesse to finish with either foot. Many have likened Hugill to former Three Lions striker Peter Crouch because of these similarities. The standout attributes of Joe’s game are his calmness in front of goal, intelligent runs behind the defense and his physicality which he uses to hold off defenders. The youngster showcased these traits with a superb run and lob against the Hammers last season in the FA youth cup brace. A coach who has worked closely with Hugill is Sunderland U23s manager Elliott Dickman – “If he keeps doing what he is doing, he will definitely get a taste of U23s football again. But at the same time, we have to make sure we look after Joe. We can’t push him too quickly, but the signs are there that he has good potential.”

It should also be noted that Hugill possesses some very desirable mental attributes for a finisher. He is composed, patient and hard-working enough to remain a constant threat in a game and take his chance whenever it arrives. This has contributed to him scoring almost whenever deployed, no matter what the age level or opposition level. In a nutshell, here’s a tall, strong, consistent striker who possesses fine technique and seems to guarantee goals whenever given a chance – what’s there not to get hyped about?


(Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)


Transfer Saga:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Nicky Butt and Michael Carrick had seen Hugill in action while watching Man United’s U18s take on Sunderland last year. The image below which has made the rounds on social media and is often used while talking about the youth recruitment drive, is actually a snapshot of the trio admiring Joe Hugill last season. Hugill had reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves and Leeds following his goal-scoring spree but Manchester United closed in aggressively to seal a deal worth £300,000 for the summer.


(Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)


Current season:
Upon signing, Hugill was fast-tracked into United’s U23 squad and needed just two minutes to make his mark with a clinical finish on his first league start against Blackburn. And he wasn’t done there; with Rovers four minutes away from victory after fighting back to take the lead, Hugill applied the finishing touch to a swift counter to rescue a point. Hugill’s instant impact in the U18 and U23 ranks at Manchester United earned a first international call-up, with the striker joining Kevin Betsy’s England U18 squad for training at St. George’s Park during the international break. The up-and-coming striker was on target for United in their Under-21 side’s EFL Trophy penalty shootout win against Rochdale. A dearth of reserve-level forwards is rumoured to have led Neil Wood to add Hugill to his Under-23 squad. As expected, Hugill was unfazed with the step up and was back among the goals for the U23s with a strike in Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 with Arsenal’s U23s. At the moment, if Hugill has a problem, it’s that he just can’t stop scoring.


(Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)


What next:
Joe Hugill’s progress has come as a pleasant surprise to the coaching staff at Manchester United who recognised his potential when they brought him in from Sunderland. But the speed of that progress has exceeded expectations, bearing in mind he’s only been at the club for three months. The Durham-born youngster celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday, making it possible for the club to trigger the professional contract that was part of his £300,000 transfer from Sunderland in the summer, as per reports. The teenager will probably play most of his football this season with the U18s as the Academy coaches aim to nurture him further and work on his physical development. But given his uncanny knack to always deliver when given a chance it may not be that long before he is given a shot in a senior team game. United are in search of a tall, strong and clinical poacher-styled attacker which is evident with Ole’s Erling Haaland chase last season and this summer’s Edinson Cavani acquisition. If Hugill’s rapid development continues, he might just be the one knocking on the door to fill that slot once the Uruguayan is done. 


(Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Scout Report: Facundo Pellistri

by | Oct 17, 2020

Now that the international transfer deadline is in the past and the International break is also over, club football will finally resume. It has been a frustrating window for Manchester United and their fans, with the usual social media frenzy over the first-choice transfer targets not arriving at the club. The club being involved in some ‘Deadline Day Drama’ has resulted in the signature of 2 Uruguayans. One is known to be one of the best strikers of the 2010s- Edison Cavani. But it is the 2nd Uruguayan who has the potential to become a world beater, if groomed well- Facundo Pellistri. Manchester United moved in to trigger the release clause of the 18-year old winger who had just broken into the first team of Penarol, after reaching a stalemate with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho over transfer fees. With the English club devoid of any ambition to make such a hefty investment on a single player they turned to Uruguay in order to secure the services of the talented youngster, beating French giants Olympique Lyonnias who had also triggered his 10 million euros Release Clause. 

 

Matias Vina of Nacional and Facundo Pellistri vie for the ball during the Uruguayan Clausura tournament final football match between Penarol and Nacional, at Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on December 11, 2019. (Photo by EITAN ABRAMOVICH / AFP) (Photo by EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP via Getty Images)

Career History:

Before jumping straight into his detailed data driven analysis, a short glimpse at his playing style is required which can help Manchester United both in the short and long run. The 5’9” right winger started his footballing journey at La Picada then moving to River Plate Montevideo before being snapped up by Penarol in 2014. He spent 5 years in the Penarol Academy before making his debut for team on 11 August 2019 in a 2-2 draw against Defensor Sporting. He has Spanish and Italian ancestry and holds a Spanish Passport which made his transfer to Manchester United on deadline day (5th October, 2020)- a hassle free one; devoid of any work permit issues- which is a big issue from player registration point of view in England, due to which the influx of Non-EU players in England is decreasing year by year.

Playing style:

A winger by trade, Facundo is praised (especially by Uruguayan legend and Former Manchester United player Diego Forlan) a lot by for his agility, technique, and strategic vision to pick players by delivering line-breaking passes and defence splitting crosses to a ‘Poacher’/’Target Man’ in the box. His game is more of a natural winger as compared to modern day ‘inverted wingers’ or ‘inside forwards’. This particular trait can help Manchester United a lot in the long run- with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s overlapping runs and attacking play being not so good, Pellistri’s ability to hug the touchline can provide the team with much needed width and space for midfielders like Bruno Fernandes and Donny Van De Beek to exploit this created ‘space’ and do their work more easily. His defensive work-rate and positioning is also good which can help the team in defensive phase and provide with much needed defensive cover from flanks.  

Coming to the topic of data-driven analysis, due credits to Wyscout and Twitter Users: @Ninad_B06 and @Statmanscouts for much needed raw data.

 

Credits: @Ninad_B06 on Twitter

Despite a poor “G+A count”- 1G, 2A (main reason being a backup/rotation purpose player and seeing out later minutes of the match on many instances), his underlying numbers are very good for an 18-year old teenager. His ability to dribble and create is perfectly clear in above ‘data visualization’. Facundo has accumulated 1453 minutes in 20 appearances for Penarol, so the scope of comparison is U20 wingers who have amassed 900+ minutes- both in his native Uruguay and Top 5 leagues in Europe. He has attempted 7.86 dribbles per 90 minutes with 14.85 ‘offensive duels’ (take-ons, dribbles completed) per 90 minutes out of which he has 5.84 ‘successful attacking actions’. Facundo has good ability on the ball which is shown by his 2.91 progressive runs per 90 minutes, meaning he can be a good asset for any team which relies on a mix of possession based and counter attacking system- which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to implement at Manchester United, a player being good both on and off the ball, helping in fluid transitions from Defence to Attack and vice-versa.

 

Credits: @Ninad_B06 on Twitter

What’s next:

With Facundo given the #28 jersey and registered for PL and UCL, he will be used sporadically in the team from the looks of it. It is a signing meant for the future, so immediate fireworks shouldn’t be expected. Signs of exploding fireworks are there, with the above data driven analysis but in order to reach that, the player has to be eased into the squad slowly and gradually given the challenge to improve. In order to maximize the potential of the player, a mix of player ability, right system, right coaching and right atmosphere for youth development is needed. All of these aspects are there at Manchester United, just the right amalgam of all ingredients is needed. If this right amalgam is not found, everyone will suffer but it will be the player who will suffer the most. This is the most important factor which has to be emphasized on when making such ‘long-term future’ signings.

Top 5 Wonderkid Signings To Look Out For

by | Oct 12, 2020

Scouting in football was a simple profession. A scout goes to a game, or a few, to watch a potential transfer target And if he likes what he sees, then he is in the list of potential recruits. Nowadays, it is much more complicated and much more detail oriented than that. Due to many factors including a boom in data driven analysis along with much easier access to video footages of players, Scouting has become a much more extensive process. 

Another factor we can consider is the continuous inflation of the values of players playing in their prime. Players, playing in their prime, in today’s transfer market cost a lot of money and the mid table clubs in any league don’t have the financial muscle to sign such players. Instead, we can see a lot of clubs going for the ‘wonderkid approach.’ Clubs prefer to sign players under the age of 23 or 21, who are relatively cheaper and have loads of potential and develop them and then sell for a much bigger value later on. Clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Leicester City have kind of made this their transfer policy and it is becoming increasingly popular these days due to the many means of scouting available. 

Today, we will look at the top 5 wonderkid signings in this transfer window. 

Note: We are only considering players, under the age of 21, who had their breakthrough season last season or players who are on the verge of having their breakthrough season. So, players like Kai Havertz won’t be under consideration as they can already be classified as established first team superstars. 

#5 : Jeremy Doku

From: RSC Anderlecht 

To: Stade Rennais FC

Age: 18

Position: RW/LW

Cost: 25m euros

(Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Jeremy Doku is widely considered as the hottest talent coming out of Belgium who already have managed to give the world a plethora of sensational talents. The 18 year old joined Anderlecht in 2012 and has made 30 appearances for the Belgian powerhouses after debuting when he was only 16 years old. His performances last season caught the eye of many, one of them being Belgium manager Roberto Martinez who gave Doku his first call up to the senior side. 

Doku can play on either flanks and is known for his explosive pace and dribbling. His dribbling is his prized asset with him attempting(12.54) and completing(7.42) dribbles per 90. More than anyone else in the Belgian pro league. Doku attempted 168 dribbles last season whilst 126 of them being successful, an impressive 75% dribbling rate. Another one of his strengths is his crossing with him having a 40.3% success rate. 

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and AC Milan were all interested in securing the Belgian’s services but Stade Rennais got their man in the end. The interest from these clubs show how much he is rated by everyone in Europe. 

#4: Jonathan David 

From:  KAA Gent

To: Lille OSC

Age: 20

Position: CAM/ST/LW/RW

Transfer fee: 30m euros

(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Doku wasn’t the only player moving from Belgium to France this transfer window with the other one being the highly rated Canadian – Jonathan David. David was still playing for an amateur side in Canada only 2 years back which earned him a trial at Gent. Impressed by his skill, he was signed immediately into their youth setup. He continued to rise through the ranks and last season came into his own playing for the first team. In 27 Belgian Pro League matches, David managed to score a whopping 18 goals and also add 8 assists to his tally. He also scored 3 goals in the Europa League. His integration in the Canadian national side has been very impressive as well with him managing to score 11 goals in just 12 caps. 

Jonathan David can play across the forward line but he shines the most while playing in central positions, mainly as a secondary striker. He has got good pace and dribbling skills which make him a go to outlet for counter attacks. His decision making and movement are also impressive with him known for his late runs into the box and scoring goals using his intelligence. It was no surprise that Lille made him the most expensive Candian ever as they are known for their extensive scouting range. 

#3: Victor Osimhen

From: Lille OSC

To: SSC Napoli

Age: 21

Position: ST

Transfer Fee: 60m euros

(Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Another one of the Belgian to French League transfers. One which happened last season when Victor Osimhen moved from Charleroi to Lille. Osimhen had his breakthrough season last year with him scoring 13 goals and adding 5 assists in 27 appearances for Lille in the Ligue 1. He was in the running for winning the golden boot before the season was ended prematurely due to the pandemic. 

Osimhen’s main strengths lie when in and around the box. He completes very little dribbles and is rarely involved in the build up play but he is a fox in the box. His movement and clinical finishing is what makes him special. While his movement in the box is his best trait, his hold up play is something that cannot be ignored. He only has 2.9 unsuccessful touches per 90, only 0.6 more than Harry Kane whose hold up play is one of the best in Europe. He is also a relentless presser and works in both the offensive and defensive transitions. His ability certainly impressed Genaro Gattuso who urged Napoli to pay the big bucks for the 21 year old. 

#2: Jude Bellingham 

From: Birmingham City AFC

To: Borussia Dortmund

Age: 17

Positions: CM/CAM

Transfer fee: 25m euros

(Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

Borussia Dortmund have cultivated a reputation for being the home for many promising youngsters in Europe. Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland, Dan Axel Zagadou all moved to play at Signal Iduna Park and are regarded as some of the most promising youngsters in Europe. Bellingham being no different. Already a first team regular for Birmingham in the Championship at age 16, many top clubs like Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid were rumoured to be interested in signing the player. Particularly, Manchester United were very keen to bring the 17 year old to Old Trafford but Bellingham rejected them in order to guarantee playing more first team football. 

Bellingham made 44 appearances last season for Birmingham in all competitions mainly playing as a CM in a 4-4-2 but he also played on the right in a 4-2-3-1 or even as a striker in some matches The 17 year old also won the EFL Young player of the season last season. All this at only 16 years old. What people like so much about Bellingham is that he is far from the finished product and he can develop into pretty much any type of midfielder he likes. He is a gifted dribbler, is clinical in the attacking third, he has got good strength and also a very good footballing IQ. He is very good in the defensive side of things as well, with him very adept at tackling and intercepting the ball. A pure box-to-box midfielder who can work very well in both defensive and offensive parts of the game and can be developed in any midfield role depending upon the system his team plays. 

#1: Sandro Tonali 

To: Milan

From: Brescia

Age: 20

Position: DM/CM

Transfer fee: 10m in Loan fees/option to buy for 15m euros

(Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

After being promoted last season, Brescia struggled in the Serie A and ended up being relegated. But, they had the most exciting Italian youngster in their ranks – Sandro Tonali who didn’t fail to impress in the Serie A. Dubbed as the next Andrea Pirlo, Sandro Tonali is one of the most promising youngsters in Europe. Tonali himself says he is closer to Gattuso than Pirlo but he could be considered as a mixture of both of them.

Tonali plays the same Deep Lying playmaker role or as a Regista that Pirlo used to play. He played as the deepest midfielder for Brescia in a 4-4-2 diamond formation. His vision and his passing are his best abilities. His 74% pass completion rate may seem low but Tonali is known to take risks and pass it forward instead of playing it safe sideways and backwards. He averages 2.1 key passes per 90 which means he is not afraid to take risks and pass it forward. He is also a very sound dribbler with him averaging 1.4 dribbles per 90. In the defensive phase, he shined in a Brescia team who had one of the worst defences in the league last season. He averaged 1.2 tackles and 4.8 successful pressures per 90 last season which showcases his sound defensive abilities. His numbers will only improve at Milan with him playing with considerably better players. At the price Milan can sign Sandro Tonali, it already looks like a real bargain. 

Honourable Mentions

Sergino Dest (From AFC Ajax to FC Barcelona)

Ferran Torres(From Valencia CF to Manchester City)

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