European Leagues

15 exciting world-rated players to watch out for in 2024

Published

11 months ago

January 2, 2024

With 2023 finally at an end, it’s time to look ahead to what’s in store for next year in the world of football.

2024 is set to be a breakout year for some of the planet’s most promising wonderkids, a number of whom could be set to make spectacular and expensive moves to Europe’s elite clubs. Others are already there, ready to blossom on the big stage.

Let’s take a look at 15 players you need to watch out for in 2024.

Leny Yoro
The 18-year-old centre-back has been pulling up trees in France this season already and is one of the key components behind Lille’s hugely impressive form and defensive record. Yoro has featured in pretty much every Ligue 1 game this season, exhibiting incredible maturity and composure for a teenager.

The French Under-21 international has been linked with some of the top clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League, as well as Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain on the continent.

Johan Bakayoko
Bakayoko almost made the switch to the Premier League last summer, but rejected a £34m offer from Brentford. Instead, the winger has stuck around at PSV Eindhoven, sparkling in the Champions League this season with impressive outings against Arsenal in particular.

The tricky left-footed Belgian has already produced over ten goal contributions in Eredivisie this season, adding to the ten he managed last term. The 20-year-old has been linked with a move to Liverpool, eyed as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah.

Endrick
Endrick’s future is already certain: the 17-year-old will be joining Real Madrid next summer. The two-cap Brazil international will continue with Palmeiras until the end of the European season, but will soon team up with the likes of Jude Bellingham and compatriots Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior.

The forward has been mightily impressive in South America, consistently producing goals for Palmeiras at youth and senior level.

Maximilian Beier
One of the Bundesliga’s brightest talents, Beier’s performances with Hoffenheim this season have caught the eye. The German forward’s six goals and four assists from his opening 15 matches have impressed, with the 21-year-old capable of playing up front or cutting in off the left flank.

Liverpool have been touted with an interest in the youngster as they continue to explore the Bundesliga market, and Beier reportedly has a release clause of just £26m inserted in his current contract.

Valentin Barco
A left-sided midfielder capable of playing as a left-back, Barco appears to be yet another Argentinian gem. The 19-year-old’s stock has risen over the past year as he continues to blossom in Boca Juniors’ first team, even featuring in the most recent Copa Libertadores final against Fluminense.

The promising prodigy has a ridiculously low £8m release clause in his contract, and as such Boca currently trying to tie him to a new contract in order to maximise the fee they receive. However, such a valuation has interested the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Brighton, all of whom are eyeing a move for Barco.

Roony Bardghji
A player who was already idolised by Football Manager players across the globe, Bardghji truly announced himself to the world with a dramatic late winner against Man Utd in the Champions League this season. The Copenhagen winger slammed his volley into the ground and beyond Andre Onana, securing a famous 4-3 victory for the Danes.

The 18-year-old has already amassed over 70 appearances for Copenhagen, with the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Spurs doing their best to capture his signature.

Vitor Roque
Similarly to Endrick, Athletico Paranaense forward Roque will also be heading to a La Liga giant this summer, although he will be rocking up at Barcelona rather than Madrid. Having been prolific in South America, the 18-year-old made his first Brazil appearance in March 2023 before securing a £52m switch to Xavi’s side.

There is also a chance that Roque’s move is brought forward to January, with the youngster set to return from a serious injury imminently.

Joao Neves
Yet another youngster plucked from the Benfica academy of excellence, Neves is the latest starlet making waves in Lisbon. The 19-year-old central midfielder has already managed three caps for Portugal, impressing in a deep-lying role.

Scouts from the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool have already been in attendance to watch Neves in the flesh.

Jarell Quansah
Quansah has enjoyed quite the breakout season with Liverpool, the 20-year-old having helped alleviate the pressure on Jurgen Klopp to sign a new centre-back, especially with Joel Matip out for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL.

The Liverpool academy product, who Klopp dubbed ‘Virgil 2.0’, has blossomed in the Europa League and Carabao Cup, while he is also starting to earn more minutes in the Premier League. With England also lacking a young and authoritative centre-back, Gareth Southgate will be keeping an eye on his progress.

Oscar Gloukh
The Red Bull Salzburg talent factory has struck gold once more with 19-year-old Gloukh. The attacking midfielder has shone in Austria, also producing two goals and an assist in the Champions League this term.

With three goals in 12 games for Israel, Gloukh has claimed that Barcelona tried to sign him while he was still with Maccabi Tel Aviv. However, as a lifelong Real Madrid fan, a move to Catalonia looks unlikely.

Arthur Vermeeren
Royal Antwerp may have endured a torrid debut campaign in the Champions League this season, but defensive midfielder Vermeeren stood out. The 18-year-old sparkled for the Belgian side in Europe and it seems inevitable that he will be moving on to bigger and better things soon.

One club that is interested in the exciting prospect is one of his Champions League opponents Barcelona, Xavi’s side among a host of clubs touted with a move for Vermeeren. A list of suitors that includes Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Bayern Munich and Juventus, the two-cap Belgian international could be set for a big 2024.

Kobbie Mainoo
Man Utd’s season has been far from dreamy, but one shining light has been midfielder Mainoo.

Mainoo has shown incredible maturity during his performances in a struggling Man Utd side low on confidence, the England youth international set for an even bigger role with Red Devils in the coming year.

Ousmane Diomande
Goncalo Inacio may be the Sporting CP centre-back set for a big move this winter, but his fellow defender Diomande is certainly one to watch. The Ivorian has been a regular starter for the Portuguese side this season and reportedly boasts a £70m release clause in his contract.

The 19-year-old has been subject to interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, the former even having supposedly lodged a bid for his services during the summer, and it seems only a matter of time before Europe’s top clubs start circling the defender more vigorously.

Claudio Echeverri
Echeverri was one of the stars of the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup, finishing the tournament with five goals – only sat behind Argentina teammate Agustin Ruberto in the rankings. The 17-year-old starlet has attracted attention as a result of his stellar performances, with a number of European giants knocking on his door.

The attacking midfielder, who has made five appearances for River Plate’s senior side, and looks all set to join Man City in January.

Gabriel Moscardo
Eyed as a potential heir to Casemiro, Moscardo already faces huge pressure in the early stages of his career. The 18-year-old has put in some promising displays with Corinthians and is already being touted with a move to Europe.

The defensive midfielder has been linked with, of course, Chelsea, while Barcelona view the Brazilian wonderkid as a potential long-term successor to the recently departed Sergio Busquets.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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European Leagues

JAILED! French Striker Sentenced To Two-Years In Prison Over Rape

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Former AS Monaco, Sevilla and France forward Wissam Ben Yedder has been convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault in Nice, following a lengthy legal process.

The 34-year-old, who was a free agent this summer after leaving the principality, has been declared guilty of all charges in court, and on top of the two years in prison he will face, Ben Yedder will see his driving licence suspended for six months. He will pay a €6.5k fine in damages to the victim, and his name will be placed on the sex offender register.

Ben Yedder apologised to the 23-year-old victim during the court proceedings, blaming his actions on alcohol. Diario AS explain that the prosecution were seeking a year in prison and 2.5 years more in a suspended sentence, conscious of the fact that he has a separate ongoing rape investigation into him. Ben Yedder paid a €900k bail to avoid custody in 2023.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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European Leagues

Man City Crisis Deepens As Grealish, Foden Out Of England Squad

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Man City Crisis Deepens As Grealish, Foden Out Of England Squad

Manchester City’s number of international dropouts increased to five on Monday following the news that Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have pulled out of the England squad, along with Jeremy Doku’s withdrawal from Belgium duty.

It follows Manuel Akanji’s departure from the Switzerland squad, while Matheus Nunes was a surprise dropout from the Portugal team.

It’s a sign of just how widespread City’s injury issues are, with Ruben Dias and John Stones missing Saturday’s loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, along with Grealish and Doku, while Rodri and Oscar Bobb are long-term absentees.

Nathan Ake and Kevin De Bruyne have not been included in their respective international squads. The latter has only recently returned from a seven-week absence, while Ake was deemed not fit enough to come off the bench at the Amex.

In addition, Kyle Walker is yet to regain full fitness after sustaining an injury during the last international break. It means City squad really is threadbare on the back of a four-game losing streak, the worst run of Pep Guardiola’s time at the club.

However, the Catalan will be pleased to hear of Grealish’s withdrawal from the England squad. The former Aston Villa star has missed the last six City games due to injury and Guardiola was furious that he was called up by Lee Carsley.

“Seventeen days, didn’t train once. Today the first training and trained 20 minutes,” Guardiola said on Friday following the news of Grealish’s selection. “This is the reality. He was in the gym for a few minutes yes, the last two days. It’s a question for the [England] manager – I’m not involved. They can select who they want.”

Guardiola said after the Brighton game that he is hopeful several of the absentees will be back after the international break. City face Tottenham Hotspur on 23 November in their first match following the pause in club football, before games against Feyenoord and Liverpool.

Manchesterworld

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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Premier League

Ruben Amorim Has Three Manchester United Issues To Address – Details Emerge

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Ruben Amorim Has Three Manchester United Issues To Address - Details Emerge

Ruben Amorim is now Manchester United head coach having begun his reign on Monday.

The Reds boss has a near two week wait until his first match – at Ipswich Town on Sunday week – but there is plenty of work to do between now and then. His first few days will be spent familiarising himself with his new surroundings and staff before the players return from either international duty or a few days off.

United have markedly improved under the now departed Ruud van Nistelrooy but there is plenty of work to be done with the Reds still in the bottom half and with work to do in Europe. Amorim has three clear priorities.

Amorim will no doubt want to implement a style and put his own stamp on this misfiring United side but priority number one is results. The Reds are 14th in the Premier League following the weekend defeat to West Ham and are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

The first task is to climb the table and maximise the potential of an immediate fixture list that includes several home matches and several fixtures against bottom half sides. United also need to find victories in the Europa League having managed just one in four outings. Going out at the first hurdle is unthinkable and Amorim must ensure United are at least involved in the play-offs come the new year.

Amorim’s Sporting hit seven in his first match in charge while he was able to lift the title within 18 months. He knows how to get results quickly.

United have struggled for goals this season and their two most recent striker acquisitions, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, have yet to fully convince. The latter has the potential to become a focal point of the attack while Zirkzee’s role remains uncertain given his lack of goalscoring prowess.

Amorim could use both’s tune-up to ensure United can turn chances into goals. It wasn’t too long ago that Marcus Rashford was enjoying the season of his career, yet he regressed last term—though the early signs this season have been promising. Restoring confidence up top feels like a big priority.

And United can look at Viktor Gyokeres for inspiration. Not so long ago he was in the Championship with Coventry, he’s exploded onto the world stage at Sporting with almost a goal a game and Amorim has played a role in helping the frontman take his game to the next level.

Old Trafford used to be a place of intimidation, where teams were beaten in the tunnel. Now it’s nothing more than a welcome mat.

United have lost the fortress that served them so well and if they can find a tempo, style and intensity to worry teams and lift the fans, they can begin rebuilding that Old Trafford fear factor. United’s support, particularly away, is superb and if Amorim can hit the ground running with the basic template expected of United – front-foot football, attacking intent, effort and intensity – then players and supporters can start to create a club with a clear identity.

Sporting’s final home match under Amorim showed how united the club was, with a thumping 4-1 win over Manchester City, where players, managers, and fans were all together. Amorim fostered that, with results and success helping, but it was only a little over 12 months before his arrival that the unrest was so patent at the club that fans stormed the training ground in protest.

Manchester United Evening