As the transfer season swirls into action and talents depart Ligue 1 for pastures new, the spotlight seeks the next cab off the ranks destined for big things. It is the nature of French football and an essential component of the league’s ecosystem, players leave, and others blossom flourishing in the bask of the vacated…

After emerging through the ranks of a prestigious club and subsequently playing at a mid-table team for years, it is hard to find your way back to the elite level. This challenge is primarily rooted in the prevailing assumption that your capabilities are known already, with people judging you for not making it at the…

The Galactico era has returned to Real Madrid. Kinda. Instead of splashing money on the best and biggest players in the world, Los Blancos has instead turned to the best youngsters that football has to offer. The likes of Vinicius, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham have all been stockpiled by Madrid. Turkey’s…

Age: 19 Nationality: Belgium Position/s: Defensive midfielder/ Central midfielder Height: 5ft 11 in Current club: Southampton Number: 45   Romeo Lavia began his youth career when he arrived at Anderlecht aged 8. He spent 8 years there until he was 16 years old. In 2020, Lavia left Anderlecht to join Manchester City, signing his first…

Every season, Borussia Dortmund appear to spawn a new, exciting young player for their first-team squad. Their willingness to sign and develop teenagers and allow them to experience first-team football from a very young age is an effective tool to bolster the squad as well as making a significant profit on player sales.   In…

Club: SC Braga Nationality: Uruguay Position(s): AM, CM, RM, LM Preferred Foot: Right Height: 5’10”/178cm Age: 23 Strengths: creativity, chance creation, distance shooting, pressing, dribbling, agility Areas for Improvement: decision-making, composure, finishing, goal output   After a season that would see them reach the Taça de Portugal Final, finish third and qualify for the third…

Goalkeeper is arguably the toughest and most important position in football. Granted, every position is just as important in its own right, there is the saying that a “Good goalkeeper is half the team” and that tells you all you really need to know.   Over the years we’ve seen numerous players in the aforementioned…

With Declan Rice having finally made the switch from East to North London, West Ham have a £100m war chest with which to refresh their aging squad this summer, and in 18-year-old winger Carlos Borges they couldn’t have found a more exciting young player to pin their hopes on ahead of next season. The jewel…

Club: Ajax Nationality: Netherlands Position(s): CM, AM, DM Preferred Foot: Right Height: 6’2”/188cm Age: 28 Strengths: progressive passes, vision, ball-striking, technique, crossing, passing Development Areas: ball-carrying frequency, shot frequency   It has been a stellar return to Ligue 1 for Toulouse, who have finished 13th, 13 points clear of the relegation zone, thrashed Nantes 5-1…

From Marcelo to Roberto Carlos to Camacho, Real Madrid have been blessed with some stellar left backs over the years. With Fran García, they may just have a player who can excel at the position in the short-term and long-term, provide a more attack-minded option to the likes of Ferland Mendy and David Alaba, and…