Top 50 Young Players – Part 4 (20-11)
With the season set to draw to a close, a lot of clubs will be scrambling around to scour the market and find new talent worth signing. In the last couple of seasons, a lot of starlets have taken the world of football by storm and here we will take a look at Part 4 of our Top 50 countdown comprising of youngsters from 20-11. You can check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 as well.
20. Max Meyer – Schalke 04
Regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in the world at present, Meyer thrives in the role of a deep-lying playmaker. He can affect the game like nobody else and seems to have a penchant for pulling the strings quite effortlessly to dictate the proceedings in the middle. At 22 years of age, he has attracted attention from some of the top clubs across Europe, including Barcelona and Chelsea. Whether he continues with Schalke or not remains to be seen but there is absolutely no doubt that Meyer is earmarked for a bright future.
19. Wilfred Ndidi – Leicester City
In such a short time, Ndidi has managed to establish himself as a key player for the Foxes. Ever since Claude Puel took charge, Leicester have miraculously managed to turn things around for themselves and Ndidi has played a crucial role in helping them doing that. Despite being just 21, Ndidi has displayed admirable skill and technicality playing alongside Vicente Iborra in the heart of the midfield. By the end of the season, Leicester will definitely start receiving offers for the talented star.
18. Youri Tielemans – Monaco
Tielemans is like the ideal midfielder and that is quite a huge deal for a player who is just 20 years of age. His passing range is absolutely top-notch and he is quite adept at surging forward and displaying his attacking prowess. Back at Anderlecht, the player scored goals day in and day out and was quite a strong talent. He has a long way ahead of him but if Tielemans continues playing this way, there is absolutely no doubt that he can make it far.
17. Julian Weigl – Borussia Dortmund
Weigl played a starring role for Dortmund during Thomas Tuchel’s tenure and he continues to be a crucial part of their team. Despite being a defensive midfielder by trade, Weigl can do quite a lot in attacking situations as well. At 22 years of age, Weigl is the heart of the Dortmund midfield and he is quite effective at pulling the strings to dictate proceedings while also maintaining a sense of fluidity in the game. Germany has produced some of the finest superstars of our times and Weigl certainly looks set to follow that path.
16. Thomas Lemar – Monaco
Lemar shot to fame last season when the defending Ligue 1 champions staged an incredible feat to win the trophy. He is extremely versatile and can play on either wing as well as through the centre. He is an out-and-out attacker and is one of Monaco’s most creative players. He continues to get targetted by big clubs in and around the Premier League and a move outside the Ligue 1 can work wonders at helping him develop and take his career to the next level.
15. Andre Silva – AC Milan
The 22-year-old has scored in all of his Europa League appearances so far this season. He has proven his mettle in the Serie A as well and he is deservedly regarded as one of the most exciting young strikers across Italy. However, he has found his time limited with the Italian giants this season. His finishing skills are absolutely impeccable and he is quite a well-rounded player. Known for his lightning-fast dribbling skills, Silva is fast on the verge of becoming one of the most sought-after strikers across the continent.
14. Gianluigi Donnarumma – AC Milan
Donnarumma has endured a turbulent couple of months with Milan due to contractual issues and a couple of poor performances but there is no denying his talent. Despite being just 18 years of age, the young star is considered the heir apparent to Italy’s legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. He has earned several accolades for his displays in front of the net and one look at his lightning-fast reflexes and skills is more than enough to determine that he is one to keep an eye on.
13. Giovanni Simeone – Fiorentina
Son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, the young Simeone has managed to make a name for himself. The 22-year-old has earned rave reviews for his performances as a striker and he can hope to achieve a lot in his career if he continues this way. He has scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists so far this season – which is not a bad figure for a young striker. In addition to that, Simeone is also a delight to watch on the field.
12. Moussa Dembele – Celtic
Dembele has been in the news for quite some time now and for all the right reasons. He has been in sensational form for the Scottish giants and at 21, he is regarded as one of the brightest attacking talents across leagues. In 23 appearances across competitions this season, Dembele has scored 9 goals so far. He combines his insane dribbling skills with his finishing capabilities and can often find the back of the net, making it all look so effortless.
11. Marcus Rashford – Manchester United
Rashford rose to prominence at Old Trafford as a teenager and has been a regular part of the first-team ever since. Now, at 20, he is regarded as one of the deadliest attacking options across the Premier League. Adept at scoring goals and creating as many opportunities, the young star is a fan favourite among the United faithful and with good reason. He was one of their most reliable players at a time when the club was performing poorly and he continues to be a pivotal figure for them up front.