Every season comes the emergence of football’s next big stars – here’s my list of the five most exciting players to look out for next season.
*As the list aims to detail lesser-known and more niche names that you can look out for, I will be excluding stars playing in the English football pyramid*
5. Konstantinos Karetsas
The Greek 18-year-old has impressed for Belgian side Racing Genk this season, tallying 11 assists in 31 matches.
With comparisons being made between the youngster and Kevin De Bruyne, Karetsas is already earning the attention of top clubs all over Europe, who may be able to pick the Greek playmaker up on a bargain this summer.
Karetsas plays predominantly as either an attacking midfielder or on the right wing, boasting immense dribbling and footwork quality with the ability to dazzle opponents.
With a low centre of gravity and a creative eye, expect Karetsas in the coming years to be balling out for one of Europe’s elites.
4. Robinio Vaz
A powerful and inevitable young striker, Robinio Vaz not only tore it up for Marseille in the first half of this season, but he also secured a big move to AS Roma in January, who have teed him up as a successor to Paulo Dybala.
Possessing raw strength, remarkable positioning and immaculate game awareness, the Frenchman looks to have bags of potential, and with minutes provided, could truly start to make a name for himself as a true bagsman.
This is one of those names that, with just a Google search, you would look at his current 4 goals this season as average or not worth the hype; however, watching him play is where you notice that his quality lies beyond just statistics.
Relentless pressing, brutish movement and smart runs, not to mention him looking like a proper street baller in the way he takes on his man, Roma truly have a gem on their hands.
3. Kaloyan Bozhkov
A rogue shout, but Bulgarian youngster Kaloyan Bozhkov looks to be a dominant force in the making.
The 17-year-old midfielder, who was signed by Dinamo Zagreb last summer, is currently playing in their U-19 team and is proving to be an incredibly smart acquisition for the Croatian side, having scored 8 goals and hit double-digit assists in his previous season with Lokomotiv Zagreb.
A captain of Bulgaria’s U-17 side, Bozhkov seems to be a commanding midfielder who is brilliant on the ball and who has bags of talent in every aspect of the game.
He has already been compared to Barcelona ace Dani Olmo (formerly of Dinamo Zagreb) due to his creativity and ability to pull the strings in the midfield, yet he also has streaks of Yaya Touré and Rodri in his decisiveness and power, especially given his strength in aerial duels.
A real hipster’s choice, but one you should certainly keep an eye on.
2. Martial Godo
Now, into a player that has been ripping it up in France for Strasbourg this season, Martial Godo of the Ivory Coast is a world-beater to be.
Formerly of Margate and Fulham, Godo made the move to Strasbourg last summer and has been absolutely immense since, with versatility and explosiveness his main strengths.
A rapid and agile winger who has also played as a striker, a wide midfielder, and a full-back this season, Godo has shone in every game he has played, popping up with goals at acute angles, brilliant playmaking sequences, and man-of-the-match performances.
I predict the youngster not only to be a future star in AFCON but also one of the world’s best wingers, that is if he secures a move to a top Champions League side such as Liverpool or PSG.
1. Lennart Karl
The 18-year-old German prodigy has already broken into Bayern Munich’s first team, and in the absence of Jamal Musiala (due to injury), has been afforded the minutes to display his magnificent talents.
The definition of a street baller, Karl came up through Futsal, which is made abundantly clear as soon as he receives the ball.
A player that can show up in big moments, dictate the play, and to whom the ball just seems to gravitate, his dribbling ability mixed with shot power, patience and Messi-esque runs qualify him as one of the very best for his age group.
A star in the making, he is sure to be one of Bayern’s most instrumental players in years to come.
If the Bundesliga giants are smart, they will move quickly to tie him down to a long, long contract, as Real Madrid have reportedly been on the prowl.
