Top Ten Possible Transfers From Smaller Leagues
By Ryan Wrenn
Playing for 90 is in the midst of listing off some of the probable transfers out of the biggest leagues in Europe. But what of some of the smaller leagues worldwide? Let’s break down the top ten players, in no particular order, coming from the Netherlands, Russia, Brazil and elsewhere.
A quick note: transfer fees are sourced in Euros from Transfermarkt.
1. Salomón Rondón – Center Forward – Zenit St. Petersburg
Rondón should become one of most in demand strikers by the end of Europe’s summer transfer window. For only being 25 years old he has a great deal of experience, first coming to prominence for Málaga in Spain before finding himself in Russia for the last few years. This past season he won the Russian Premier League with Zenit and scored a more than a goal every other game along the way.
How Much? 15 million €
Who Needs Him? Any club looking for a physical, dominant center forward in the mold of Diego Costa or Christian Benteke.
Probable Destination? Premier League
2. Aleksandar Mitrovic – Center Forward – Anderlecht
The Serbian forward just finished a wonderful season at perennial Belgian contenders Anderlecht, scoring 27 goals in all competitions. He’s not quite as imposing a center forward as Rondón, but what he lacks in physicality he makes up for in pace and technical ability. In that regard he’s more like Juventus’ Álvaro Morata: quick to get on the end of a ball and lethal in his finishing. He probably not be ready for prime time – he’s still only 20 – so it might take a brief stay in a finishing school of sorts before he can feature in the bigger leagues.
How Much? 9 million €
Who Needs Him? Clubs willing to polish a still slightly-rough stone but also content to let him go, albeit for a tidy profit.
Probable Destination? Portugal, specifically Benfica if the rumors are true.
3. Bertrand Traore – Center Forward – Vitesse
Right up front: it’s a bit misleading to include Traore in this list. He’s one of the ever-increasing constellation of loan players Chelsea has on their books, so technically he’s already part of a club in a big league. He’s only recently got his English work permit approved though, which makes his Premier League debut much more likely next season. Traore is young and raw, like many of Chelsea’s loaners, but the center forward still managed to impress for Dutch side Vitesse last season. Expect him to feature for another club on loan before he earns any minutes on Chelsea’s first team though.
How Much? Likely loan agreement
Who Needs Him? Given his age – just 19 – it’s likely that Traore will follow in the path of Chelsea’s other promising young forward, Patrick Bamford, and compete for a Championship side
Probable Destination? It’s mere speculation, but given Chelsea’s rapport with Middlesbrough, you might expect Traore to end up there in Bamford’s stead.
4. Hakim Ziyech – Playmaker – Twente
It can be easy to get excited about a player like Ziyech in the Eredivisie. The Dutch league has some notoriously bad defending, a fact which tends to make such precocious talents like his seem especially promising. Many clubs have been convinced by such displays only to find that these players struggle in the meatier, more solid defenses of the Premier League. That said, Ziyech seems like he has to be the exception. As the video above attests, he has that mostly unheard of combination of amazing vision and a knack for goal. If he can find a club to nurture those talents – and perhaps patiently wait for him to adjust to a more difficult league – he might just become world-class.
How Much? 5 million €
Who Needs Him? Any club on the lookout for a relatively cheap playmaker with a lot of upside.
Probable Destination? Ziyech is precisely the type of player that clubs like Southampton and Swansea might snatch up only to sell at a massive profit in a few years.
5. Tyrone Mings – Rightback – Ipswich
The English Championship produced a small army of promising young prospects this past season. Many of them were loaned players from bigger clubs – Patrick Bamford from Chelsea and Alex Prichard from Tottenham, to name just two – but a select few were actual home-grown talent. Tyrone Mings is perhaps the standout from that group, plying his trade primary in defense for Ipswich Town. He rightfully earned high marks across the board for his efforts with the club this season, mostly at rightback but occasionally subbing in at centerback when required. His pace and size – immense at 6’5 – should already qualify him for a starting role in some first division side, but his real quality comes in his contribution to attack and eye for a constructive forward pass. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t see much more from Mings next season.
How Much? 3 million €
Who Needs Him? Quality, reliable fullbacks are in hot demand for good reason, so he could turn up almost anywhere. Mings provides the muscle and technical ability that the modern game demands out of players.
Probable Destination? Premier League
6. Bill Hamid – Goalkeeper – DC United
The United States has built a reputation out of producing quality goalkeepers and Bill Hamid is their latest standout. Developed by the DC United academy, the 24 year old has consistently proven himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS. Capable of creating weekly highlight reels with his reaction saves and a command for the box that belies his age, Hamid can expect to attract some interest from clubs outside of the MLS.
How Much? 750K €
Who Needs Him? Teams needing an upgrade and long term stability in goal.
Probable Destination? Premier League or Championship
7. Luiz Adriano – Center Forward – Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar has long been a proving ground for Brazilians looking to get into bigger sides in the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe. Both Willian and Fernandinho owe their current Premier League starting jobs to their time with Shakhtar. Luiz Adriano has been with Shakhtar since 2007 and has become the club’s all-time top scorer along the way. A move abroad would be difficult, but the club might be inclined to sell now while the striker’s value is likely at its highest. He can at times seem one-dimensional, but that can be forgiven given his goal-scoring rate.
How Much? 8.5 million €
Who Needs Him? Clubs looking for a relatively cheap striker with high upside.
Probably Destination? A mid-table Premier League or La Liga side.
8. Charles Aránguiz – Midfielder – Internacional
Aránguiz has been a fixture on the Chilean national team for years now, but he only really starting getting attention after last summer’s World Cup. A midfielder that has thrived in Chile’s high-press, reactive style, Aránguiz should be on the shopping list of any number of European clubs. His two goals last Friday against Bolivia show that he’s able to shine even featuring in the same team as Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez. Indeed, it’s the former player that might be his closest analogue: an all-in-one midfielder who has plus defending, passing and attacking.
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How Much? 9.5 million €
Who Needs Him? Aspirant, on-the-rise clubs who can’t yet afford Vidal.
Probably Destination? His versatility should make him a perfect fit for Italy’s Serie A, but don’t be surprised if a mid-table Premier League side takes a punt.
9. Jackson Martínez – Center Forward – FC Porto
Martínez has struggled to find minutes with Colombia thus far this Copa America, but he’s a regular fixture for his FC Porto side in Portugal. The center forward has long been connected with bigger clubs in Europe but has failed to make a move since he began impressing during his first season in Portugal in 2012. He’s proven his consistency with Porto, scoring 92 times over the course of 132 games. His size makes it seem like he’d be typecast as a target man, but in reality he has the speed and timing to make him fit in multiple different systems. Porto’s regular runs in the Champions League makes Martínez all the more attractive for clubs looking for experience in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.
How Much? 32 million €
Who Needs Him? Established clubs looking for an established striker. Martínez brings the class of a veteran with experience in domestic and international competitions.
Probable Destination? Martínez is the kind of veteran that would be a perfect fit for a club like Atletico, especially with Mario Mandzukic leaving for Juve.
10. Pione Sisto – Winger – FC Midtjylland
Chances are you’ve never heard of Sisto or his club, FC Midtjylland. They won the Danish Superliga last term on the back of a genuinely revolutionary approach driven by analytics. Sisto is slowly becoming a key part of that system, having been with the team since he was 18 years old. He plays primarily on the right wing, as the video above demonstrates, and has a penchant for some tricky dribbling and build up play. Like Ziyech above, it can be hard to gauge how talented a player like Sisto could be by only seeing how well he performs in a relatively poor like like Denmark’s. Considering his low cost, it might be considered a worthy risk for some clubs.
How Much? 2 million €
Who Needs Him? Sisto seems destined for one of those many clubs – FC Porto in Portugal or Basel in Switzerland – that specialize in putting the finishing touches on young talent.
Probable Destination? If he can live up to his promise, his ceiling could be as high as Ziyech’s. That might be a few years, and a few clubs, away though.