Top 25 Underrated January Transfer Window Prospects
Here are the top 25 underrated January transfer window prospects.
The idea of this slideshow is to broaden your player database on footballers aged 23 years or younger who do not receive as much media attention, but could be January transfer window targets.
The 25 prospects are ranked via a combination of:
- Current playing ability.
- Upside.
- Transfer value.
Long-List Cuts
Nemanja Gudelj, 23, AZ's Serbian CM.
Kevin Wimmer, 22, Koln's Austrian CB.
Gerard Moreno, 22, Villarreal's Spanish CF.
Jose Mauri, 18, Parma's Italian CM.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou Mbida, 19, Nantes' French LAM.
25. Tomi Juric
1 of 25
Western Sydney Wanderers' Australian centre-forward Tomi Juric, 23, has so much untapped potential.
He is a big-moment player, as evident with what turned out to be the winning goal against Al-Hilal in the Asian Champions League final.
Yes, Juric's inconsistency in the A-League is a concern, but he is a big talent.
Juric is a mobile, strong and technical No. 9.
24. Mustafa Amini
2 of 25
The development of Borussia Dortmund's Australian central midfielder Mustafa Amini, 21, has stagnated.
He is one of Australia's most technically talented footballers and should have continued playing in the A-League, where he would have received more reps.
Even amid Borussia Dortmund's dramatic fall, Amini has not been given an extended starting run, which should tell him he needs to force a move away.
He is good enough to make it in Europe.
His playing style would translate in the Eredivisie or in the Segunda Division.
23. Adam Armstrong
3 of 25
Newcastle United's English centre-forward Adam Armstrong, 17, should be a prime January transfer target for Championship or League One clubs.
In limited minutes, he has shown he can compete against seasoned professionals.
He is probably too advanced to be playing in the Professional U21 Development League, yet may not be ready for regular Premier League action.
In Armstrong, Rolando Aarons and Ayoze Perez, Newcastle United have an exciting future.
22. Harrison Reed
4 of 25
Southampton's English defensive midfielder Harrison Reed, 19, was incredible in a 3-0 win over Everton.
He played the game as if it was the FA Cup final and imposed his dominance on the game. He recorded 14 tackles and intercepted three passes.
If Southampton don't see him as a regular part of their first-team, then Reed would be an invaluable starter/rotation player on loan at a bottom-tier Premier League club.
21. Matej Mitrovic
5 of 25
Rijeka's Croatian centre-back Matej Mitrovic, 21, will receive a lot of inadvertent attention because clubs around Europe will be breaking down film of his team to analyse teammate Andrej Kramaric.
Mitrovic is an economically efficient tackler (0.5 fouls per game) and great at reading the game, averaging 4.3 interceptions per game.
What teams may see is Mitrovic winning the ball in defence, swiftly offloading it to Mato Jajalo in midfield and a few plays later, Kramaric is threatening to score.
For the clubs that don't sign Kramaric, they could be impressed with Mitrovic.
20. Yvon Mvogo
6 of 25
Young Boys' Swiss goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, 20, has had good and bad moments in the UEFA Europa League.
But given his physical tangibles and his age, he has room to improve and could be an intriguing target for Bundesliga clubs.
Why Germany? Bundesliga clubs have taken a liking to Swiss goalkeepers in recent memory, such as Diego Benaglio, Marwin Hitz, Roman Burki and Yann Sommer.
19. Jesus Manuel Corona
7 of 25
Twente's Mexican right-forward Jesus Manuel Corona, 22, has a knack of dribbling out of tight situations.
It is fun to watch, but it is high-risk play and Corona only succeeds when he is in full flow.
When he is out of form, he is anonymous.
While he is not ready to move to a bigger league, he will invariably attract attention due to his dazzling footwork.
18. Taulant Xhaka
8 of 25
Basel's Albanian right-back/right-winger Taulant Xhaka, 23, has been an energetic presence down the wings.
He can beat his opponent and whip in a cross to create a scoring opportunity for his teammates.
While not as talented as his brother, Granit, Taulant is good enough to be on the books of a club in Europe's top leagues.
17. Elvis Manu
9 of 25
Feyenoord's Dutch left-forward Elvis Manu, 21, has an indefatigable attitude when it comes to playing football.
Not the biggest name in Dutch football, perhaps due to his mercurial play, Manu can be elite when he is in form.
One-on-one, it is difficult to stop Manu when he is afforded space. Give him too much room, and he will take advantage, running at opposing defenders and getting off quick shots.
16. Davie Selke
10 of 25
Werder Bremen's German centre-forward Davie Selke, 19, was a man among boys during the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Finishing the tournament as the top scorer, Selke was also named UEFA's Golden Player of 2014, which gives you an idea of how high his upside is.
15. Marc Stendera
11 of 25
Eintracht Frankfurt's German central-attacking/central midfielder Marc Stendera, 19, gives you snippets of play which make you think: "This guy is special."
During the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Stendera was Germany's creative outlet, leading the tournament in assists.
Stendera throws himself into tackles, he has quick feet and can split open opposing defences.
What he needs to improve is his passing accuracy as completing 68.2 percent of passes is inefficient.
14. Christian Gunter
12 of 25
Freiburg's German left-back Christian Gunter, 21, is often out of position defensively and needs to be more diligent with his marking.
But going forward, Gunter at times resembles Gareth Bale with elongated and rapid bursts.
Gunter may receive more recognition if he was moved upfield.
He is the type of precocious talent that might experience a drastic Bale-esque rise.
13. Andy Najar
13 of 25
Anderlecht's Honduran right-attacking midfielder/right-back Andy Najar, 21, deserves more acclaim.
He probably is the least rated of Anderlecht's batch of wunderkinds, but Najar has traits which will serve him well down the line.
He can play more than one position, he has a quick first-step, he is skillful and has held his own in the UEFA Champions League.
12. Breel Embolo
14 of 25
Basel's Swiss centre-forward Breel Embolo, 17, is a difference-maker and a natural game-winner.
Going by the eye test, he is an incredible talent and has the X-Factor.
It is now up to him to capitalise on his ability and put up the numbers, which will earn him a life-changing move to one of Europe's elite clubs.
11. Stefan Johansen
15 of 25
Celtic's Norwegian central/central-attacking midfielder Stefan Johansen, 23, has been one of the Scottish Premiership club's most impressive players in the UEFA Europa League.
He may not be as rated as teammate Virgil van Dijk, but Johansen's all-action running makes him stand out.
He is effective as an attacking midfielder, harassing opposing defenders and getting himself into scoring positions.
When asked to drop back, he is a robust tackler and a team-first player.
10. Mat Ryan
16 of 25
Club Brugge's Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan, 22, is a once-in-a-generation footballer for the Socceroos.
He is arguably Australia's most talented goalkeeper since Mark Bosnich, who played for Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Ryan has improved exponentially at Club Brugge and possesses the ability to play in one of Europe's elite leagues.
To think five years ago, Ryan was playing for semi-professional club Blacktown City.
9. Tommy Oar
17 of 25
Utrecht's Australian left-forward Tommy Oar, 23, is generally always looking to play in his favoured No. 9.
Oar is a pass-first creative playmaker who can produce scoring chances for his teammates. He has seven assists for Utrecht this season.
Brett Emerton was 23 years old when he left the Eredivisie for the Premier League, so career elevation should be on Oar's mind.
8. Jores Okore
18 of 25
Aston Villa's Danish centre-back Jores Okore, 22, has rebounded well after a cruciate ligament tear.
A competitive defender, averaging 1.8 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game, Okore is also composed on the ball.
Okore is crucial to Aston Villa's back line and it is only inevitable before a European club takes a chance on him.
7. Timo Horn
19 of 25
Koln's German goalkeeper Timo Horn, 21, has not been as amazing as Loris Karius, but the talent is palpable.
Starting every Bundesliga game for Koln, Horn has averaged 3.2 saves per game.
While he has had some awkward moments, like in a 4-3 win over Hoffenheim, Horn is a big goalkeeping prospect.
If he cleans up his game, he will develop into a top goalkeeper.
6. Morgan Sanson
20 of 25
Montpellier's French utility player Morgan Sanson, 20, is an under-the-radar talent.
Able to play across midfield and in various roles, he is a James Milner-esque footballer. Although Sanson is at his best in a central midfield role, where he can dictate play.
Offering versatility, high football IQ and consistent play will endear Sanson to potential suitors.
5. Jordan Amavi
21 of 25
Nice's French left-back Jordan Amavi, 20, is a complete full-back.
A prolific tackler, he is excellent at cutting off passes and routinely charges into the opposing half when in possession.
Don't be surprised if major European clubs target Amavi because he has the potential to develop into a world-class left-back.
4. Jordan Veretout
22 of 25
Nantes' French central-attacking/central midfielder Jordan Veretout, 21, is the real deal because he can consistently score and create goals with limited help.
Unlike former Nantes prospect Eric Djemba-Djemba, Veretout will probably take his game to the next level and maximise his elite upside.
He should garner attention from major European clubs like Eric Carriere, Mario Yepes and Jeremy Toulalan did when they were at Nantes.
3. Pedro Obiang
23 of 25
Sampdoria's Spanish central midfielder Pedro Obiang, 22, might not garner the same hype as Arturo Vidal or Kevin Strootman, but he has still put in exemplary performances.
Obiang has a complete skill-set and once he starts producing more goals and assists consistently, he will be one of the most expensive midfielders in the world.
This season, his quality has increased significantly.
2. Abdul Rahman Baba
24 of 25
Augsburg's Ghanaian left-back Abdul Rahman Baba, 20, is a gem of a footballer.
He is a lock-down defender, he can charge out and intercept passes, while being a lethal threat down the left-wing.
It is only a matter of time before Baba becomes one of the most sought-after defenders in world football.
1. Loris Karius
25 of 25
Mainz's German goalkeeper Loris Karius, 21, is a rising star in the Bundesliga.
He has accumulated 69 saves in 17 league games, which have ensured Mainz have drawn games they should have lost.
Mainz are tied with Freiburg for the most draws this season (nine).
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
