IMScouting’s top 50 transfer tips (Part 1)

As the eagerly awaited January transfer window opens for business, IMScouting has delved deep into its wide ranging scouting network to provide 50 transfer tips.

All the players listed below are no older than 25-years-old and all are up-and-coming players in world football. They include a mixed bunch of players and provide an insight into players who many clubs and scouts may not have previously heard of.

Today we release Part 1, which focuses on goalkeepers and defenders. Video evidence is provided where available.

Goalkeepers

1. Itumeleng Khune

Age: 21

Position: Goalkeeper

Current club: Kaizer Chiefs

Estimated market value: 500K euros

Note: Scouts in South Africa rave about this custodian blessed with excellent reflexes, good positioning, good distribution and a calm head. He has an excellent future in the game.

2. Piet Velthuizen

Age: 22

Position: Goalkeeper

Current Club: Vitesse Arnhem

Estimated Market Value: 4 million euros

Note: Piet Velthuizen has emerged as one of the major Dutch talents in the last two years and undoubtedly the hottest young goalkeeper in Holland.

The 22-year-old, 6.2ft custodian joined Vitesse Arnhem in 1999 and made his breakthrough into the first team during the 2006/2007 season. Numerous scouts in the Netherlands have confirmed he is a top keeper who is tipped by many to be the future Dutch number one.

3. Bruno

Age: 24

Position: Goalkeeper

Current Club: Flamengo

Estimated Market Value: 6 million euros

Note: Flamengo’s custodian was recently linked with a move to AC Milan but for now appears to be staying with the most popular club in Brazil. Good with the ball at his feet, he has even scored from a free kick. One of the best goalkeepers playing in Brazil’s Serie A. He is strong with balls in the air, on one-on-ones and is also noted for saving penalties.

Video evidence: here

Defenders

4. Daniel Coleman

Age: 24

Position: Central defender

Current Club: Hearts of Oak

Estimated Market Value: 94K euros

Note: Coleman is a strong centre back who reads the game well and has shown good leadership qualities. He has been the captain of Heart of Oak for the last three years. He has very good aerial ability in defence and is very experienced internationally. He played a major part in all the youth national teams of Ghana, including three appearances in the 2004 Olympic Games.

5. Ashraf Hendricks

Age: 24

Position: Central defender

Current Club: Bidvest Wits

Estimated Market Value: 100K euros

Note: A steady and dependable centre back, he is commanding in the air, while he shows a good touch with his feet as well. Has received international recognition in the past, having gained three caps for South Africa.

6. Ahmed Al Mohamady

Age: 21

Position: Right defender

Current Club: ENNPI Cairo

Estimated Market Value: 1 million euros

Note: This young right back can play all along the right side including as a right winger. He is considered one of Egypt’s greatest talents, and recently had a trial with Blackburn Rovers and was close to a move prior to the departure of Paul Ince.

He seems ready for a move to a big club, and can make an immediate impact on any team due to his amazing talent.

Video evidence: here

7. Aleksander Rajcevic

Age: 22

Position: Central defender

Current Club: FC Koper

Estimated Market Value: 1.8 million euros

Note: A member of the Under-21 national team, this central defender is steadily becoming one of the best defenders in the Prva liga Telekom league and it can’t be long now until he makes the step up to the full international side.

He is ambitious and could yet play for some of the top teams in the world but his feet are firmly on the ground. Interestingly for teams from Serie A, Rajcevic, according to the IMScouting database, speaks Italian, which is his second language after Slovene.

8. Gabriel Mercado

Age: 21

Position: Right defender

Current Club: Racing Avellaneda

Estimated Market Value: 2 million euros

Note: One of the club’s bests young defenders, on his way to become a great player. He is a very strong-willed, right-footed strong marker, good tackler with good technique and decent ball control.

Despite not offering much in attack, he is a reliable guarantee in defence. He has a lot of unexploited talent and could be a useful addition for the future for a major club in the German league, or to a minor Italian club.

9. Nicolas Nkoulou

Age: 18

Position: Central defender

Current Club: AS Monaco

Estimated Market Value: 3 million euros

Note: Nkoulou has been a great surprise for Monaco in 2008. Despite his very young age, he has become the first choice for his coach in the position of central defender with Dario Simic. Good in the air, an intelligent player who is solid in duels against strikers, he has many qualities.

He probably has a long and important career in front of him. Could be the future version of Rigobert Song. Hull City have reportedly shown an interest in this Cameroonian.

10. Felipe

Age: 20

Position: Right defender

Current Club: Gremio

Estimated Market Value: 4 million euros

Note: Highly-rated Gremio right back Felipe was recently bought by agent Carmine Raiola who has admitted that the Brazilian defender will be on his way to Europe in the coming weeks.

Juventus are thought to be prepared to pay 6 million euros for the “new Maicon” and it is believed that Raiola paid 2.5 million euros to secure sole ownership of the player.

Felipe can also play as a right forward. The right-footed player is described by IMScouting as a player with “good acceleration. Better at attacking than defending. With good passing and decent technique.”

11. Matthias Jorgensen

Age: 18

Position: Central defender

Current Club: FC Kobenhavn

Estimated Market Value: 6 million euros

Note: Jorgensen, who stands at 1.91 meters tall, is a clam, reliable central defender who has played for his club on the right side of defence. Despite his height, he possesses decent technique and was compared by the Danish national team assistant manager to Liverpool’s Daniel Agger due to his ability to build from the back.

Jorgensen is also a fairly fast player, who very seldom makes mistakes in defence. He is extremely strong and very hard to beat in the air, and excellent in one-on-one situations. He could work a little on his speed, as his stature makes it possible for him to be very fast in the future.

12. Dmytro Chyhrynskyi

Age: 22

Position: Central defender

Current Club: Shakhtar Donetsk

Estimated Market Value: 6.3 million euros

Note: Chyhrynskyi, 22, is a leading figure at Shakhtar Donetsk and for the national side. The 6.2ft tall defender is extremely talented in defence and is also a threat in attacking situations. He is already the vice-captain of his team as he boasts high natural leadership qualities.

Recently he was linked with possible moves to Liverpool, Newcastle and several Spanish sides - he definitely has the ability to be a leading player in any top class team in the world. Chyhrynskyi’s coolness on the pitch has earned him the nickname “The Ukrainian Beckenbauer.”

Video evidence: here

13. Urby Emanuelson

Age: 22

Position: Left defender

Current Club: Ajax

Estimated Market Value: 10 million euros

Note: Moves like a butterfly but may be defensively still too light for international football. More of an attacking midfield player who is creative but he does need protection. When Ajax dominates he really comes into his own as he illustrated in the recent 6-0 win over De Graafschap claiming a goal and an assist.

Video evidence: here

14. Juan Vargas

Age: 25

Position: Left defender

Current Club: Fiorentina

Estimated Market Value: 12 million euros

Note: This attacking minded Peruvian left defender was recently linked with a move to Newcastle which now appears unlikely. Played a wonderful 2007-08 campaign for Catania. Has a strong shot with his left foot and is considered to be a free kick specialist. Not a great one on one defender, can play also as a left midfielder.

Video evidence: here