#360transfers: 10 Eastern European prospects that have the potential to make it big

Sport360 staff 17:19 31/12/2014
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  • Bozhidar Kraev, Krystian Bielik and Luka Jovic are the next generation of Eastern European players that are being targeted by the continent's top leagues.

    The Eastern European leagues have long been prolific in providing talent to the rest of the continent. Martin Skrtel at Liverpool, Robert Lewandowski at Munich, Marek Hamsik at Napoli, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic at Real Madrid and Barcelona, and Mario Mandzukic at Atletico Madrid all show the regions prevalence as an expats-provider to the continent’s top leagues.

    Sport360 analyses players who could be making possibles moves away from their respective leagues in January. Here are our ten picks:

    – #360transfers: 10 players who could leave La Liga in Jan

    – #360Transfers: 10 players who could leave the Bundesliga in Jan
    – #360transfers: 10 players who could leave the EPL in Jan

    Krystian Bielik (Legia Warsaw)

    DOB: January 4, 1998
    Country: Poland
    Position: 
    Defensive midfielder

    The 16-year-old defensive midfielder and his imposing frame (6 ft 2 in) have impressed observers in the Ekstraklasa where he has established himself in a holding midfielder position. Despite his young age he has impressive maturity in how he positions himself in defensive phases and how he looks for a team-mate in offensive transitions.

    His physicality, passing range and vision make him a suitable addition to the English Premier League and there are increasing chances Arsenal will capture him as soon as this January and beat Chelsea at the post.

    Scouted by: Arsenal

    Ondrej Duda

    DOB: December 5, 1994
    Country: Slovakia
    Position: 
    Attacking midfielder

    When you ask Stefan Tarkovic, Slovakia’s assistant coach, which player he is certain will make it at the highest level in the coming years, his answer is clear-cut. « Ondrej Duda, » he says, « has everything it takes ». The former MFK Kosice midfielder joined Legia Warsawa in February this year although clubs from Western Europe had already shown an interest.

    In Poland he has turned out to be a highly skillful play-maker, reading the game like a veteran. His performances in the past months have attracted Napoli and several Premier League sides who keep track of his progress.

    He made his debut with the Slovakian national team last November, replacing Marek Hamsik in a symbolic substitution that may be a sign of things to come for the youngster.

    Scouted by: Napoli

    Luka Jovic (Red Star Belgrade)

    DOB: December 23, 1997
    Country: Serbia

    Position: Striker

    A star striker in all Red Star youth categories, Jovic made his competitive debut in the Serbian top flight at the end of last season and scored two minutes into his senior debut to break Dejan Stankovic’s record for youngest scorer at the club, barely aged 16 years and 156 days.

    Fast and equally at ease with both feet, Atletico Madrid had an offer refused for him last summer and he has since attracted scouts from across Europe week in week out. Thrown very soon into the limelight, he has shown signs of indiscipline off the pitch recently and will need to carefully select his next club to fulfill his incredible potential.

    Scouted by: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid

    Bozhidar Kraev (Levski Sofia)

    DOB: 23 June, 1997
    Country: Bulgaria
    Position: 
    Attacking midfielder

    Not many young footballers in Bulgaria can pride themselves on being labelled the next Hristo Stoichkov – by the man himself. A technically brilliant play-maker, Kraev learned the basics in Spain and it shows. An Iberic eye for a pass and quick-footedness blending with a Slavic knack for aesthetically convincing moves make him one of the most promising talents in Eastern Europe.

    Manchester City have invited him for a trial but the overwhelming impression is he will either go back to his roots in Spain, where he played his first football, or Italy to follow in the footsteps of his idol Roberto Baggio.

    Scouted by: Manchester City, Juventus, Barcelona

    Karol Linetty (Lech Poznan)

    DOB: February 2, 1995
    Country: Poland
    Position: 
    Central midfielder

    A graceful player with an inherent ability to feel the pulse of a game and dictate its rhythm, Linetty was an all-rounder (citing his main influences on the pitch as Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane) before establishing himself in central midfield.

    He suffered from a frail physique growing up and spent a month doing push-ups morning, afternoon and evening at the age of 15.

    Now a full Poland international since this year, he appears on the right track for a move to a bigger European league. Noticed by Manchester United last year it is unlikely he will feature at Old Trafford in light of Louis Van Gaal’s recent reinforcements. It is now Tottenham whose scouts appear to have firmly set their sights on him this season.

    Scouted by: Tottenham

    Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb)

    DOB: May 6, 1995
    Country: Croatia
    Position: 
    Attacking midfielder

    Croatia’s most successful club in recent years, Dinamo Zagreb, is currently suffering from poor governance but it is abundantly clear the club still produces world class talent. Having let go of Alen Halilovic who joined Barcelona earlier in the season, other talents now come to the fore in the first team. In a very promising attacking midfield containing the likes of Ante Coric (17) and Marcelo Brozovic (22), the pick of the bunch this season has been Marko Pjaca.

    His father was a wrestling champion in ex-Yugoslavia while her mother won titles in judo, which might go some way in explaining the outstanding athleticism of the player who tried basketball and handball prior to settling with football.

    He has proven not too bad with his feet and developed a great eye for a goal as testified by his hat-trick against Celtic Glasgow in the Europa League at the beginning of December.

    Although not particularly fast, his vision and close control allow him to make the best of every opportunity and he might develop into a capable second striker in the coming years.

    Scouted by: Milan

    Marko Rog (RNK Split)

    DOB: 19 July, 1995
    Country: Croatia
    Position: 
    Attacking midfielder

    RNK Split youth coach Dalibor Filipovic had never seen this. « Five or six times he was taking on my entire defence and five or six times he would end up in a one-on-one against my goalkeeper. The kid was fearless. »

    Marko Rog was helping his boyhood club Varazdin destroy the side he would join a few months later for a gross monthly wage of €1040, having completed high school in his home city.

    Since joining RNK Split he has been the revelation of Croatia’s top flight and made his debut for the national team last month in a friendly against Argentina. The young attacking midfielder modeling his game on Zinedine Zidane lost none of that fearless and said after the game that « Messi is world class, but hardly extraterrestrian. »

    Scouted by: Borussia Dortmund

    Petar Stojanovic (Maribor)

    DOB: October 7, 1995
    Country: Slovenia
    Position: 
    Right-back

    First a goalkeeper, then an attacking midfielder and finally a right-back, Petar Stojanovic has had an all-encompassing upbringing on a football pitch. This might explain why he appears at ease going forward as much as sitting back since breaking Slovenia’s record for youngest ever player in the country’s top flight back in 2012 aged 16 and a half.

    His precociousness also came to light with his national team as he became Slovenia’s youngest ever player upon his debut aged 19 this year after going through all of the country’s youth selections.

    His Champions League performances this season will have attracted renewed interest from numerous sides although it cost him a broken nose after coming a little too close to Nani on several occasions in Maribor’s away game at Sporting.

    Scouted by: Roma, Southampton

    Luka Zahovic (Maribor)

    DOB: November 15, 1995
    Country: Slovenia/Portugal
    Position: 
    Striker

    Born in Portugal, the son of all-time best scorer of the Slovenian national team Zlatko Zahovic appears to be following in his father’s footsteps. Playing in a more advanced position than his father once did, he has proved equally at ease finishing opportunities inside the box and dropping deep to support his team-mates in midfield.

    Contrary to his team-mate Petar Stojanovic and despite predictions of him overtaking his father as Slovenia’s best ever scorer, he reportedly could play for Portugal at a senior level quoting his personal culture being closer to the Atlantic Ocean than the Adriatic Sea.

    Fluent in four languages (Slovenian, Portuguese, English and Spanish), he already has developed the ability to settle in a foreign country where interest in him is only increasing. A move to a Southern European league appears likeliest unless his best friend Marcos Lopes, on loan from Manchester City to Lille, somehow convinces him to join him in Lancashire.

    Scouted by: Roma

    Andrija Zivkovic (Partizan Belgrade)

    DOB: July 11, 1996
    Country:Serbia
    Position: 
    Winger

    There were persistent talks of Benfica securing the services of the Partizan winger last summer as a mid-term replacement for Lazar Markovic, now of Liverpool. There have been no further information on the contract status of a player whose dribbling skills have led both Manchester sides to monitor him in the past months. Contrary to many of his countrymen in the same age category, he has strong mental abilities and tends to raise his game against better opposition.

    English scouts lamented his short frame (5 ft 7 in) but were left impressed  by the positional awareness, close control and dribbling skills of a player who became Partizan’s all-time youngest captain last March.

    The previous year he had already broken the record of youngest player to feature in the Serbia national team in a friendly against Japan which had Jose Mourinho in attendance. The Chelsea manager has reportedly kept an eye on him ever since.

    Scouted by: Benfica

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