On the RADAR

Dominik SZOBOSZLAI (RB Leipzig)

At the start of December, Szoboszlai and RB Salzburg seemed set for a January filled with straight-batting questions about the player’s future, with several of Europe’s biggest clubs – including Real Madrid, Arsenal and Juventus – all queuing up to sign him.

But in mid-December, Salzburg announced that the playmaker would be joining their sister club, RB Leipzig for €20 million, and speculation over his future was ended – for now at least. The 20-year-old will hone his skills in the Bundesliga, but a big-money offer will probably arrive for him in a few years.

And it is clear to see why. The leftfooted Hungarian is a graceful dribbler with quick feet and an eye for goal, as he proved in the Euro 2020 play-off versus Iceland. With just seconds left on the clock, he glided up the pitch before firing home from the edge of the box.

There is surely much more to come.

PEDRI

(Barcelona)

The 18-year-old winger has provided a rare positive for Barca after striking up a promising partnership with Lionel Messi.

Timothee PEMBELE

(Paris Saint-Germain)

The 18-year-old defender made his Champions League debut and scored his first PSG goal before Christmas.

Brian BROBBEY

(Ajax)

The powerful striker was singled out by Ajax director Edwin van der Sar as one to watch after making his Champions League debut in December.

Cody GAKPO

(PSV)

Eindhoven born and bred. Ended 2020 as one of PSV’s top three league scorers with Donyell Malen and Noni Madueke.

James TAVERNIER

(Rangers)

The right-back scored or assisted 19 Scottish Premiership goals by the New Year – more than anybody in the league.

Nadiem AMIRI

(Bayer Leverkusen)

An early contender for the 2021 Puskas Award for his stunning wondergoal versus Eintracht Frankfurt: a slick move finished with an outrageous backheel.

“The energy was gone for a while. Then stopping will go through your head. But a little voice in my head kept me from doing that… I really want to play for the club, but of course it is all frustrating”

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