BREAKOUT STARS
Kai Havertz
(Chelsea)I
t was an open secret that Havertz, one
of the Bundesliga’s most influential players
over the past couple of seasons, was likely
to seek pastures new in 2020-21, and
Chelsea – who are seemingly building a new
empire under manager Frank Lampard –
was the most attractive propostion. Now the
pressure is on the Blues’ most expensive player
of all time to perform – and not many football
experts expect him to fail.
On completing his transfer, Chelsea director
Marina Granovskaia told the club’s website:
“Kai is one of the best players of his age in
world football, so we are very happy that his
future lies at Chelsea.” And it is hard to disagree
with such bold statements. A total of 29 goals
combined in the last two Bundesliga seasons ispretty impressive numbers for a 21-year-old
attacking midfielder, not forgetting the fact that
Havertz was also Bayer Leverkusen’s youngest-
ever Bundesliga debutant and goalscorer – and
subsequently the youngest player in history to
reach the milestone of 50 and then100
Bundesliga games.
A supremely-gifted player with a keen eye
for goal, the Germany international will want
to make his mark on the Champions League
this season. He’s made eight appearances in
Europe’s showpiece competition so far, but
has yet to register a single goal or assist.
Part of an exciting new-look attack at
Stamford Bridge this season alongside Timo
Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic,
that drought is sure to come to an end.Merih Demiral
(Juventus)Last season proved a mix of emotions for the
Turkey defender, with the thrill of breaking into
Juventus’ starting line-up promptly squashed
by an ACL injury. Now fit and raring to make up
for lost time by putting pressure on the ageing
duo of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.Mason Greenwood
(Manchester United)Every now and then, a teenage striker emerges
who makes the task of goalscoring seem as
simple as ABC. That is the mark of18-year-old
forward Greenwood, who managed an incredible
17 goals in all comps for United last season. He
was rewarded with his first England call-up, and
made his debut against Iceland in September.Pape Gueye
(Marseille)Long-legged former Le Havre midfielder, who
could not quite decide whom he wanted to join
this summer, initially signing with Watford, then
crying foul and plumping for Marseille. Takes
inspiration from the technique of Paul Pogba
and the ball-winning ability of N’Golo Kante.Enzo Crivelli
(Istanbul Basaksehir)In12 months, the French target man has
traded Ligue1 relegation with Caen for a
leading role in Basaksehir’s first league title.
The muscular forward can be a little over-
zealous in his physical play, and will ruffle the
feathers of Champions League defenders.Vitali Lisakovich
(Lokomotiv Moscow)The opportunistic Belarus striker scored his first
international goal in September – just a month
after joining the Railwaymen from homeland
outfit Shakhtyor Soligorsk. Preferred living the
Champions League dream at Lokomotiv to
a shot at the Belarus title with Soligorsk.