BREAKOUT STARS
David Okereke
(Club Brugge)Last season, his first in Belgium following a
move from Italian side Spezia, was something
of a mixed bag for the Nigeria Under-23
striker: lots of irresistible moments and an
equal number of off-days. Can become
frustrated, but the raw material is there.Mohammed Kudus
(Ajax)Ajax’s production line continues to deliver, and
if they are not producing the stars within – like
Jong Ajax graduates Carel Eiting, Sergino Dest
and Ryan Gravenberch – they are signing them.
Ghana forward Kudus was acquired inJuly after a
couple of standout seasons with Nordsjaelland.Martin Odegaard
(Real Madrid)
After organising a number of loans for the
Norway wonderkid – Dutch sides Heerenveen
and Vitesse then Real Sociedad – Real finally
want him back for good. Superb for Sociedad
last term, the Norwegian is tipped to challenge
Luka Modric for a starting slot in midfield.
Marcus Thuram
(Borussia Monchengladbach)T
he 23-year-old French striker or
left-winger swiftly made his presence
felt on swapping Breton club
Guingamp for Gladbach just over
a year ago. Not only was he an instant
Bundesliga hit with his explosive blend of
muscle, thrust, dribbling skills, strength in
the air and marksmanship. He also proved
a major emotional leader for the Gladbach
camp, enormously self-confident, a strong
personality and someone who naturally
keeps spirits up in the dressing room.
Despite boasting impeccable football roots- his father is France World Cup-winning
defender Lilian Thuram, who reached the
Champions League final withJuventus in
2003 – young Marcus was not always seen
as a chip off the old block. While at the
Sochaux academy, he was often criticised for
nonchalance and not putting his height and
strength to good use. In Ligue1 with Guingamp,
he regularly overdosed on solo play. Moving
to Germany has done him the world of good.
He’s far more collectively attuned and plays
with so much more intensity.
On the eve of his first taste of Champions
League football, the stakes are high for him.
A good showing could mean a France call-up.Reinier
(Borussia Dortmund)
Michael Zorc, Dormund’s general manager,
deserves a medal for concluding a two-year
loan deal with Real Madrid for the Brazilian
teen sensation. Dortmund know the attacking
midfielder from A to Z, having tracked him for
two years, and could get the best out of him.
Riqui Puig
(Barcelona)
Only just turned 21, yet the brilliant little
graduate of the Barca academy is already
nothing less than a midfield magician. Has
been criminally unappreciated by certain
coaches at the Nou Camp, but if new boss
Ronald Koeman avoids that mistake, he could
build a new-look midfield around the Spaniard.