Will this be Leicester’s strongest season in the Premier League since their 2016 Championship?

Leicester reacts to Leicester City's Premier League Title Success on May 03, 2016 in Leicester, England.

(May 2, 2016 - Source: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Europe)

Be afraid, be very afraid!

With Arsenal on the ropes and down on the floor, a familiar foe was standing right over their carcasses; Jamie Vardy. Two goals for the English international in a 3-0 victory for the Foxes meant that the Gunners had officially become his favorite customer. With a tally of 8 goals against them in the Premier League, against no else has he scored more. Rodgers' boys had not only inflicted a third loss in three matches for Emery's charges; but pulled off a Thanos and the magical stones on them. With 3 snaps of the fingers, more of rippling of the net in this context, Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the top four had vanished into thin air, almost at the speed of Leicester light or sound of their red agonies. The Foxes themselves had almost nothing to lose but plenty of pride to gain. A top 7 finish was almost out of reach given how well Wolves and Everton had performed in the preceding month leading to the fixture. Rather, on that 28th of April 2019, a bloody message had been imprinted on plain tables with the claws of a Fox, "they were coming for all of them when the season restarts." This time not as Foxes wearing sheep clothing, as they did in the 2015/16 when they won the Premier League title with odds of 5,000-1. But as the real deal, untamed and unleashed!

Statistically 3rd best in the Premier League?

Back to the main question, could 2019/20 really be Leicester's strongest season since winning the title in 2016? Well, the short answer is an emphatic yes! Just for kicks, since the appointment of former Liverpool manager in February of 2019, only champions Manchester City and European champions Liverpool have won more Premier League points than the King Power residents. Not a bad company to keep. If we are to extrapolate this historical data, we learn that it's pretty realistic for them to finish 3rd behind the aforementioned two. Not to worry, we are not putting all our eggs in that one basket, there is more wind in their sails, but first; let's look at how they've started.

“Upfront, we all know what they’ve got; some good old English speed and killer instincts in Jamie Vardy. The befitting introduction to this piece. The 32-year-old scored 14 goals in 17 Premier League appearances since the arrival of Rodgers on March 3. Only Aubameyang and Mane came close to that record with 12 goals each. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Jamie Vardy and James Maddison of Leicester City applauds fans after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City at Anfield on October 05, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 4, 2019 - Source: FELIPE TRUEBA/Getty Images Europe)

Foxes don't false start

At the time of writing this piece, Leicester were in 4th place, just two points off second-placed Manchester City. It had only been 8/38 games into the season but the table quite accurately told how the 20 teams had fared. The Foxes in particular could have been higher up the pecking order given their performances had been miles, better than the results. That rampant display against Arsenal at the close of the 2018/19 season was indeed no clouds without rain. In their first 8 matches of the new campaign, they lost only two.

A narrow 0-1 lost at Manchester United and 1-2 away at Liverpool. In the latter, the Reds actually needed a 90+5 Milner penalty to get all 3 points and register a successive 17th Premier League win. They were unlucky not to get a win at Chelsea after coming from behind to take the game to the Blues and eventually secured a point. At home against Tottenham, the Foxes soundly beat the 2019 Champions League finalists by a 2-1 scoreline. Also included in the 8 games is an emphatic 5-0 win over Newcastle. Clearly, they look more than ready for the challenge. Super competitive against the big guns and ruthless when matched up with the so called lesser opposition.

Wilfried Ndidi of Leicester in action during the pre-season friendly match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Molineux on July 29, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England.

(July 28, 2017 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

A well balanced and vicious squad

The mix is just right. It's no fluke that they've performed the way they did. After Manchester City and Liverpool, Leicester arguably boast of the most balanced squad. Forget the price tags, star names and focus on the word "balanced." Let's actually look at how they line-up. Even after losing Harry Maguire to Manchester United in a world record deal for a defender, Johhny Evans and Caglar Soyuncü look like a good combination of experience and youth. No wonder they've conceded only 7 goals, a 2nd best record in the division after Liverpool and tied with Sheffield United.

The modern game is all about full-backs flying up and down the flanks, and the Foxes have two of the best in the division. Ben Chilwell who is mostly preferred by Gareth Southgate in the current England setup and the dynamic Ricardo Perreira who recorded the 4th highest tackles in the league last season. Wait, did we forget Schmeichel? The skipper goalkeeper needs no introduction and his sure displays in goal has him continue staking a claim among the best there is. From the middle of the park and going forward, they're even better. All of the 22-year-old Nigerian international, Wilfried Ndidi who has consistently and statistically been among the top two tacklers in the league since the 2017/18 season, the £40 million signing in Youri Tielemans and Newcastle top goal scorer from last season in Ayoze Perez; provide depth and options. Time will not allow us to exhaust the insurmountable talents of Harvey Barnes, Hamza Choudhury, Demarai Gray, Marc Albrighton or the man from Sampdoria, Dennis Praet and maybe everyone's favorite, the puppet master who pulls all the strings, James Maddison. But the point is more than clear, their midfield is loaded!

Upfront, we all know what they've got; some good old English speed and killer instincts in Jamie Vardy. The befitting introduction to this piece. The 32-year-old scored 14 goals in 17 Premier League appearances since the arrival of Rodgers on March 3. Only Aubameyang and Mane came close to that record with 12 goals each. Even as a backup, the former Manchester City and Nigerian forward in Kelechi Iheanacho could be lethal enough if afforded the opportunity. It get's even more interesting when we learn about the ingenuity of the man who organizes them.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Leicester City celebrates victory with Wes Morgan of Leicester City after the Premier League match between Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth at The King Power Stadium on March 30, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

(March 29, 2019 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

They've got Rodgers, Brendan Rodgers!

Let's get one thing clear, joining Leicester is not a step up for the Irishman but a step up for the club. Brendan Rodgers' CV is up there for everyone to see and his talents are no strange to the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp is not the first man to bring Liverpool within touching distance of the league title since 1989-90, Rodgers did it in the 2013/14 campaign. Only needing two wins to clinch the coveted prize, the Reds blew up a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Crystal Palace that effectively handed the Premier League title to Manchester City. How good a job the now 46 year-old had done in that race cannot be overemphasized. He bloodied the likes of Raheem Sterling and set-up Luis Suarez for worldwide success.

Rodgers' next job at Celtic was more silverish and fruitful, winning the Scottish treble twice between 2016-18 In all, he left Scotland with 7 titles in 3 years to his name. In feeding their ambition, calling upon the tactician is almost as good an appointment as it gets. Even more, Rodgers himself returns with a slight knack to prove a point in the Premier League after Liverpool gave him the sack. It's the intersection of ambition. Little wonder they've already upped their game; the manager knows the league, knows how to win and has great experience working with young English players which Leicester have in abundance.

If you want be a little bit cynical, you could argue that amongst the so called big 6 teams, perhaps only four have better managers as per their CVs. United's Solskjaer and Chelsea's Lampard have been barely tested but we won't hinge on that, knowing it doesn't always work like that.

Right place at the right time, as traditionally top sides falter

Leicester as a club tested the highest glory, liked the smell and have always been back for more ever since. They've sacked managers such as the Premier League winning manager himself, Claudio Ranieri, Craig Shakespeare and Claude Puel for doing only enough to stay in the top flight. Their boldness has perhaps seen fortune knocking on their door. For the first time in quite a number of years, the traditional big 6 sides look shaken.

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City (l) celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on September 29, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

Obviously not Liverpool and highly doubtful of City even after starting the campaign very strangely losing to Wolves and Norwich. Manchester United are languishing in the bottom half of the table and their young and unbalanced squad look like they would have punched way above their weight if they finish within the top 6. It looks like 3rd place will be Arsenal's to lose as we may need rocket science to understand what's really going on at Tottenham, and the young Chelsea side look no better than the Foxes. Wolves who finished above Leicester last campaign look burdened by Europa League commitments and West Ham seem decent with record signing Sebastian Haller up top and the talents of Yarmolenko, Lanzini somewhere in the mix; but even Premier League winner in Manuel Pellegrini is still pondering on how to fix his defence. What about other last season's big performers in Everton and Watford? At this point, they both look like they are fighting just for their lives. The former were in 18th place after 8 games and the latter rock-bottom in 20th, courtesy of non-existent strike force and managerial crisis respectively, howbeit amongst many other things.

Foxing their way through

With all of an extremely talented and balanced squad, tactically astute manager, an ambitious board and the vulnerable state of state of the top 6, the stage looks set for the 2015/16 Premier League champions to fox their way through. Well, except if other sides exponentially improve their performances. At this rate, the Foxes are unlikely going to wait for that to happen but rather continually go for the jagular!

UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 2): Group H

Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Molineux on September 14, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 13, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Group H

Valencia vs Ajax- Wednesday, 02 October 2019

These two might be fancying themselves for the group winners spot after excellent displays on matchday 1. Valencia edged Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge while last season’s semi-finalists dispatched Lille by 3-0. Ajax in particular weren’t really at their best despite what the score line suggests. The Eredivisie champions enjoyed themselves a little too much, showboating excessively with manager Erik Ten Hag and talisman, Hakim Ziyech calling themselves out on the relaxed performance. Ajax will definitely not afford to have any more such luxuries when they travel to the Mestalla. Despite their unsteadying backroom changes, Valencia have done relatively well. Just this past weekend, they recorded a rare and famous 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao. A fortress in Spanish football.

It’s a close one, the winner here will be one of the favorites to progress to the knock-out stages.

LOSC Lille vs Chelsea- Wednesday, 02 October 2019

Lille choked on opening night at Ajax, which was understandable, considering their long-time absence from Europe’s biggest club football tournament. The French club can definitely not be any worse than they were against Ajax and Chelsea should expect a tough match against last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up. Nigerian international Victor Osimhen is one of the players who has to level up his weekend’s performance if Lille are to get a result against a Chelsea side who have seemingly found their identity under new boss Frank Lampard.

Group H seems to be one of the most unpredictable groups this season. Let’s get popcorn and soda as it unfolds.

UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 1): Group H

The Ajax team celebrate victory after the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Juventus and Ajax at Allianz Stadium on April 16, 2019 in Turin, Italy.

(April 15, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Chelsea vs Valencia- Tuesday 18 September 2019

Probably the least predictable group. After a sluggish start to the 2019/20 Premier League season, punctuated by a 4-0 loss at Old Trafford and a 2-2 stalemate at home against promoted Sheffield United, Chelsea have peaked at the right time. Lampard’s youthful Chelsea who are under no pressure whatsoever to win anything this season mark a return to the UCL on the backdrop of an impressive 5-2 Premier League win over Wolves. Their opponents Valencia, were 2-5 losers to Barcelona in the same weekend. Logically, the Blues look like favorites but with the new gaffer at Mestalla desperate to win the community over, he will likely make every match and minute count.

Ajax vs Lille- Tuesday 18 September 2019

On the other hand, last season’s surprise package and semi-finalists are looking like themselves again despite losing key players such as Mathijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong. Ajax are sitting pretty on top of the Eredivisie after 5 matches and will welcome Lille OSC. A surprise package in the French top flight last term who finished second behind champions PSG. It’s really Ajax vs the probable “new Ajax” of the new champions league season.

English Premier League: Who will challenge for European football?

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City at Metalist Stadium on October 23, 2018 in Kharkov, Ukraine.

(Oct. 22, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

This week saw the 2019/20 EPL season kick off and needless to say the race for the title has begun. The league table has already started tallying points and we can finally start talking league standings, silverware and of course, European football. Last season England set its mark on Europe last with exceptional class acts that gave us two all English European finals and the Super Cup match up. The top teams will once again take their ambitions to Europe where English teams have once again become a force to be reckoned with. Promising summer windows for some of the clubs including Arsenal, Everton and a nonexistent one for Chelsea after a ban from the transfer window and also looking at the pre-season form of the teams, we’ve had a peak at their fortunes this upcoming season and picked teams that have a chance of winning some European football next season. 

POSSIBLE 2019/2020 TOP FOUR

Tottenham Hotspur

Last season finish: 4th

The combination of having more elite players and managers has propelled the once more average teams into big powerhouses. Tottenham represents this metamorphosis better than any other; the emergence of the club as a top flight club in Europe has been due to over the years have put in some quality efforts and consistency from the North Londoners. Mauricio Pochettino’s men look set to bag another top four finish, a fact that seemed inconceivable only a few seasons ago. In fact, Arsenal fans made St. Tottenham’s Day, in celebration of something that seemed so routine for years; finishing above Spurs in the league. Undoubtedly, Spurs have handed Arsenal fans a bitter pill to swallow while simultaneously gaining prominence in Europe not only for their exploits in England but for a brilliant UEFA Champions League campaign and a first final in that competition. The season brings new challenges of whether they can hold on to talents like Christian Eriksen who is on the radar of big European clubs like Real Madrid. Champions League also on the agenda this season, Spurs will come out blazing in hopes to finally secure the league title. 

“Last season, the newcomers did more than just turn a few heads, knocking a few egos along the way as well and managing an absolutely hard-earned seventh-place finish. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will once more hope to ruffle the feathers at the top this season and qualify for Europe ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates with his tem mate Mesut Ozil after scoring his team's first goalduring the Joan Gamper trophy friendly match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal at Nou Camp on August 04, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.

(Aug. 3, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Liverpool

Last season finish: 2nd

Last year’s UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool are the most successful English team in the European competitions. Yet at the moment, it almost seems as if Liverpool can have the most outstanding seasons with unbeaten runs and the most excellent formations and squads and still lose out in the dying moments. The second place curse, as it’s dubbed, is the cause of many frustrations for the YNWA faithful. However, Jurgen Klopp has in times past proven his managerial competence and last year’s UEFA Champions League win is enough evidence that Liverpool have what it takes to take the title this year. Breaking from this pattern of disappointing finishes in the league will be the main goal for Klopp. Liverpool are formidable against any side in the Premier League and with the club’s biggest assets still on the roster, they are undoubtedly close favorites to the title together with City.

 Manchester City

Last season finish: 1st

Manchester City go into the season with the possibility of winning a third EPL title in three years straight. City are the most compact, have the strongest and solid attack; that is hardly frazzled champions of the English Premier League. City have been a winning formula and that still largely remains undisrupted. Jose Mourinho commented that he believed Manchester City’s B-team could quite easily challenge for the title. For starters, English international who can as well start on the bench, Raheem Sterling started the season with a hat trick against West Ham and more performances of that level from the forward can as well hand the Citizens yet another title.

Chelsea

Last season finish: 3rd

Richarlison of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton FC at Molineux on August 11, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have received a blow to the start of their Premier League campaign. The 4-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford is as an undesirable outcome. Frank Lampard his youthful side do not have the experience warranted to deliver Chelsea their title hopes. Despite this, Chelsea is definitely one of the teams that have the biggest potential, ironically because of the fresh talent in the squad. Lampard has a big task with Chelsea and together with his youthful side, all have something to prove. The rebuild for Lampard will take some time and as such we should not expect much from them. Chelsea will need to work on giving the young players the confidence they need to play at the level of the EPL. They might end in the top four if there the experience of other long standing players on the squad comes to the party.

 Arsenal and Manchester United

Last season finish: 5th and 6th  

Arsenal and Manchester United’s Red Devils are likely to be beating down at each other’s doors again this season gunning for a top four finish against their much solid counterparts. Unai Emery and Arsenal lost to Chelsea in the final of the 2018/19 Europa league, showing that they do have the world class players they need to inject the much needed attacking potent but a shambolic defence.  Arsenal may now have a real chance with Nicolas Pepe, the club’s record signing coupled with Aubameyang’s goal scoring prowess and David Luiz’s defensive experience. After going on a signature spending spree that saw United signing Harry Maguire, Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka for £146million, the main goal would be to finish in the top four. After managing to revive United’s fortunes last season, all eyes will be on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to see if he can take United into a future where they once again dominate the EPL.

PONTENTIAL FROM OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX

Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Molineux on December 5, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

(Dec. 4, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

Everton

Last season finish: 8th   

Football in Europe is the crowning of any English club into the club of champions which has been exclusive to the top six. A team that unsurprisingly could shake up the top four this season are Everton. Shaking things up is Everton, who have set themselves up for a strong chase with their summer signings. Marco Silva’s new personnel are likely going to play significant role in the club’s European football ambitions. One of them is Moise Kean, the nineteen-year-old striker from Juventus, who is one of the most promising young talents in Europe at the moment. Kean’s signing from Juventus has been seen as the remedy for Everton’s attack which has not been the same post Lukaku’s exit to Old Trafford in 2017. Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi joins former Arsenal teammate Theo Walcott at Everton. Iwobi’s £28 million move to the Blues has come at a time for him to prove his impact in the big game and will be eager to prove his worth. Andres Gomes from Barcelona also joins the Blues to round off a brilliant transfer window for Everton. The Blues are likely to shake be knocking on the top six’s door if they perform to the standard.

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City (l) celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on September 29, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Last season finish: 7th  

Merciless and on the chase for a spot in European football next year. Wolves will be looking to bash it out with the top six. Last season, the newcomers did more than just turn a few heads, knocking a few egos along the way as well and managing an absolutely hard earned seventh place finish. Nuno Esperinto Santo’s men will once more hope to ruffle the feathers at the top this season and qualify for Europe once more after nudging their way into the Europa League this season courtesy of Manchester City’s double qualification as league winners and FA Cup victors. Wolves have had a busy summer, releasing and signing new players including club record signing Raul Jimenez from Benfica who will stay on permanently after a succesful loan spell last season and Patrick Cutrone from AC Millan.

Leicester City

Last season finish: 9th  

Leicester City manager, Brendan Rodgers maybe the right man to take the Foxes into a top six finish. The manager has been focused on creating a top flight team for Leicester City once again. The transfer window was a chance for the former Celtic manager to rebuild the squad after departures by key players such as Riyad Mahrez. This summer, Harry Maguire’s move to Manchester United for £80 million exposed Foxes to another loss of a key player. However, signings of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans who spent last season a loan from AC Monaco and striker Ayoze Perez from Newcastle could cover some of the gaps. Leicester City talisman and top goal scorer Jamie Vardy will provide the experience while the addition of young energy into the squad will allow for a dynamic squad that could potentially qualify for the Europa League next season.

West Ham

Last season finish: 10th  

Declan Rice of West Ham United celebrates scoring the winning goal with team mates during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on January 12, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

(Jan. 11, 2019 - Source: Marc Atkins/Getty Images Europe)

West Ham who also managed to finish in the top half of the table last year. The question is how will they fair against the big teams this season. After a disappointing start to the season, losing to Manchester City 5-0, the Hammers will look to rebuild their confidence with wins against smaller teams lined up. West Ham had moments where they looked like a top 10 team last season, beating out Manchester United and Arsenal. The Londoners have however suffered a blow to their attack after losing Arnautovic to the pull of the Chinese Super League. Manuel Pellegrini’s task this season is undoubtedly to fish out the quality performances from the team in the face of the bigger teams in the league. The former Manchester City manager has to make crucial improvements in the back which will serve Hammers well in their campaign. West Ham could edge up wards in the league, only if luck would have it.

The Premier League is set to be a magnificent one. With 380 matches this season, with the bulk of them still to be played, there’s a long way to go before we crown the league champions. If past Premier League seasons are anything to go by, it’s a road packed with dramatic goals, unexpected injuries that get in the way.

Comment with the team you think will take the title this year?

How did Salah take the "next step"?

“ In one infamous incident that occurred in Egypt, Salah reportedly helped a thief who had robbed his family’s home. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Ruthless, ferocious, vicious, prolific amongst many other vetted and approved superlatives, go a long way in describing the “Egyptian king’s” attitude in front of goal. As novel as it may sound, you just have to come to grips with the reality of it therefore. Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is the most prolific player ever in a single season, as far as the history of the English Premier League is concerned. The diminutive Egyptian’s record breaking 2017/18 season that saw him run down the wing, winging it and bagging 32 goals in 38 EPL fixtures ensured he surpassed the previous record of most goals scored in a single English top flight campaign by a single player. The record in question was once held by Alan Shearer, arguably the most famous Portuguese and Uruguayan on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. Not a bad company to keep, or even more accurately, to leapfrog. But the soon to be 27-year-old wasn’t always a subject of discussion when it came to goal scoring, let alone be one of the most incredible human beings alive as recognised by the infamous Time Magazine. He is an Egyptian “miracle” whose story will echo in the corridors of history for an eternity, even as we relish it now.

Mohamed Salah of Chelsea reacts after a missed chance on goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at Liberty Stadium on April 13, 2014 in Swansea, Wales.

(April 12, 2014 - Source: Chris Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)

Amongst the greatest comebacks in sports entertainment

In early April, 2019, Tiger Woods’ remarkable career sent chills down most people’s spine as he went on to win the 15th Masters title in the sport affectionately known as golf. This was after he had last won his major title in 2005. In that time period, Woods had gone through several highs and lows, on and off the pitch which included a divorce with his wife, admitted infidelity and even getting locked up for suspicion of driving under the influence in 2017. In light of all this and witnessing the 43 year-old rise like a phoenix from the ashes, the world could not help but come to a standstill; politicians, entertainers and sportspeople alike.

One notable reflection was by 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Serena Williams, who can relate in more ways than one. She tweeted:

“I am literally in tears watching Tiger Woods, this is Greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did? Wow. Congrats a million times! I am so inspired.”

Even the 45th President of the US, Barack Obama had words for Tiger. But of course, as enticing as it may be to explore Tiger Woods’ career, this piece is not about him. Looking at Mo Salah’s career under a more microscopic lense, we would learn that the North-African defied odds to reach the levels he now soars in. With a senior career that began in the Egyptian Premier League in the books of El Mokwaloon, transiting to EPL’s Chelsea via Swiss club Basel, a few loan spells in the Italian Serie A before returning to the Premier League in the colors of Liverpool, he has had to do it the hard way.

Chasing and beating the clock

When a footballer is bound to become one of the world’s best, it is usually easy to tell by the time they reach the age of 18. Most of them would have already made inroads into the dressing rooms of some of the biggest clubs in the world. The references are not too far off, the great Brazilian Pele won a FIFA World Cup title as a teenager and so did the highly rated Frenchman, Kylian Mbappe who just turned 20 but has been on everyone’s lips for as long as we can remember. The same applies for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo who started terrorising defences at the tender age of 18 in Manchester United colors and so did his foe, Lionel Messi. The Argentine magician was scouted by Barcelona when he was just 13 and made his debut for Barcelona at age 16. Salah does not fall into that category; he was definitely a late bloomer who had to chase the clock in the primitive years of his career. The potential was palpable, but the Liverpool forward was still playing in the Egyptian Premier League as late as the age of 20, quite a bit obscured from the rest of the world. At that time, his partners and age-mates in the infamous Liverpool trident forward, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were already at French Ligue 1’s Metz and Bundesliga’s Hoffenheim respectively. He first made contact with European football in 2012 after Swiss club, Basel FC, organised a friendly match with the Egyptian U-23 team for the purposes of getting a closer look at the young Mohamed. This was of course during the time when the Egyptian Premier League was suspended following the Port Said Stadium riot. In his two years with Basel, Mo Salah scored 9 goals in 47 appearances being deployed mainly as a winger and henceforth attracted interest from the London club, Chelsea, who won his signature for £11 million in January 2014. He was now 22, becoming the first Egyptian to represent the London Blues. It looked like he had finally made it, playing for a side that was strong enough to compete for the coveted English Premier League title.

However, the Chelsea episode became one that Mohamed Salah had to learn to forget quickly. He only managed a total of 13 appearances between 2014-16, being way down the Chelsea pecking order that was then headed by the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar. In fact, the diminutive Egyptian looked like a kid when compared to age-mates like Hazard. The then Chelsea boss who snubbed him, even remarked that he wasn’t ready to play at the highest level:

“It was with me in charge that Salah came to Chelsea. But he came as a young kid, physically he was not ready, mentally he was not ready, socially and culturally he was lost and everything was tough for him.”

— Jose Mourinho, former Chelsea & Man United Manager

After it looked like stardom belonged to one of Egypt’s Pharaohs, at the prime football age of 24, the forward was let out of the Chelsea door and left licking his wounds. For the second time in his career, he had to chase the clock. Italy became his home and what happened next couldn’t have been in any script.

Mohamed Salah of AS Roma kicks the ball during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on April 15, 2017 in Rome, Italy.

(April 14, 2017 - Source: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe)

“Need for Speed Most Wanted”

If he was ever going to escape the less successful route of fellow Africans such as compatriot, Essam El Hadary, who had a brief stint in Europe before returning home to Africa, Salah needed speed, on and off the pitch. And speed is he what he got. He quickly became the most popular African in the whole of Italy as the European nation bowed down to the Egyptian King. He initially left Chelsea on loan to Fiorentina in the winter transfer window of 2015 where he went on to score 6 goals in 16 matches. The Italian Serie A club became keen on making the 18-month loan move permanent but the King had other plans, he was looking at a certain crown only he could see, and consequently marched on to Rome. It was at AS Roma where Salah established himself as a hot footballing prospect in the whole of Europe and eventually becoming a subject of transfer speculation. In his two seasons with the Italian giant, the winger bagged 14 goals in 34 matches before reaching a 15 goal feat in other 31 matches, in the 2016/17 season when he had made his Roma loan permanent. An AS Roma Player of the Season award in the 2015/16 campaign had warranted a permanent grab by the Italian club. It quickly became apparent that the Egyptian’s time in Europe was far from over. He won the 2016 Globe Soccer Best Arab Player of the Year to add to his boyhood accolades that included the 2012 CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year, 2012 UAFA Golden Boy and the 2013 SAFP Golden Player. It was at Roma where Salah kind of figured and started flourishing in what has become his best position. Under Luciano Spalleti, he established himself more as left-footed right winger, with a crispy first touch, slick dribbles and able to cut inside either to score or play-in his teammates. That period will forever go down in a history as a proper audition for the King’s global dominance and acquired ruthlessness in front of goal. Acquired because it was more than apparent that Salah didn’t have such a huge talent as Neymar Jnr or Messi. His first class work ethic and relentlessness were the ingredients that eventually took him to the very top.

 Records come tumbling down in record times

Fatefully, Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool acquired the African in a then record fee for the club, £36.9 million and needed only one year to turn Chelsea’s prodigal son into football’s most priceless treasure. The simple instruction by the German gaffer, Jürgen Klopp, for Mo to occupy a more advanced central opposition from the right wing, ahead of Roberto Firmino and Senegalese Sadio Mane, opened a whole new world. In 365 days, Mo Salah silenced critics, gained new ones and won the favor of the entire world by running down a wing. Records set in summer, winter and all other seasons and times that have names, had no choice but to bow in the presence of the Egyptian King. His 32 goals ensured he eclipsed the record for most goals scored in single Premier League season, winning the 2017/18 Golden Boot in the process. He also became the fourth fastest player to reach 50 goals milestone in Premier League history, in only 72 games behind Andy Cole, Alan Shearer and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

In fact, let’s just list down all his most important records lest they become obscured in these paragraphs:

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Cardiff City at Anfield on October 27, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 26, 2018 - Source: Jan Kruger/Getty Images Europe)

England

• Most goals in a 38-game Premier League season: 32 goals in 2017–18

• Most goals by an African player in a Premier League season: 32 goals in 2017–18

• Most Premier League Player of the Month awards in a single season: 3 (November 2017, February 2018 and March 2018)

• First player to outscore three Premier League teams in a single Premier League season: West Brom (31), Swansea City (28) and Huddersfield Town (28) in 2017–18

• Highest-scoring Egyptian in Premier League history: 50 goals in 72 games

Europe

• Most goals by an African player in a UEFA Champions League season: 11 goals in 2017–18

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool wins the trophy for the FIFA Puskas Award 2018 during the The Best FIFA Football Awards Show at Royal Festival Hall on September 24, 2018 in London, England.

(Sept. 23, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe)

Liverpool

• Most goals in a debut season: 44 goals in 2017–18

• Most goals in a season by a Liverpool player in the Premier League era: 44 goals in 2017–18

• Most top-flight goals in a season by a Liverpool player: 32 goals in Premier League 2017–18 (shared with Ian Rush)

• Most Liverpool Player of the Month awards in a season: 7 months in 2017–18

• Fastest player to Score 50 Goals for Liverpool: 65 games in 2018–19

• Fastest Liverpool player to Score 50 Premier League Goals: 69 games in 2018–19

Egypt

• Egypt's all-time highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history: 2 Goals in FIFA World Cup 2018 (shared with Abdulrahman Fawzi, 2 Goals in FIFA World Cup 1934)

• Egypt's all-time highest scorer in CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualification: 14 goals

• Egypt's third all-time top scorers: 39 goals (behind Hossam Hassan 69 goals, and Hassan El-Shazly 42 goals)

Italy

• Highest-scoring Egyptian in Serie A history: 35 goals in 81 games

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on November 25, 2017 in Liverpool, England.

(Nov. 24, 2017 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

 Made in Egypt, flourished in Merseyside

 A befitting summary to coin Mo Salah’s career is one of an individual made in Egypt where he first tasted professional football but eventually flourished in the Liverpool part of Merseyside. One year, one club, one manager and one Red Liverpool inarguably handed him the biggest boost of his career so far. He entered the elite class of footballers on the backdrop of being sold by Chelsea. By the end of the 2017/18 season, he had earned a spot amongst the world’s best three best footballers as selected by FIFA, at the expense of five time Balon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi. The first time an African had been included in such a list since the days of Liberian President, George Weah. Mo Salah eventually finished 3rd behind Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo. He became a world favorite. The online community was outraged at Salah missing out on the FIFA Best Player of the Year Award as well as the FIFPro World XI to the extent that he was compensated with a FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal, which looked like he hardly deserved given the goals he contented with. The King earned new territories as England, especially Merseyside pledged allegiance. Songs such as “Mo Salah running down the winger” were composed in his adoration and he has never walked alone, since he wore the Liverpool Red.

“A better human being than he is a footballer”

Not least to his outstanding on-the-pitch achievements, Salah has been just as greater if not better off the field of play. The recent recognition by the Times Magazine as one of the 100 most influential human beings alive, even earning a place amongst the six cover stars of the magazine, crowns his exploits. He has been applauded for calling out the importance of raising the bar on women equality in his culture.

Mohamed Salah of Egypt during the International Friendly match between Jamacia and Egypt at The Matchroom Stadium on June 04, 2014 in London, England.

(June 3, 2014 - Source: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

British Comedian and Liverpool fan, John Oliver who “absolutely” loves the footballer labelled him “a better human being than he is a footballer.” Even adding that “he’s one of the best football players in the world.”

The Times Magazine recognition comes after Mo Salah has grabbed many other headlines for humanitarian or advocacy work. In one infamous incident that occurred in Egypt, Salah reportedly helped a thief who had robbed his family’s home. He convinced his father to drop the charges, financially assisted the said thief and tried getting him a job. He has donated money to build a school and hospital as part of the regeneration projects in Nagrig, his hometown where 65% of the people live in poverty. It is reported that he has assisted more than 450 families to date by giving them monthly allowances and also chipped in to help the Egyptian government foot some bills in desperate times.

Still fresh to most memories, Salah went to “war” with the Egyptian FA for using his image as political capital and advocating for the dissolution of irregularities, some of which are believed to have indirectly contributed to their early 2018 FIFA World cup exit.

One of the most amusing incidents of all was when the close to 100 million North African nation went to the polls in 2018. A sizeable spoilt ballot papers which read “Mo Salah for President” were quite a joy to behold for all humorous souls. Even Vodafone Egypt once ran a promotion to add more caller minutes to their subscribers whenever the king scored.

Time won’t permit us to rediscover and celebrate graffiti of the Liverpool forward in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. All his remarkable achievements and influence becomes even more amplified in the knowledge that he is devout Muslim, almost to a level unprecedented in sports entertainment. He has slowly become a figure of inclusivity.

The King to welcome the rest of Africa

After being the main man in Egypt’s historic 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, the first ever since 1990, by being the Pharaohs’ top scorer in the qualifiers, Salah returns for international duty in June 2019. He is expected to inspire the host nation to a record eighth Africa Cup of Nations title. After missing out on the 2015 and 2017 AFCON glory, the continent’s best player for the years 2017 & 2018 will be all out to capture a title that has deluded his illustrious career. There is no better motivation than to do it in his own backyard. With Liverpool in touching distance of the 2018/19 English Premier League and UEFA Champions League title, it could be yet another magnificent for the king. But rest assured, the African oppositions has never been intimidated by greatness, with them exuding such as well. The likes of teammate Sadio Mane, Wilfried Zaha, Ahmed Musa and Percy Tau will be worthy opponents on the road to glory.

In the opening 2019 AFCON finals match, Egypt will face the challenge of a tricky Zimbabwean Warriors before squaring off with DR Congo and Uganda.

“We need to change the way we treat women in our culture. I support the woman more than I did before, because I feel like she deserves more than what they give her now, at the moment. That has to be, it’s not optional. ”

— Mohamed Salah, Liverpool & Egyptian forward

Are Sarri and Chelsea a good fit going forward?

“It is this tinkering of the squad which earned him much respect in Italy, with Mertens managing a total of 28 goals at the end of the 2016/17 season. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Often times clubs find themselves in positions where making a change in management is necessary for the progression of the club. That was the case at Chelsea Football Club at the end of the 2017/18 season after a hostile atmosphere had taken over the dressing room with players allegedly fed up of the reign of Antonio Conte. Also, the prospect of a certain Maurizio Sarri possibly switching to the West London club and introducing a new brand of football was too good an opportunity to let pass. In the end, the former Napoli boss flew over to join the English Premier League and with him, he brought Jorginho, his anchor-man and the rest of his Sarriball. With one game to go in the 2018/19 season, Chelsea have secured a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League but it papers over the cracks as they have struggled for almost all season. Here’s a review of whether Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea are a good fit.

Napoli's coach Maurizio Sarri greets coach player Gonzalo Higuain during the TIM Cup match between SSC Napoli and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio San Paolo on December 16, 2015 in Naples, Italy.

(Dec. 15, 2015 - Source: Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images Europe)

The Philosophy

Having watched last season’s UEFA Champions League tie between Manchester City and Napoli, you could tell that Sarri’s football philosophy was up there with best. Its focus on an intense pressing much-like the famous Jurgen press, the unique transitional one-touch football spearheaded by Jorginho in a deep-lying midfield role and an unorthodox frontline typified by a false 9 tactic justified all the noises about the manager. It is no surprise that Maurizio Sarri grew popular and rose to prominence in a relatively short period. Despite being a banker, his passion for a unique brand of football saw him join Pescara in the Italian Serie B back in 2005. It is here that he implemented his ideas which have evolved into the tactics he later on deployed at Napoli and most recently, Chelsea. Sarri left Pescara, joined Empoli for a short stint before making a move to Italian giants Napoli. It is here that he really made a name for himself. The next part of the article reviews his time at Napoli.

Naples

June 11, 2015 marked the day that Maurizio Sarri signed for Napoli and replaced Rafa Benitez as the manager of the club. This was his first move to a top European club and he aimed to stay at the top. In his first season, he brought with him, Elseig Hysaj, Pepe Reina and Allan, who became the stalwarts for the subsequent campaign in which Napoli finished second in the Italian Serie A, behind Juventus. They played an integral role in a successful campaign together with the Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain who scored a record 36 goals in the league before being signed by Juventus in July 2016. With this loss, came a transition in the manager’s game plan as he vetoed against signing a like-for-like replacement for the forward, instead trusting in Belgian wing wizard Dries Mertens and moving him into a central role. It is this tinkering of the squad which earned him much respect in Italy, with Mertens managing a total of 28 goals at the end of the 2016/17 season.

In terms of form, Sarri’s Napoli enjoyed purple patches in which the club made it to first position in the Italian Serie A, ahead of Juventus but they somehow capitulated towards the end of the season. In the end, the Italian left for Chelsea in 2018, having failed to lift a single trophy with Napoli despite the club having played some of the best football the fans had seen in the San Paolo Stadium.

London

The best managers always want to test themselves in the best competitions and leagues in the world. Maurizio Sarri is no different. He resigned at Napoli and switched to a West London club, Chelsea. To some, this was a shocking move considering the manager’s CV which lacked the critical factor - trophies. The Italian replaced Antonio Conte at Chelsea, who won the English Premier League and an FA Cup. Before him, Rafa Benitez had won the UEFA Europa League and Roberto Di Matteo won the UEFA Champions League. Despite all the success with the club, all of them were sacked by the owner of the club. Roman Abramovich has always been ruthless whenever he felt the club was not moving in the direction that he wanted hence the axe being called on these managers. The constant demand for success at the club and Sarri’s lack of contribution to the trophy cabinet at his previous clubs looked a mismatch. Nonetheless, the manager made his way to the club for the 2018/19 season.

Maurizio Sarri, Manager of Chelsea arrives prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe

Sarriball in England

Chelsea fans were over the moon when they beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Stamford Bridge on the 18th of August, 2018. They were not just happy about getting an edge over their rivals but also the style of football they witnessed in just their second English Premier League game under Maurizio Sarri. Having been used to defensive and counter-attacking football under Conte and Mourinho, it was probably their first time seeing their club dominate their opponents in terms of possession, shots on target, chances created, etc. This performance was followed by an electrifying run of form that saw Chelsea blowing teams away in the English Premier League. For a minute, I was convinced they would have a say in the title race. Sarriball proved to be working until Mauricio Pochettino delegated man-marking duties to Dele Alli in the match between Chelsea and Tottenham. Jorginho was followed by the England international all-game and stiffled Chelsea’s usual route of a quick transition. As a result, Chelsea succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham and everything went downhill from there.

The lack of consistency saw the club fall behind Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United at the turn of 2019. Contention among the Chelsea faithful grew at season-end due to Sarri’s stubborn decisions throughout the campaign. Many a times came where a switch in positioning between N’golo Kante and Jorginho were required but the manager stuck to his preferred tactics which saw them drop unnecessary points in the season run-in. The lack of flexibility in his game plan and the unpopular decision of moving Kante from his preferred defensive midfield position to a more attacking role left many heads shaking. Sitting in 6th position with 8 games left in the EPL, Sarri’s future looked bleak. However, they still managed to sneak into a 3rd place position ahead of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United thanks to a run of disappointing results from the aforementioned clubs. This league position masks the dreadful season that Chelsea have had. Also, it clouds the major issue of player management by Maurizio Sarri.

“Sitting in 6th position with 8 games left in the EPL, Sarri’s future looked bleak. However, they still managed to sneak into a 3rd place position ahead of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United thanks to a run of disappointing results from the aforementioned clubs. This league position masks the dreadful season that Chelsea have had.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Player Management

The appointment of a new manager only means two things for football players; either business as usual or considering pastures anew. The latter has been the case for club captain Gary Cahill who captained the club in the title winning campaign just 2 seasons ago under Antonio Conte. Last season, he still played a significant role in their FA Cup run which yielded a trophy at the end of the 2017/18 season. This season, Cahill was frozen out of the team by Maurizio Sarri preferring David Luiz and Rudiger as the long-standing shields protecting the goal-line. The England international did not get any explanation from the manager and said, “I find it difficult to respect Sarri who has not respected what some of us have won with the club.” The defender was bitter about his treatment by the manager who has given him only 2 appearances in the English Premier League since his arrival and has not explained why he does not play as much as the other defenders.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group L match between Chelsea and FC BATE Borisov at Stamford Bridge on October 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 24, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)

Danny Drinkwater also faced the wrath of Sarri this season. The English Premier League winner with the Leicester team a couple of years back has been deemed surplus to requirements and has since been excluded from first team duties. There is no way back for Drinkwater and he must be ready to make a move come the end of the season if he is to revive his career at top flight football.

Apart from these two who received brutal treatment from the Chelsea coach, Ruben Loftus Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have also been robbed off some crucial minutes in the first team this season. The Italian boss ignored the calls from the fans to play their academy products with the two being forced to watch from the stands despite their counterparts putting in poor performances. Kovacic and Barkley have not been reliable since the beginning of the season but Loftus Cheek was never seen in the mix until of late. The fans found it hard to understand why the manager could not make decisions that seemed obvious to them and left it late before they could see the midfielder being given a chance in his preferred advanced midfield role.

For Callum Hudson-Odoi, he had to submit a transfer request and push for a move to Bayern Munich before Sarri could realise that he had a talented teenager with potential to be a star in European football. All season, his defence when asked about the 18-year old was that he had to work on his defensive contribution yet he was barely given a chance to prove whether or not he had made progress. It seems as if the club forced Sarri to include @Calteck10 in the starting mix because the player was handed consecutive starting berths post the winter transfer window. He was unfortunate to pick up an Achilles injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season. It remains to be seen if the manager has changed his mind on these young players or whether the decisions were out of his hands. Nonetheless, the transfer ban imposed on Chelsea does not help his cause.

Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea (C) celebrates victory in the penalty shoot out with team mates during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stamford Bridge on May 09, 2019 in London, England.

(May 8, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Chelsea’s Transfer Ban

Chelsea FC have been handed a ban that prevents them from buying players in the next two transfer windows. They were given an opportunity to appeal the decision but to no avail. FIFA have stood firm to the FFP rules which have allegedly been broken by the club’s approach to signing foreign U-18 players. That said, Chelsea are left helpless and will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat if they are to challenge for any trophies in the upcoming season. Maurizio Sarri came in late and had little preparations before the start of the 2017/18 season. He managed to get a few players in before the transfer window shut. Losing Cesc Fabregas to Monaco in January 2019 did not help as he was left with no adequate back-up to Jorginho. This provides a challenge for the Italian coach who was looking forward to the transfer window to get the players that suited his style of play. This means that Sarri has to put his trust in the current squad and the players from the youth academy. And that could potentially be the break that Chelsea needed after the owner Roman Abramovich changed his transfer policy in the past few years. He has since reduced his influence on the transfer market and somewhat follow the self-sustaining method that is growing popular in England.

Chelsea have an academy that sends out at least 20 players on loan every season. Possibly, it might be time for them to get a chance now that the club cannot go over Europe and identify the finished products. What’s certain is that Sarri will face a tough time to include young players in his plans because of his rigid philosophy.

Now what?

Chelsea are set to play Arsenal in the final of the UEFA Europa League on the 29th of May 2018. A win for them would mean another trophy added to their cabinet and something to mask their substandard performances all season. However, a defeat against Arsenal would not change much as they have already secured a UEFA Champions League spot for next season. Although Sarri might not be the ideal manager to integrate youth team players into his squad, it would still be a surprise if the club decides to sack him. He has not had enough time and resources to implement his philosophy. I think he has at least one more season at the helm of Chelsea FC.

What do you think?

Why a Hazard move to Real Madrid makes sense this summer

“For starters Hazard has won everything that is there for the taking in the English Premier League. He has won two premier league titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with the Blues.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Eden Hazard is a wanted man, for his impeccable football talent that is. For a long time now, news of Hazard being linked with a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid have been making the rounds. Considered by most to be the best player in the premier league. Eden Hazard has proven his worth in the most competitive league in worldwide football and now might be the right time for him to take his career to the next stage.

For starters Hazard has won everything that is there for the taking in the English premier League. He has won two premier league titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with the Blues. Not only that, Hazard has also won the PFA Player of the year award during the 2014-2015 season. Nonetheless, Hazard is still missing a UEFA Champions league medal in his list of accolades, and with Real Madrid having dominated Europe the way they have over the last three seasons, it would make sense why the 28-year old could go to Madrid as chances of him getting his hands onto the Champions league trophy might be more realistic in Los Blancos’ white.

Eden Hazard of Chelsea applauds fans after the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Chelsea FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Chelsea are sitting in sixth position in the Premier League and face an uphill battle in earning a place in the very competitive top four race. This means that they are most likely to miss out on a UEFA champions league spot, unless they win the Europa League. What’s more, Hazard will be entering the final year of his contract with the blues next season, and with the club not showing strong intentions of keeping him, perhaps selling him at the end of this season might make financial sense compared to losing him on a free next summer.

Real Madrid on the other hand, are facing a major overhaul in the summer, with Zinedine Zidane reported to have been handed a handsome £300m transfer kitty to spend on revamping the ageing squad.  At present, the team comprises of many players who are on the wrong side of 30 and in the twilight of their careers. Players such as Luka Modric, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema only but to name a few. Furthermore, from an offensive standpoint, Madrid have run dry of goals due to Ronaldo’s departure, and with Bale not likely to be the main figure, it becomes apparent that the team needs a star player that can get them the goals as well as create chances for the side. Hazard ticks both boxes. Thus, in order to bounce back from a disastrous season, Madrid are most certainly going to be very active in the transfer market and Hazard may be the main target for the club.

Considering the above, making a move to La Liga would be the noble thing to do for Hazard. For starters, he would be fulfilling his dream of always wanting to play for Real Madrid. Moreover, this move would help him have a shot at challenging for the coveted Balon d’Or award which has become rather elusive for most players. Most football fans are aware of the immense talent that Hazard has, some even arguing that it is worthy to rival the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both who for the past eleven years, have shared the Ballon d’Or equally amongst themselves. Now, with Hazard hitting his prime age, being at the Santiago Bernabeu would most certainly boost his chances of competing for the prize provided he adapts well and faster to Spanish football.

Callum Hudson-Odoi: Demanding a seat at the table

Often times than not, it is said that one man’s loss is another man’s treasure. Perhaps this idiom might be true for Callum Hudson-Odoi. The young Chelsea winger has been making headlines of late.

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea controls the ball against Dino Djulbic and Scott Neville of the Glory during the international friendly between Chelsea FC and Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on July 23, 2018 in Perth, Australia.

(July 22, 2018 - Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Odoi is one player whose talent cannot be questioned. In the few games he’s played thus far, he’s certainly proven that he’s one for the future. Possessing immense skill that can rival the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Rashford, capped with eccentric pace that can make Kyle Walker think twice about overlapping, this young lad with African roots is surely kicking it.

Family background

Odoi comes from a footballing family. His father, Bismark Odoi who was born in Ghana, played for top Ghanaian side Hearts of Oak before becoming his son's agent. Furthermore, Odoi’s elder brother Bradley, was once part of Fulham's academy and at present, he plays for non-league side Wealdstone.

What the future looks like for Odoi

Recently, news broke that FIFA have imposed a transfer ban on Chelsea for a breach related to the signing of under-aged players. This means the team will be prohibited from buying any players until the summer of 2020. As such, whilst this might be somewhat seen as a setback for the London side’s quest to beef up its squad, it might just be the right tonic for Odoi on the other hand. The 18-year old has been restricted to limited game time this season, with four substitute league appearances thus far. On the flip side, Odoi has been hitting the ground running in cup competitions, where most of his game time has been coming from. Widely considered as the jewel in Chelsea’s academy crown, the English youngster has shown glimpses of the hype that has surrounded the player in recent times.

“Odoi is one player whose talent cannot be questioned. In the few games he’s played thus far, he’s certainly proven that he’s one for the future. Possessing immense skill that can rival the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Rashford, capped with eccentric pace that can make Kyle Walker think twice about overlapping...”

— SIphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Also worth mentioning is how Odoi’s talent has even caught the eye of German giants Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga giants made four separate offers for the player during the January transfer window, showing how highly-regarded the England youth international is. Nonetheless, with the likes of Pedro and Willian being above 30 years of age, coupled with Chelsea’s transfer ban, perhaps this might be the right combination of events that might enable Callum Hudson-Odoi to be on the brink of earning a placing in the Blues’ starting eleven more regularly.

Perhaps a bitter pill to swallow for African fans is the fact that Odoi might be another of the many talents with African descent that have chosen to represent European national teams. Nonetheless, many are excited about the potential that Odoi possesses and one can’t help but wonder how far he can go in his football career.

Africans on the move and what they bring to their respective clubs

Oumar Niasse of Everton arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on May 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

(May 4, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

The winter transfer window is known for being an opportunity for the stranded to make-up on their weaknesses and bolster their squads in a bid to save their campaign with 6 months left before the end of the season for most football leagues across the globe. January came and passed, and it is no surprise that Africans dominated the headlines of players on the move to different leagues. Let’s briefly look into those that made the loudest buzz.

Niasse – Everton to Cardiff

With the unexpected disappearance of Emiliano Sala, Cardiff City were left stranded without a striker. In Sala, they had found the answer to their problems further up the pitch. Cardiff needed goals to get out of the relegation places and turned their attention to Everton forward Oumar Niasse.

Niasse was once again struggling for game-time this season, under Marco Silva. He was limited to just 5 substitute appearances since the beginning of the campaign. In contrast, Niasse has already started 3 matches under Neil Warnock at Cardiff although he is yet to repay the boss’ faith in bringing him to the struggling team in this difficult time.

What to expect: Niasse is not the prolific goalscorer that a club like Cardiff wish they had but he is guaranteed to put in a performance and chip in with an odd goal when it matters the most.

Victor Moses of Chelsea looks on during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England.

(Aug. 4, 2018 - Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)

Victor Moses – Chelsea to Fenerbahce

This is a weird one. You would have thought the former Nigerian international would have a chance to show his true potential in a wide forward role at a big club after announcing his retirement from international football. Maurizio Sarri had other plans. There were early signs that most of us ignored. Callum Hudson-Odoi was handed a start against Arsenal in pre-season ahead of the experienced Victor Moses. The situation did not get better for him as he could only manage 26 minutes in the English Premier League.

However, he has since sought greener pastures after deciding to move to Fenerbahce on an 18-month loan deal. The move is positive for the African player as it presents him an opportunity to start afresh at a relatively competitive side that often play UEFA Champions League football. Victor Moses will look to make the right flank his own in the Turkish League and once again prove how deadly he can be with the backing of his manager.

Angel Martin Correa (R) of Atletico de Madrid competes for the ball with Yohan Benalouane (L) of Leicester City FC during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Leicester City at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 12, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

(April 11, 2017 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

What to expect: Moses has long been criticized for his goalscoring stats and it does not look like he would change that anytime soon with the player well in his 20s. But, he could breathe a new life in terms of creativity for the legendary club and regenerate his career like Gervinho who happens to be steamrolling the Italian Serie A.

Yohan Benalouane – Leicester to Nottingham Forest

It was only a matter of time before the 31-year old left the King Power Stadium. His colleagues have been gradually freezed out of the first team fold because of their age and Claude Puel has preferred Harry Maguire who is owning the centre back spot and not looking back. Moving away from Leicester City was the only logical thing for the Tunisian international if he wished to increase the number of minutes he was getting.

Nottingham Forest came in for the experienced defender. Their ambition is to make it to the play-off places as they currently lie 5 points adrift of 6th placed Bristol City. The club have been in great need of a player to protect the backline and they have got one in Yohan.

What to expect: Yohan Benalouane might be a bit rusty which explains the 3 yellow cards and 1 red card he has already received in the Championship. However, they will soon enjoy the presence of the towering defender who bullies strikers for fun and shrugs off anyone who comes his way.

10 January Transfers Everyone Wants To See: #5 Calum Hudson-Odoi

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea celebrates his second goal, Chelsea's fourth, with team mates during the FA Youth Cup Final second leg between Chelsea and Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on April 30, 2018 in London, England.

(April 29, 2018 - Source: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Europe)

No matter how good some players are, football players or otherwise – they kind of need a bigger turf or neighbourhood to show that they belong, to prove that they have the “it” factor. Such is the story of some of the most exciting professional footballers in the game today, they can only become as big as the club they play for and we have a few names that many would want to see move to other pastures. Some have been rumoured away from their clubs and some haven’t but sooner rather than later, transfers are inevitable. Chelsea have some work to do holding onto the fifth player on our list.

Son of former Hearts of Oak (a Ghanaian Premier League side) midfielder, Bismark Odoi, 18 year-old Calum Hudson Odoi has already become a subject of major speculation. After helping Chelsea’s Academy team to a quadruple in the 2017/18 season, he majorly introduced himself to the world in the Blues’ pre-season games, particularly against Arsenal. Odoi constantly asked rocket-science like questions of Hector Bellerin on the right flank, skipping past him with lightning pace after getting little answers from the Spanish right-back. It was only pre-season but he would have a lasting impact on a host of Europe’s big boys. With 18 months left on his contract and Chelsea still to pen him to a new deal which has become increasingly harder given the player has hardly gotten game time under Maurizio Sarri, Bayern Munich and Dortmund are reportedly monitoring the teenager, on the clock. The Bundesliga champions are eager to strengthen their attack with more youthful players given the imminent departure of long-time servants in Robben and Ribbery while Dortmund, who got a lot from their last ‘heist’ of former Manchester City’s Jadon Sancho and would want to continue in that direction. The 2017 World Cup winner with England-U17 is still eligible to play for Ghana and should you want to get more insight on the kind of player he is, just think of the word electric. He defines it more than it defines him.

Let’s hope Chelsea’s predatory and not very helpful youth system of young players won’t get in his way, as it is for one Ghanaian, Baba Rahman.

“After helping Chelsea’s Academy team to a quadruple in the 2017/18 season, he majorly introduced himself to the world in the Blues’ pre-season games, particularly against Arsenal. Odoi constantly asked rocket-science like questions of Hector Bellerin on the right flank, skipping past him with lightning pace after getting little answers from the Spanish right-back.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #8 Victor Moses

Victor Moses of Chelsea in action during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Lyon at Stamford Bridge on August 7, 2018 in London, England.

(Aug. 6, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

RW – Victor Moses

At times, we make sacrifices in life with the hope of gaining a lot from those hard decisions. Often times, it pays off except for those specific times when the luck is not on our side. I think this best describes Victor Moses’ decision to retire from the national team to focus on his Chelsea career. The former Nigerian international resigned from playing for the Super Eagles shortly after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia before Sarri was announced as the new Chelsea boss. The Italian then made his way to the West London club and has since preferred Willian and Pedro ahead of him. In pre-season, Callum Hudson-Odoi who has a Ghanaian heritage shined in his absence and even more, the club is being linked to the unsettled Manchester United forward, Anthony Martial.

Verdict: I think the club is pushing the 27-year-old out. A team like West Ham can benefit from a player of his traits.

Is there a big club who does not want Napoli & Senegalese's Koulibaly?

“Chelsea tried their luck with €100 million but it was not enough to tempt the Italian club. The response was a straight up “Koulibaly is not for sale.””

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Kalidou Koulibaly of SSC Napoli in action during the serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo on August 25, 2018 in Naples, Italy.

(Aug. 25, 2018 - Source: Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images Europe)

When I was growing up, all I knew was that nothing sells better than hot cookies on a cold day. But, now that I am this old I have realized that talent sells more than anything in soccer. Kalidou Koulibaly has seen this “my phenomenon” come true in his life, as every day, he and Napoli have to continuously reject big European clubs that want to add him to their squads. What is it that these clubs are really looking to get from the Senegalese defender?

A precious gift for Mourinho after failing to land Alderweireld
Jose Mourinho and the Red Devils, did not even go behind the walls to admit this but backed his wish to have the 27-year-old Senegalese defender in his team by tabling an £80 million offer.  Even though this is an incredible price for a defender (which would surpasses the world record defender fee of £75m), reports insist that Napoli player demanded £90 million for what they have groomed with intricate care. It is not, however, clear if the Red Devils will succumb to this demand but all we know is that, right now, Koulibaly is still doing bits at Napoli.

Chelsea have their eyes on him
During the World Cup, Chelsea also had their eyes set on the Senegalese “wall,” impressed by Koulibaly’s physique that enables him to make short passes while keeping an eagle’s eye on the opponent. He was voted amongst the Top 11’ at the annual Oscar del Calcio gala last November. Chelsea tried their luck with €100 million but it was not enough to tempt the Italian club. The response was a straight up “Koulibaly is not for sale.”

Even Liverpool wanted a piece of Koulibaly
At some point before acquiring the Virgil Van Dyk in a current record deal for a defender Liverpool also tried their luck with a £36.7million bid and they too got the same rejection. Even though Koulibaly did express that he would be interested in playing for a Premier League club (not specifically Liverpool), right now he has to stay with Napoli. But will he really?

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain is challenged by Mario Rui and Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and SSC Napoli at Parc des Princes on October 24, 2018 in Paris, France.

(Oct. 23, 2018 - Source: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Europe)

The catch
If the player is in such high demand, why can’t his club really let him go? The player has a contract that obligates him to be with Napoli until the June of 2023 so that is why his club has such a strong grip on his negotiations. At least, all these clubs have about 5 years to sweeten their deals, polish their approaches and spice up their baits until they get hold of this player. The player is also personally committed to the team and his coach. He was reported saying, my coach “rediscovered me, he gave me confidence. He really is a genius, he sees things others don’t see. He makes you understand how football is and isn’t predictable.”

After all is said and done, take my word for it, it looks like it’s going to become increasingly harder to keep the one of the world’s finest of not “the finest”. A potential move is imminent. The real question is when?

10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #4 Baba Rahman

Baba Rahman of Schalke looks on during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Schalke 04 and OGC Nice at Veltins-Arena on November 24, 2016 in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia.

(Nov. 23, 2016 - Source: Stuart Franklin/Bongarts)

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

LB – Abdul Baba Rahman

Abdul Baba Rahman can be seen by many as a victim of the vicious Chelsea loan system which rarely yields opportunities to the youngsters. The Ghanaian left-back is currently on-loan at Joel Matip’s old club, FC Schalke 04 where he has played only three matches this campaign. When looking at Maurizio Sarri’s style of play, a quick defender with an ability to play quick short passes looks destined to be treasured by the Italian coach in his Chelsea setup, but that’s not yet the case. It has not been the case either for the previous manager Antonio Conte who vetoed moves for Marcos Alonso and even acquired Emerson Palmieri to play ahead of the African defender in the left-back spot. Although Baba Rahman is just 24, the youngster needs a clear picture of the future plans of the club. If he is not careful, he could fall into the trap that swallowed youngsters like Lucas Piazon, Nathaniel Chalobah, Tammy Abraham, and Tomas Kalas whom are unlikely to feature in a Chelsea jersey anytime soon.

Verdict: He should sit down with Chelsea and find out if he is going to be a part of their future plans. If not, he must be allowed to leave this coming summer.  

Nigeria's Victor Moses slipping under the radar?

The former Nigerian international announced retirement from international football during the commencement of the 2018/19 Premier League season. The decision was quite a shock given the forward’s age, but he did make it clear that he was now setting his sights on the club career.

“He excelled. He even helped the Blues to the 2016/17 EPL title and 2017/18 FA cup triumph with his above board overlapping runs and tracking back to provide defensive cover for the likes of Christensen and Gary Cahill.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Victor Moses of Chelsea is challenged by Alberto Moreno of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on September 26, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

(Sept. 25, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

The 27-year-old Chelsea forward had finally become a regular at the London club under Antonio Conte after he had been on too many loans since arriving from Wigan Athletic. Going in around numerous premier league clubs in Stoke City, Liverpool and West Ham United must have been not so pleasant for the young forward desperate to make a mark on one of the biggest soccer stages in the world. Conte’s Chelsea formation made room for Victor, deploying him on the right wing back position of a 3-4-3 formation. He excelled. He even helped the Blues to the 2016/17 EPL title and 2017/18 FA cup triumph with his above board overlapping runs and tracking back to provide defensive cover for the likes of Christensen and Gary Cahill. Now, Maurizio Sarri became the club’s new manager beginning the current season and employed a football style and formation that has Moses getting his favorite forward position back. There is only one problem.

Victor Moses of Nigeria celebrates scoring his sides opening goal to make the score 1-1 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

(June 25, 2018 - Source: Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images Europe

The former Super Eagles forward who won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title with his nation and represented it at both the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World cups, has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea. Moses has to compete with Eden Hazard, Willian, Pedro and teenage sensation Callum Hudson Odoi on the wide forward positions. He has just made 2 substitute appearances for the Blues so far in the 2018/19 premier league campaign. He was also missing in Chelsea’s matchday squad for the 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

What will be for the 27-year-old’s career? After retiring from international duty and seemingly falling out of favor at Chelsea, how often are we going to hear of him especially after being so used to seeing his name in the news for quite some time now - for either club or country. Is he slipping under the radar? With such a wonderful career he has had, a move to China or the MLS who are looking for household names to build up their soccer community cannot be completely out of question. We may see it, sooner rather than later. His compatriot, Odion Ighalo did it, will he?

I for one believe he still has more to give to the biggest of clubs in Europe. Keeping my fingers crossed that he will unleash the Super Eagle in him.

FT Hidden Gem Series: Who is Tinotenda Kadewere?

More often than not, people focus on the players that are already known in the most famous leagues in Europe. Not many of us take time to appreciate a rare talent that continues to escape the radar. Look at Jamie Vardy for instance, he shined in England at the age of 28, but who knew about him before then? In this piece, we look at a certain talent from the country of Zimbabwe before he blows up and becomes one of your favorite African players in no time. Here’s what Tinotenda Kadewere is about.

Background

Tino Kadewere was born on the 5th of January in 1996. He started his career at Harare City in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League at the age of 18 where he scored 7 goals just halfway into his debut campaign. In 2014, he left Harare City for Djugardens on a loan deal with an obligation to buy him on a 4-year-long deal. It is at the Swedish club that he started to grow not only in terms of his technical abilities but also his physique. Two years down the line, the Zimbabwean striker was a few inches taller and staking a claim for a place in the AFCON games played in Gabon. Although he failed to make an appearance in the tournament, he was inspired by his involvement in the dressing room and he sought to use that experience to push for further success at his club, Djugardens. Tinotenda famously scored 4 goals for Djugardens in a single league match which is a record that had not been matched since 1978. This summer, French Ligue 2 side, Le Havre scooped him from the Swedish team for a fee reported to be in the region of $2.5 million.

Photo: Kenta Jönsson/Bildbryan

On his move

Tinotenda was excited to take the next step in his football career by moving to the French side in July 2018. Who wouldn’t be? This is the country where players like Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Didier Drogba etc. made a name for themselves. This league also worked as a stepping stone for them when they eventually made their big moves to clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea. This should be very encouraging to the young player who is hungry for success. He said, “It’s good news for me as a footballer to make another step, but it’s also bad news because I don’t know how I will live in France without all these Djurgardens people.” He was obviously emotional about leaving the club that showed faith in him when he was just a teenager and gave him the chance to play European football.

On his attributes

Tino Kadewere’s favorite position is centre forward. He is an Aubameyang-type of a striker who works best on the shoulders of the defense and can use his lethal pace to beat his markers before scoring goals. It is no surprise that he had already scored 8 goals in 12 matches this season with his pace a menace for defenders in the Swedish First Division. His physique has been growing by the years and he no longer looks like someone who could be budged off the ball like many strikers of his age.

Just like many talented players, he is also capable of playing in a number of positions on the pitch. His pace and trickery also warrants him a place on either flanks because Kadewere is confident that he can beat any defender as long as he has the ball in his feet. These attributes are the reasons why he was deployed on the flanks during his High School years. Obviously, he is no Jay Jay Okocha with the ball yet but the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old Zimbabwean. It is easy to see how this type of player can fit in the squads of the big teams around Europe. Real Madrid have one in Lucas Vazquez who comes off the bench as an impact player. Even Arsenal have that in Alex Iwobi who offers something different from the flanks. Maybe Tino could be that for a team like Chelsea in England or Atletico Madrid in Spain.

On his Injury

If you did not know, Tino Kadewere picked up an injury which was later revealed to be internal ligament damage in his left knee. He had this to say about his injury, “It is obviously boring but it is also part of the football at the same time. Now, the only thing that matters to me is to fix this and come back even stronger.” This injury did not scare off interest from Le Havre who still invested in his services despite the fact that the player was facing 8-10 weeks on the sidelines. It is quite rare to find in football that a club pays so much money for a young player let alone someone who is injured. However, they are confident in his ability and potential to become a great player for the club and rightly so. Tino is a player on the rise.

Achievements:

1. The 22-year old guided his old club, FC Djugardens to the 2017/18 Svenska Cupen on the 10th of May, 2018. He scored four of the 14 goals by the club in the tournament. This trophy was the first title for the club since 2013.

2. Kadewere won the COSAFA Cup (a tournament organized by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) with his nation on the 9th of June 2018 just a month after lifting a trophy with his club. The young forward scored a brace in the final against Zambia and provided one in a 4-2 victory for the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

FT French Ligue 1 Preview: PSG must win the UEFA Champions League to keep Neymar

The Brazilian sensation left Barcelona in a bid to step out of Messi’s shadow and achieve his goals of winning the Ballon d’Or at the French giants Paris-Saint Germain. He hoped that the club’s recruitment policy would give him an edge when the tournament commences and that they would be able to recruit the best players who would be able to compete at the highest level. Last season, PSG failed to make it past Real Madrid in the round-of-16. This year, they will have to do better than that if they are to stand a chance to fend off interest from the likes of Real Madrid in keeping their star player at the club. In this feature story, we look at how the club can be able to win the title.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Neymar of PSG embrace at half time during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Bernabeu on February 14, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Feb. 13, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

The recruitment of the Italian and Juventus legend, Gianluigi Buffon to beef up their goalkeeper position is nothing but a positive signing for the club. The legend brings his vast amount of experience to a squad that looked out of character when they were dispatched by Real Madrid last year. PSG needed a commanding number 1, and they have got their man who will organise his defence and hopefully prevent the best players in the world from scoring past him. Apart from that, he also brings his winning mentality. Buffon won the last 7 Serie A titles in a row with Juve and is also a 2006 FIFA World Cup winner. He has been around for a long time and knows how to compete. The UEFA Champions League title is a trophy that has eluded him, and he will be as hungry as Neymar to win it this year.

Football is a team sport. Neymar cannot win the trophy on his own. He will need his teammates to bring their A game to the table if they really want him to stay at the Parc des Princes. This means that players like Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have to bring their World Cup form to Paris and help Neymar push for the title. The former is a teenage sensation who shined at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia but was went hiding when PSG faced Real Madrid in the 2017/18 season. He should be looking to grow from that experience and carry his form into the coming season. Cavani was also at the focal point of Uruguay’s success at the tournament before picking up an injury that kept him out of the squad that was eliminated by France. The whole team has to be at their best this season and play to Neymar’s strengths if they want him to lead them to European glory.

Neymar of Brazil reacts after a missed opportunity during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Brazil and Belguim at Kazan Arena on July 6, 2018 in Kazan, Russia.

(July 5, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

There are rumours that PSG wants to sign N’Golo Kante from Chelsea this season. The 27-year old is a midfield destroyer who has been at the heart of successes of the best teams in recent years. He first led his club Leicester to the EPL title in 2015/16 before winning it again the following year with Chelsea. This year, he was trusted with the defensive responsibilities in the French team that lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy. N’Golo Kante is famous for stopping Messi, arguably the world’s best player, in his tracks and preventing Argentina from making it to the quarter-final stage. PSG need a player like Kante who could strike a partnership with Marco Verratti in the spine of the French team and protect the backline. Whether the club will actually get to sign him from the English side remains to be seen, but it is clear that they would stand a better chance of winning the most prized asset in European club football if they have the defensive midfielder on their books.

Sometimes a good run in the tournament requires some bit of luck. The draw did not favour the club in the previous season. PSG were unfortunate to face the defending champions in the round-of-16 in the 2017/18 season . This year, they would want to avoid the biggest teams in the tournament at the early stage as they build momentum. However, some argue that you have to beat the best teams in the competition to be called the best. What do you think that PSG has to do to keep Neymar at the club after this season?

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: LW - Percy Tau [Mamelodi Sundowns]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

LW - Percy Tau

The only player to make it on our list of the next transcendent players while playing in the continent of Africa is Percy Tau. The 23-year old has been the star of the show in the South African Premier Soccer League in recent years. The South African player has been likened to Premier League stars such as Sadio Mane with former football legends like El Hadji Diouf claiming that he is better than the Senegalese forward who plays for Liverpool. If you want to know more about this player, you can read an article we shared about his heroic performances for Mamelodi Sundowns who recently played against Barcelona on Wednesday, 15 May 2018.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CF - Emmanuel Boateng [Levante]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CF - Emmanuel Boateng

21-year old Ghanaian striker made the headlines a few weeks ago after inspiring Levante into defeating Barcelona to end their undefeated run. The player scored a hat-trick in the match and many fans have been curious to know what he is about. The young African player joined Levante in the summer of 2017 from Portuguese side Moreirense and has a mixed start to life in Spain. He only started 11 matches for Levante and has scored 7 goals. Three of them coming on that historic night against Barcelona. He made a claim to the rest of the world that he is capable of performing against the very best just like Samuel Eto’o did after he was released by Real Madrid. He went on to make the move to Barcelona and became a legend for the club. Are we witnessing another story of an African player who proves his worth at a small Spanish side before moving to the biggest clubs in Europe? What we know for sure he has started to attract the attention that had been reserved for Kelechi Iheanacho who has stagnated ever since 2016.