DOB: 16/12/1996 (23)

Nationality: Spain

Position: LB

Club: Sevilla FC (on loan from Real Madrid CF)

Tactical:

Tactically, Reguilón is the definition of a modern day fullback in football. He likes to get forward and join the attack but still has the work rate to track back and help defensively as well. Under Julen Lopetegui at Sevilla, he has a manager who knows him from his time at Real Madrid. Reguilón plays as a left back in Lopetegui’s either 4-4-2, or 4-1-4-1 formation. At Sevilla, Lopetegui gives both of his fullbacks the freedom to move forward and join the attack, while the two center backs normally play a higher line while attacking. If not, one of the midfielders will drop in and form a back three while the fullbacks are in the opponent’s third. Reguilón likes to get forward to cross the ball into the box, but he is also not afraid to attempt a shot from outside the box as well. In regards to set-pieces, corners in particular, Reguilón likes to stay on the outside of the box, whether that is to shoot first time if the ball drops to him, or being the quickest in defense, be ready to stop an opponent’s counter if the ball falls to them. He does sometimes have lapses in concentration while defending, but that is something that is common in someone who does not play a lot of first team football. His work rate is also fantastic, with him constantly pressuring opposition that are not quick enough to pass out from the back, and also has the stamina to be able to maintain this work rate for the full 90 minutes.

Technical:

Technically, Reguilón is very good with the ball at his feet. He does like to dribble a lot and drive forward with the ball at his feet, and he is also good at receiving the ball and then looking up to find a teammate, as opposed to driving up the byline with the ball. When he does carry the ball forward, he has lightning quick pace to get past opposition defenders, but some times he will overrun the ball and subsequently lose possession as a result. He likes to play very wide to the touchline, but will come in more centrally in certain situations to overload the midfield and play almost as another midfielder. In some matches that I have watched of Sevilla, Reguilón does not get a lot of the ball, even when he is in lots of space. I have witnessed multiple times Reguilón being in plenty of space and calling for the ball on the left, but he does not get noticed. When he does receive the ball however, he does maintain a pass accuracy of about 80% this season, and that is with over 1000 passes attempted.

Physical:

Physically, Reguilón is not the tallest fullback, and therefore is not good in the aerial duels, winning less than half of his aerial duels attempted. However, he is slightly better when it comes to winning possession in the tackle, with him being successful in slightly over half of his tackles attempted. Reguilón is lightning quick, and this is his biggest asset in my opinion. His acceleration is something that impresses me the most, with him able to get up to his top speed rapidly, which gives him the ability to fly past most fullbacks in La Liga, and once he gets past them, they usually are not able to catch up to him. He is also however prone to being muscled off the ball by taller, stronger forwards, but usually is able to hold his own against most opposition players.

Summary:

In conclusion, Reguilón is very much a bright prospect and has the abilities to be able to play in Europe’s biggest sides, but I feel that will not be Real Madrid. The capital club already has Marcelo at left back, who, even though is getting older, is one of the best left backs in the world. Also, last summer, Madrid purchased Ferland Mendy from Lyon, which in turn made Reguilón Madrid’s third choice fullback and resulted in him joining his former manager in Andalusia on loan for the season. I could see Reguilón joining Sevilla on a permanent deal in the summer, and if he doesn’t, I can see many top clubs knocking on Real Madrid’s door for his services.

DOB: 14/1/2000 (20)

Nationality: Canada

Club: KAA Gent

Position: Forward

Tactical:

David is a very versatile player, and has played in many different positions this season as Jess Thorup consistently altered his system throughout. However, in Thorup’s preferred 4-3-3, David is favored on the left side of the front three but he will occasionally play off the right as well. He has also played as a second striker in a 4-4-2, and as a #10 in a 4-1-2-1-2. He does prefer to start on the left so he can cut inside on his favored right foot. He likes to stay forward, but he will contribute defensively, with him tracking back to win the ball back if the opportunity arises. He has a fantastic work rate, and does not stop running until the whistle blows. Also, even with his starting position usually on the left side of the attack, Thorup does give him the freedom to roam, and will float throughout the attacking third and make penetrating runs wherever the opportunity presents itself.

Technical:

Technically, David is very composed with the ball at his feet. He likes to utilize his pace advantage to just run past opposition defenders, but he will also take on opponents and attempt to dribble past them. He does however like to take a more direct approach to running at defenders. He also is an accurate passer, with him completing over 80% of his almost 800 passes attempted this season in the Pro League. His quality on the ball is very much like a #10. When it comes to his finishing ability he is very composed. With over 20 goals this season over all competitions, he is very clinical in front of the net. However, as his young age shows, he will still have lapses in concentration in front of goal and miss easy chances, and he will sometimes hold onto the ball to long.

Physical:

Physically, David is a very interesting player. He has a rare combination of pace and strength. He has the ability to run past even the fastest defenders in the Belgian Pro League, while also having the strength to hold off opposition challenges and win the ball off of defenders. He is also very tricky, with him winning the most fouls in the whole Gent side. He does win a majority of his tackles that he engages in, but he lacks when it comes to winning the ball in the air. Finally, he is not a very injury prone player with him not missing many games due to injury so far in his career in Europe.

Summary:

Jonathan David is a player who is getting a lot of recognition from some of the biggest clubs in Europe looking for his signature. He is a player who has all the makings of a world class player in the future. Throughout his career so far at Gent, he has been one of the clubs best players. His talent is undeniable, the question is whether David will be able to replicate his performances for a bigger club in a bigger league.

DOB: 2/6/1997 (22)

Nationality: Netherlands

Club: RSC Anderlecht

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Tactical:

Vlap lit up the Eredivisie last season, scoring 16 times and assisting 4 times in 34 matches from midfield. This prompted a move to Belgian Pro League side RSC Anderlecht in the summer. While he has not quite hit the ground running yet, and not yet getting a guaranteed place in Franky Vercauteren’s starting eleven, he has shown glimpses of promise throughout his short career in Belgium so far. Vlap likes to play in the #10 role, sitting right behind the striker. However, when Anderlecht win possession back in the midfield and try to counter quickly, Vlap is the furthest man forward, almost playing as a false 9. However, if Anderlecht lose possession or the counter is not there, Vlap then moves back into his more traditional #10 role. Vlap is a very quick #10, and always likes to make runs into the box as an option going forward. He will also free roam along the midfield line, and sometimes make runs into the box off the left or right wing. He does also take corners for Anderlecht, but when he is not taking corners or other set pieces, he usually stays on the edge of the box, in case a loose ball drops to him.

Technical:

Technically, Vlap is very good on the ball, and he does like to take on defenders in 1v1 situations. When it comes to his passing range, he likes to stay forward and doesn’t get involved in much of the build-up play. However, when Anderlecht lose possession further up the pitch, he will run back and try to win the ball back, with him having a very good work rate when it comes to his defensive contributions. He has an eye for a pass, and will make line-breaking passes to play a teammate in behind. Other than taking on defenders in 1v1 situations, he does like to dribble and will try to weave past multiple defenders if need be. He also has really good finishing ability for a #10, and has the ability to finish the season with double digit goals and assists. A good comparison for Vlap’s abilities technically is Real Betis’s Nabil Fekir.

Physical:

Vlap is a taller #10, and also has a lanky body type. He is not the strongest on the ball and can easily be bullied off of it on shoulder to shoulder challenges. He also is not the best tackler, and does not win many aerial duels for his height. However, with his play style, he is more of a player who like to utilize his pace to get in behind the defense. He also does not win many aerial duels, even though he is a taller player. His pace is definitely one of his strongest attributes, with him liking to make dangerous runs into tour box behind the defense.

Summary:

Michel Vlap is a player who last season had an insane season with Heerenveen in the Eredivisie. While it will be very hard for him to sustain those kinds of numbers going forward, I do feel that he is a player who is capable of getting double digit goals and assists every season. He is still raw in some of his attributes and still needs to be molded a bit to become a very talented player. He does however, bring to the table a pretty good combination of pace and finishing ability for a #10. With some more growth, Vlap will definitely be a player knocking on Ronald Koeman’s door in a few years.

DOB: 14/2/1998 (21)

Nationality: Norway

Club: KRC Genk

Position: Defensive Midfielder

Tactical:

Working under three managers in two seasons hasn’t been a detriment for Berge, with him being a staple in the side through Philippe Clement, Felice Mazzu, and now Hannes Wolf. Berge operates as the lynchpin in Genk’s midfield, with most of the build-up play starting through him. Currently, in Genk’s 4-3-3 formation under Wolf, Berge operates as the central midfielder, with him dropping deep to receive the ball from the goalkeeper before beginning the build-up. Berge will also at times drop in between the center backs when the full backs bomb forward, creating a back three and therefore being protected defensively. When attacking, Berge will sometimes move up the field into a more advanced position, with him either ending up as a #10 at times, or even as a left or right sided winger. Other times, he will sit near the edge of the box and wait to receive the ball at his feet to either pass it on, or attempt a shot from outside the box. On set-pieces, he is always in the box and usually lines up at the front post to try and utilize his height advantage to either flick it on or head it towards goal.

Technical:

When it comes to his technical qualities, Berge is very comfortable on the ball. He always seems to play 5-10 years his senior and is normally very composed. He normally will receive the ball at his feet and then look up and pass first time, however, he will occasionally drive forward into the space in midfield. He is not the quickest and most agile player, but this does not negatively affect his game. He also can dribble past opponents at times, but that is really not his play style to take opponents on. Berge is also good at reading the passing lanes, with him being very skilled at intercepting passes in the center of the park. Technically, he plays very similar to Rodri at Manchester City, with the Spaniard being the lynchpin in the midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side and the player who likes to start the build-up from the back.

Physical:

Sander Berge stands at 6’5″ and has a very built body, but plays like midfielder who is much shorter. For his height, Berge has a very low center of gravity and is hard to muscle off of the ball. He is very good in the air, winning a majority of his aerial duels, and is the player Coucke targets off of his goal kicks when he kicks it long. He is also good in the tackle, but can sometimes get too aggressive into challenges or unnecessarily dive into challenges that he does not have to. Physically, Berge compares very well to Steven N’zonzi, with both being around the same height and also having the same approach physically. N’zonzi is a player very much like Berge who is strong in the air and is also very strong in the tackle.

Summary:

Sander Berge is a player who has a very bright future as a defensive midfielder that can slot into some of Europe’s best sides. Currently, however, he is excelling in Belgium, and is one of the best midfielders in the league right now. Berge brings to the table a skillset that not many players his age can; the ability to combine composure on the ball, leadership on the pitch, and strength and aggression defensively. There are still a few sides to his game that he could work on, most notably diving into tackles that are not there to be won, but Berge is currently one of the best young midfielders in the world, and should eventually get his move to a bigger club in the near future. (He is currently heavily linked with Sheffield United as I write this report.)

DOB: 7/11/1997 (22)

Nationality: France

Club: KAA Gent

Position: Defensive Midfielder

Tactical:

In Gent’s system, Owusu plays as the base of a diamond in midfield, with him being the player that protects the back four. Out of possession, he sticks to his position as being the last midfielder, but will move across the midfield to try and win back possession or press opposition players. In possession, when Gent are attacking, Owusu stays near the halfway line, acting as the player to break-up play if Gent were to lose possession in a dangerous area. He also will slot in-between the two center backs while the fullbacks are pushed forward joining the attack. When it comes to set pieces (free kicks and corners), Owusu does not move into the box, he instead sticks to his position near the halfway line and is there in case the opposition break off on a counter off the set piece. He also is not the type of player to drive forward from midfield with the ball, he is more likely to receive the ball and then look up to find a teammate for a pass.

Tactically he has fit in very well in Jess Thorup’s system considering that this is his first full season at the highest level professionally. Before moving to Belgium from Lyon (where he never played a first-team minute) he was out on loan at Ligue 2 side Sochaux. This season he has played every match in the Europa League, and almost every match in the Pro League so far.

Technical:

In regards to his tactical attributes, Owusu is probably one of the best on the ball in this Gent side. He boasts a very good pass completion rate, and has a great range of passing to go along with it. He is not the type of holding midfielder that only plays side-to-side or backwards passes, he is very keen to play the ball forward and play more progressive passes. While he is more keen to stick to his position while in possession of the ball, if the space is there, he will drive forward into the space to progress the ball quicker. When it comes to dribbling, he has the ability to weave his way past defenders, but as I mentioned earlier, that is really not his game being at the base of a diamond in midfield. He does not join the attack often, so his ability in the attacking third is hard to judge in Gent’s system. As a pure passer of the ball though, he is right up there with the best in that Gent side.

Physical:

Physically, Owusu stands at 6’0″, and is very quick and agile for someone his size. Being a defensive midfielder, tackling should be one of his strong suits defensively, and it is, with him having close to a two-thirds tackle success rate. He does however lack in his duels, with him winning just over half of his duels attempted but even less that half in his aerial duels, which is a bit concerning considering he is a taller midfielder. He is though more of a midfielder who will sit in the passing lanes and try to intercept passes than getting in the air to try and win the ball. Even so, at his height he should be winning more aerial duels than he currently does, considering out of all of Gent’s midfielders, he has attempted the second most (after Odjidja-Ofoe).

He has been a very reliable performer for Gent this season, with him having some stand-out matches (at Standard Liege in Dec.) throughout his first full season in a first division side in Europe.

Summary:

Owusu has been a very solid player for Gent this season, which is great considering he is only 22 and still has plenty of room to develop as a player. While in some aspects of his game he excels (passing, interceptions, tackling), he still has some way to go in others before he is possibly mentioned as an option for one of the bigger clubs in Europe. In Gent’s system he operates in the engine room of the midfield, and excels in Jess Thorup’s system. He is one of the better players in a very talented Gent side, but he still has some room to develop before he should think about moving to a bigger club in Europe.