Source: TheGuardian
Rising football stars: 10 players to watch in 2017
Gabriel Jesus, about to join Manchester City, and Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer, Ben Woodburn, are among the game’s best prospectsKeïta was relatively unheralded outside Austria when he left RB Salzburg – to all intents a sister club to Leipzig – in the summer after a two-year stay but he had already been named the country’s player of the year and cannot be a million miles from a similar honour in Germany. Four years ago he was playing for Horoya in his native Guinea, getting his breakthrough in Europe with the French second-tier club Istres; Europe’s biggest names have been interested for some time and it is not hard to see why. A dynamic, box-to-box central midfielder, he has drawn comparisons with N’Golo Kanté but distributes the ball with a range and accuracy that has evoked parallels with Deco. That is a potent enough mix without a keen eye for goal: Keïta was on the scoresheet a dozen times for Salzburg last season and there have been four more in the Bundesliga this season – including an opening-day winner against Borussia Dortmund and a cracker in the victory at Mainz. Keïta is fundamental to the high-intensity pressing game taught by Ralph Hasenhüttl and characterises the fresh, positive feel behind the entire Leipzig team; they must hope their achievements match up to their prize asset’s potential in the seasons to come. Nick Ames Related: Gabriel Jesus: ‘I like a challenge. The biggest battles go to the biggest warriors’ Related: Transfer window January 2017: all the latest moves and news – interactive Related: Mino Raiola: a fearless negotiator who got his revenge with Paul Pogba deal Related: Ben Woodburn sets record as Liverpool break Leeds to reach EFL Cup last four Continue reading......read full article
