The Hottest Prospects in Football (Part 5)

With young talent being so sought after in the modern game, we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects in football at the moment. I've put together a number of different reports from a variety of different sources to give you a wide range of writing. Make sure you check out some of the writers as this is only a flavour of their work! I'm not claiming this is a fully comprehensive list of all young talent, simply a selection! I've also included an edited picture of each player, hope you like them!


Lorenzo Insigne (21)

At just 5'4", Lorenzo Insigne is one of the smallest players you'll see, however what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in talent. After a number of loan spells, this season has been Insigne's breakthrough one as he has sought to replace a certain Ezequiel Lavezzi.



There is no denying that Insigne's main asset is his speed. Not just his pace and ability to cover ground quickly but also the speed with which he dribbles. Insigne has some of the quickest feet I've ever seen and twinned with his astonishing agility, he can be an absolute nightmare for defenders as he is literally gone with the ball in the blink of an eye.

The diminutive Italian also has an eye for goal and loves to cut inside and let rip in the back of the net. He also possesses and impressive shooting range and has already scored some cracking goals in his so far short career. Insigne's exceptional first touch allows him to burst on to through balls before producing a cool finish.

A hugely exciting prospect for the future, Insigne has bags of potential, watch this space!

Written By: Me! (Latest_Footy)

Phillipe Coutinho (20)


Brazil have been a nation which are well-known for producing some of the most technically gifted footballers which have graced the planet and with Phillipe Coutinho now making a big move to Liverpool, it seems that at some point, he will perfectly fit into that category.

 Coutinho began his career at Vasco da Gama before making a move to Inter Milan, where first team opportunities were restricted due to the quality players who occupied the same position as the Brazilian. A loan move with Espanyol granted him the chance to play regular football and it enabled him to showcase the incredible talent that he possessed.

Since then Coutinho moved to Liverpool in this season’s January transfer window and already he has received many plaudits after a series of impressive displays. It’s evident to see how easy it is for him to play football, he oozes class and has settled into that Liverpool side very nicely. He is able to link up with players and find team-mates with a killer pass, often even getting into good goal-scoring positions and finding the net on a few occasions. He is almost like a young Pablo Aimar, only small but his ability cannot be questioned. After a relatively tough time at Inter, it looks like he will eventually fulfil his potential with Liverpool.

Written By: (@DisguisedPass)
                      disguisedpass.wordpress.com

Adam Maher (19)

Adam Maher is not a name that may be all too familiar for irregular viewers of the Eredivisie but in the years to come I am sure it will be a name you will not be able to avoid. At just 19 years old, he is set for some future. 

Playing just off the main striker, Maher has the ability to control a game and dictate it at the tempo he wants to play it at. His vision is one of main reasons for this. His ability to pick a pass to an inch, and allows his team mates to join in play. It is this creative streak, coupled with an incredible tenacity that make him one of the leading Eredivisie talents. He may not be the most prolific of goalscorers but when he does get on the score sheet, it is usually clinical.  At times this season he has carried a poor AZ Alkmaar team to safety. 

It is believed that he is set for one of Europe’s top clubs in the summer with Alkmaar admitting they can no longer afford to keep the youngster. Dortmund and Manchester City are the favourites to snap him up. One thing can be sure, whoever does sign him in the summer will have signed an absolute gem.

Written By: (@OliT93)
                      blueworldfootball.tumblr.com

Paul Pogba (20)


Paul Pogba. The one that got away. Sir Alex Ferguson very rarely admits to his mistakes, mainly due to the fact that he doesn’t make that many. But surely in the years to come looking back, he’ll rue the day he ever let Pogba leave United.

Pogba a mystery to many supporters, has been a welcome and bright addition to Juve. His balanced set of qualities, both offensive and defensive, makes him a complete player who can fit into any style of play. His athleticism in particular makes him a strong asset and enables him to operate efficiently between central and wide zones (much like Vidal). He is also technically gifted and provides a midfield goal threat, which is crucial due to Juve’s 3-5-2 that includes no advanced wide attackers.

Alongside his technical and mental combination of ability, he is an absolute stalwart physically in the centre-of-the-park. At just 19, he has mastered the fearsome threesome combination of mental, technical and physical presence into a mould of his own — dominating players with his astute and raw power but cohersing along with Pirlo in a balance of technical grace.

The move to Juventus has been a sensational upbeat transition for the young Frenchman, acquiring 20 appearances this season alongside some of the greatest players in world football within the current Serie A champions. It has graced him with a sense of maturity he didn’t uphold at United as a youth prospect and moving abroad has given him a wider opportunity to enhance his experience.

So, with Pogba now flourishing and devastatingly exceeding whatever was expected of him by being compared to the likes of Yaya Toure — are we seeing another world talent emerge?

Written By: (@ManToManMarking)
                      man2manmarking.wordpress.com

Thanks to all the writers who got involved. If you liked any writer in particular then be sure to leave a comment or follow them on twitter! I do requests on photo edits of players so if you liked the pictures then get in touch on twitter (@Latest_Footy) or (https://twitter.com/Latest_Footy)

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!