Once Neil Lennon’s tenure had come to an end at Celtic after their most disastrous season in a decade, it was only a matter of time before the pack of cards came tumbling down.

It wasn’t just the fact that the Hoops lost out on the Scottish Premiership title, but the manner in which they lost it, completely beaten in every facet by Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side.

MORE: Liverpool legend slams Super League as embarrassing

The season was long since over, even before Lennon went, and, ahead of the new season, the club are already working behind the scenes to bring things back on an even keel and give them the best chance of challenging their eternal rivals north of the border.

According to Football Insider, Celtic’s biggest shareholder, Dermot Desmond, has demanded a root-and-branch overhaul of the club’s recruitment department.

To that end, Gary Penrice, Mick Doherty and John Murphy, who all formed part of the club’s recruitment department, will fall on their swords with immediate effect.

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Desperate times call for desperate measures, but whether that will be enough to redress the balance, only time will tell.

The post Celtic’s exodus continues as three more senior members of staff to leave with immediate effect appeared first on CaughtOffside.

VVV Venlo forward Jur Clabbers is quickly emerging as one of his division’s most exciting talents and is well on his way to becoming a dark horse for Eredivisie’s future prospects.

READ MORE: Kiyo Brown | 19 | RW | The prolific diamond in the National League’s rough

Clabbers, 18, who is represented by German agency Batz and Bialas Management is currently plying his trade in Eredivisie side VVV Venlo’s youth academy after joining from PSV Eindhoven’s in 2018.

Thus far, the young talented striker has featured in a total of seven matches for VVV Venlo’s under-18s and under-21s.

Experience

Clabbers joined VVV Venlo’s youth academy two-years ago aged just 16 and has since gone on to feature in over 35 matches for the Dutch side, scoring 15 goals along the way.

The exciting attacker joined his current side from PSV’s world-famous youth ranks in a quest to continue his impressive development.

After making the decision to depart PSV’s youth academy after joining at the age of just eight, Clabbers teamed up with Roger Bongaerts’ young guns.

Style of Play

Clabbers is a naturally gifted forward who is equally as explosive on either foot which allows him to competently cut in from either side of the pitch before baring down on goal.

Despite being best suited to an out and out goalscoring role, the evidence is there to suggest that Clabbers’ game can be adapted to allow him to feature as an attacking inside forward.

The 18-year-old’s versatile attacking nature combined with the devastating effects of both his left and his right foot make him an ideal candidate to become one of his league’s most prolific marksman.

Clabbers is a pacey and technical forward who has superb agility and balance. The talented youngster often gets the best of his opponents by utilising his close control and intricate technical ability.

VVV Venlo’s teenager will often wrong foot his opposition defender by weaving inside and out. Arguably one of Clabbers’ most deadliest attributes is how accomplished he is at drawing fouls by using his strength to shield the ball.

When through on goal, the talented attacker has the technical know-how of when to lay the ball off to a team-mate and when to go for goal.

Clabbers has a unique ability to caress the ball home by arching the ball around his opposition goalkeeper.

Physicality

Clabbers has a physical stature very similar to Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish with a small but stocky frame allowing him to effectively exploit bursts of power and pace.

The 18-year-old, who still has plenty of time to continue his physical development already has the perfect physical outline of an agile but strong attacker who can beat his man by combining his technical ability as well as his pace.

Strengths

Undoubtedly, Clabbers’ most impressive attributes are his close control skills, his balance when running at high speed, his eye for goal and his overall progressive ball carrying skills.

Clabbers’ technical competence is complimented excellently by his ability to operate both in wide and central areas, not only can the teenager create openings by making the pitch as wide as possible, he is also lethal when faced with one-on-one situations.

The VVV Venlo younger has an incredible natural talent for understanding when to opt for creativity and when to unleash a shot of his own.

The strong, powerful and athletic attacker is extremely nimble and agile whilst still being able to physically hold off his opponent.

Projected Development and Conclusion

Clabbers has all the makings of becoming one of Europe’s most highly-rated attackers. The youngster’s impressive youth performances thus far in his short career have already seen him emerge as one of his country’s most stand out youth performers.

The talented attacker is set to continue in the step-up to under-21s level after already impressing in VVV Venlo’s under-18s side.

When put in high-pressure situations, Clabbers rarely makes the wrong choice. The youngster’s calm and composed nature is clearly way beyond his young years.

If VVV Venlo’s young attacker continues to master his style of play whilst racking up valuable competitive experience, there is no reason why the teenager cannot go onto become a star of the Eredivisie for years to come.

Throughout his young career, Clabbers has already indicated he has all the required attributes to continue his development as he seeks to become one of Eredivisie’s hottest prospects.

The post Jur Clabbers | 18 | ST | Eredivisie’s technical young-gun emerging as Holland’s dark horse appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sutton Common Rovers attacker Kiyo Brown is creating quite a storm in the National League.

READ MORE: Kai Kennedy | 18 | LW | Rangers’ attacking Scot who’s heading right for the top

Brown, 19, has spent the last three years with ‘The U’s’ reserves side in a spell which has seen him become one of the club’s most promising talents.

Having racked up a hugely impressive 25 goals in all competitions last season, Brown has already kicked this campaign off with a bang after being directly involved in five goals in his side’s first four matches.

Under the guidance of industry leading agency ‘Game of Two Halves‘, the Sutton Rovers youngster has managed to create a perfect balance between continuing his impressive development and becoming in key figure in his side’s success.

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Experience

Brown joined Sutton’s Rovers in 2017 at the tender age of 16 and has since gone onto become one of the National League’s most prolific and exciting attackers.

The gifted attacker spent the five years prior to his arrival at Sutton with Brentford’s academy and after imposing himself on his side’s youth set-up, Brown has cemented his place as one of Sutton Rovers’ brightest talents in recent history.

Brown is no stranger to finding the back of the net after showcasing a youth career littered with goal contributions.

During his five years with Brentford (2010 – 2015), the youngster was the club’s top-scorer in every season.

Most recently, Brown finished his second season with Sutton Rovers with a hugely impressive 25 goals in all competitions.

Despite the campaign being cut short due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Brown was still able to rack up a very respectable tally for both Sutton Rovers’ under-19s and under-23s.

Style of Play

Brown is a naturally left-footed attacking wide-man who’s best role is operating as an inside forward situated on the right-flank.

Despite being best suited to cutting inside from wide attacking areas, Brown is also more than accomplished in using his right foot.

Although mostly instructed to act as an inside forward, via the use of his other foot, the versatile teenager can also operate as a more traditional winger if ever required to do so.

Although versatile, the exciting wide-attacker is often stationed on the far right handside of a midfield four with the sole intention of driving his side forward as he looks to make the pitch as wide as possible.

Brown is a pacey and highly technical wide-attacker who possesses all the capabilities required to be a devastating modern inside forward.

The 19-year-old will often tangle up his opposition full-back by cutting inside, Brown draws on his ability to operate in tight spaces and his agility to manoeuvre his way into danger areas before unleashing a shot on goal or setting a team-mate up.

The exciting attacker is a thoroughly consistent performer who always proves to be an offensive outlet for his side. His ability to stretch the game makes his presence particularly invaluable when pushing for a late goal.

Arguably one of Brown’s most deadliest attributes is his ability to run with the ball, his superb on-ball movement allows him the necessary time to be able to get his head up and pick a pass.

Although most dangerous when cutting inside of his man from a one-on-one position, Brown isn’t shy of whipping a ball into the box either.

The talented attacker has the technical know-how of when to whip a ball in and when to float one in. Brown’s team-mates are often able to benefit from their wide-man’s overall impressive wing-play.

Physicality

Brown has the physical stature often associated with a professional wide-attacker. Standing at five feet nine inches tall and weighing just shy of 11 stone, Brown has a slender frame with all his explosive power coming from his legs.

The 19-year-old, who still has plenty of time to continue his physical development already has the perfect physical outline of an agile player who is capable of beating his man by unleashing short but highly energetic bursts of pace.

Strengths

Undoubtedly, Brown’s most impressive attributes are his ball control skills, his agility when running at high speed, his eye for goal and his overall wing-play.

Throughout his young career, Brown has already proven to possess some seriously impressive offensive capabilities and when combined with his explosiveness create a prolific goal scoring wide-attacker who also has the ability to dictate proceedings and instantly alter a game’s momentum.

Despite being situated on the wing, once inside of his opponent’s area, Brown has a lethal eye for goal. This is demonstrated by the fact the teenager has finished every season as his side’s top marksman.

Brown’s technical competence extends further than his ability to operate out wide, the devastating wide-man also has a hugely impressive range of shots.

The Sutton Rovers attacker has a remarkable ability to know when to opt for a shot designed to break the back of the net and when to fool his opposition’s goalkeeper into making the first crucial move in one-on-one situations.

It is impossible to label Brown with having a trademark style of shot due to the young attacker being more than capable of placing, chipping and smashing his way to double figures season after season.

In addition to Brown’s natural attacking talent, the youngster also has some superb physical traits, most notably his ability to beat his man and come off best in one-on-one situations.

The athletic wide-man is extremely nimble whilst still being physically resilient.

Projected Development

Brown has all the makings of becoming one of England’s most sought after attackers. His youth records speak for itself.

The talented youngster is exceptionally prolific in front of goal and despite being just 19-years-old has a genuinely mature game which has been demonstrating one more than one occasion having featured several times for his side’s under-23s.

When put in high-pressured situations, Brown rarely makes the wrong decision. The young Englishman is able to successfully differentiate between when the correct play is to set his team-mate up and when he should be taking on the opposition himself.

If Brown continues to perfect his style of play whilst racking up valuable competitive experience, there is no reason why this exciting teenager cannot take England’s higher leagues by storm.

Conclusion

Devastating in wide one-one-one positions, this proven goalscorer’s professional game has all the elements required to launch him into the forefront of top-tier english football.

By utilising his technical and physical traits, Brown genuinely is one of the National League’s most exciting prospects.

With a playing style wise beyond his years, Brown’s daring ability to drive his side forward and at times, win games by himself could see him become one of english football’s most sought after commodities.

Flourishing as a young attacking inside forward, Brown’s game will go from strength to strength the more game-time he is awarded.

Often unplayable among his current peers in a modernised role, Sutton United’s youngster is arguably one of the game’s most naturally gifted talents who is unquestionably destined for great things.

The post Kiyo Brown | 19 | RW | The prolific diamond in the National League’s rough appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Luke Woodland is a 25-year-old international currently plying his trade in Thailand’s top-flight. After being born in the UAE and raised in Liverpool, the defensive midfielder has so far experienced a unique career.

READ MORE: Cion Wren | 20 | LW | The non-league rapid youngster tearing up the east of England

After once lining up for England’s youth team alongside Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and Watford’s Will Hughes, Woodland has since gone on to enjoy a career which has spanned across four countries.

Woodland started his football journey at Bolton Wanderers youth academy where he featured 26 times for their under-23s side.

After departing Bolton’s youth academy in 2015, Woodland went on to experience spells at Chester, Bradford PA, Oldham Athletic and York City.

Internationally, between the years of 2010 and 2012, Woodland was eligible to represent England and the Philippines. The talented midfielder was selected for England’s under-16s, under-17s and under-18s and racked up an impressive 11 youth caps.

After opting not to renew his contract after a brief spell for Philippine club Ceres-Negros, Woodland made the switch to Asia where he now plays for Thai side Ratchaburi.

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Style of play

Woodland generally operates as a combative defensive midfielder but is also capable and experienced undertaking centre-back responsibilities with the 25-year-old being best suited to playing on the right side of a back-line.

The experienced defender is best utilised as a traditional defensive midfielder who looks to break opposition play up at source.

Woodland’s ability and willingness to physically exert himself on his opponents allows his team-mates the necessary time to reform a stable formation.

Physicality

Arguably Woodland’s greatest physical plus is his pace. The midfielder possesses the speed required to successfully make recovery runs. Woodland’s willingness to recover the ball as quickly and as effectively as possible is a big positive in his game.

The defensive midfielder loves a tackle and being able to go toe-to-toe with opposition attackers. Woodland’s strength allows him to effectively command the hub of his side’s midfield.

At six foot tall, Woodland is also highly competent in the air, his aerial ability should not be underestimated and is arguably one of the best areas of his game.

After using his strength to out-muscle his opponent and his heading ability to head the ball out of the danger zone, Woodland very rarely comes off second best in an aerial duel.

Projected development

At 25-years-old Woodland’s physical frame is already established, however, with still a few years away from reaching his prime, the midfielder still has time to develop his strengths and ability to read the game.

Woodland could arguably still develop into a very capable and calm defensive midfielder.

His physical attributes such as his strength and pace suggest he could definitely be an asset to any European footballing side.

After gaining so much top-flight experience, Woodland can successfully adapt his defensive game to operate as both a traditional no-nonsense defender and a technical defensive midfielder looking to break-up play and initiate attacks from deep.

Strengths and conclusion

As mentioned above, Woodland’s biggest strengths are his physical traits such as his speed and his strength.

Mentally, Woodland is a very combative defensive midfielder who loves a tackle and enjoys getting the better of opposition attackers when faced in a one-on-one situation.

Elsewhere, one of Woodland’s stand-out technical strengths is his ability to win the ball in the air. He has a great understanding of when to head the ball and when to let it bounce and take a touch.

Woodland has a great spring in his leap and can comfortably out-jump taller players.

In conclusion, Woodland still has some developing to do, both mentally and technically, but he is a player who is definitely capable of playing in a better league than Thailand’s top-flight.

His determined nature both on and off the field of play make him a decent young prospect to coach.

After already showcasing his versatility across four footballing nations, Woodland could be a valuable option for any European side looking to bolster their defensive options.

The post Luke Woodland | 25 | DCM | From England’s youth side to Thailand’s top-flight via Europe, the versatile combative midfielder who loves a tackle appeared first on CaughtOffside.

British youngster Cion Wren is on a tear up in the east of England where he plies his trade for Lowestoft Town FC as he now looks to take the next step in his career and make the transition from semi-pro to fully fledged professional.

READ MORE: Kai Kennedy | 18 | LW | Rangers’ attacking Scot who’s heading right for the top

Wren, 20, has played a pivotal role in Lowestoft Town’s 2019-20 campaign after featuring in 24 games in all competitions and being directly involved in eight goals.

The youngster who started his playing career with Suffolk County in 2016 spent just a single year with the club before moving to Lowestoft Town to join their youth ranks and has since gone onto force his way into the side’s first-team.

During the season’s break, Wren is currently putting his footballing knowledge to good use by coaching Ipswich Women’s first-team ahead of the new domestic 2020-21 campaign.

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Style of Play

Wren predominantly operates on the left side of an attack but is more than capable featuring in a number 10 role situated just behind the leading striker.

The youngster possesses some very impressive technical abilities which are clearly way above the level he is currently playing at. His off-ball movement is exceptionally mature for a player so young.

Wren is capable of showcasing moments of brilliance from the left-wing and is a constant threat when operating as a traditional winger who has a lethal left-foot.

Lowestoft’s impressive 20-year-old is easily one of the best flair players in the Step 3 division as his unpredictable nature mixed with his rapid speed constantly leaves opponents guessing what he’s going to do next.

Physicality

Wren is a left-footed five foot 10 inches tall winger who has a slender frame often associated with fast-paced wingers.

Still with time to grow and develop into his frame, Wren’s projected stature is classic of a professional attacking winger. Although strong enough to compete and get the better of defenders, arguably Wren’s most deadly attribute is his threat when forcing full-backs to take him on down the line.

Projected Development

Wren’s future really has no bounds, the youngster is flying high among his semi-professional peers and is head and shoulders above others who play a similar role to him.

Still at the tender age of just 20, there is time yet for Wren to secure a dream move to a more prestigious club in a higher division. The potential rewards on a club’s gamble on Wren would undoubtedly outweigh the risks due to the player’s availability, free cost and grounded nature.

The youngster could definitely benefit from a pro-deal as he seeks to develop his game by plying his trade in a higher league.

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Strengths

Wren’s best attributes are without a doubt his technical abilities as well as his naturally gifted flair style of play which when combined with his lightening pace create a very threatening young winger.

The youngster’s ability to beat his man and whip in balls from the left-wing allow his side to remain an offensive threat even in the latter stages of matches.

Wren has a superb attitude with a ‘never say die’ state of mind. The talented winger would undoubtedly be a dream to coach for any professional managerial team, he is intelligent and keen to adapt his style of play to suit.

Conclusion

Making the jump from non-league to top-flight professional football is extremely rare, however, it should not be out of the question that Wren could competently make the switch from Lowestoft to a much higher division here in England.

The youngster who still has a lot of developing to do possesses both the physical and mental attributes required to successfully adapt his game to suit whichever direction of a play a good manager wishes to go in.

Costing nothing and with wage demands at the bottom of the youngster’s wish-list, taking a punt on this talented and very capable youngster could be one of the best decision a professional club ever makes.

The post Cion Wren | 20 | LW | The non-league rapid youngster tearing up the east of England appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Kai Kennedy is arguably one of Scottish football’s most exciting talents on display currently. The youngster is destined to follow in the recent footsteps of impressive compatriots, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney.

READ MORE: Tope Fadahunsi | 20 | RB | The British youngster turning heads with incredible defensive attributes

Kennedy, 18, who has just 10-months left on his deal is currently plying his trade with Ranger’s youth team whilst being touted for the step-up into Steven Gerrard’s first-team as early as next season.

The Scottish winger will undoubtedly be being monitored by some of Europe’s best clubs as the youngster displays some seriously impressive offensive traits and is someone who has all the makings to go onto achieve great things in even more illustrious leagues.

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Experience

Kennedy has been within the Rangers youth set-up since 2018 and has gone onto make 13 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish club’s B side.

The exciting teenager has enjoyed an impressive 18-months after managing to be directly involved in five goals for his side, including three assists in the illustrious youth competition the UEFA Youth League.

Internationally, Kennedy has featured three times for Scotland’s under 19s with all of his appearances coming in his team’s UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign. Kennedy’s most notable performance for Scotland’s under 19s came against Andorra back in December 2019 when he bagged a brace of assists as his team went onto win 2-0.

Style of play

Kennedy generally operates on the left-side of an attacking front line but is truly at his best when deployed as an inside forward role.

The youngster has a superb ability to cut inside from the left flank and create half-a-yard of space before utilising his stronger right-foot to either step up a team-mate or unleash a shot on goal himself.

Kennedy has a unique ability to spray quick, curved balls into his side’s leading attacker or even further out to the right-sided winger. The young winger’s ability to perfectly weight balls whilst maintaining his side’s tempo has become key in his effectiveness to unlock opposition defences.

The exciting wide-man’s game really comes to life when he is given the freedom to run at opponents, very rarely does Kennedy come off second best in a one-on-one situation.

Kennedy possesses some lightening sharp acceleration which he can effectively maintain over greater distances, it is this ability to get ahead and stay ahead of his opponents which really allows the youngster to dictate which area of the pitch he is going to drag his man into.

The Scottish attacker’s ability to drive at his opponents’ back-line whilst exercising his impressive technical ability in the form of close control often allow him the necessary breathing space to be able to execute pin-point and perfectly weighted balls to his progressing team-mates.

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Physicality

At the tender age of just 18 still, it goes without saying that Kennedy could still have time to grow into his frame. The youngster stands at five feet seven inches tall and could arguably develop a physical stature closely reminiscent of Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri.

Kennedy is quick, powerful and remarkably strong for such a young player. The youngster’s ability to shift the ball between half spaces and adjust his body’s movements almost instantly suggest the Scotsman possesses incredible agility and balance.

The winger’s low centre of gravity is really evident to see as he often successfully shifts the ball inside in a seamless and single motion which in turn leaves his man wrong-footed and struggling to recover.

Projected development

Kennedy has all the makings of becoming one of British football’s stand-out performers over the next 10-years. The youngster possesses some seriously impressive attributes which would not look out of place in a top-half Premier League side.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Rangers youngster is his intelligence when both on and off the ball. Kennedy’s awareness of how to successfully create space not only for himself but also for his team-mates really do pay tribute to his knowledge of how to maximise his own strengths.

Going forward, which of course is the primary duty of an attacking winger, Kennedy showcases both strong physical and technical ability. The Scottish teenager would undoubtedly flourish in a top-flight side who are comfortable allowing their wide-men to be offensively creative. The 18-year-old’s game would become even more influencial in a side who choose to adopt an interchanging front-line, similar to how Manchester United currently play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Arguably Kennedy’s game would thrive in a senior side where he could engage in a role which allows him to receive the ball in deeper areas and look to carry the ball as he progresses through midfield and towards the edge of his opponent’s area.

I have no doubts that Kennedy’s game would continue to flourish under any manager which utilises his capacity to act as an offensive outlet situated in a more wider position, arguably one not too dissimilar to the role Wilfried Zaha undertakes at Crystal Palace.

Strengths

As mentioned in depth above, Kennedy’s greatest strengths are his ability to drive at his man whilst very rarely looking likely to lose the ball. The teenager who operates best in the modern role of a wide inside forward has remarkable ability to read the game incredibly well for a player so young.

Kennedy’s willingness to initiate his side’s attacks from deep before offloading the ball and drifting more centrally showcases his versatile ability to adapt to both a wide-man and a mezzala role.

Conclusion

Clearly Kennedy is one to watch as teams all across Europe gear up ready for the start of the 2020-21 season. The young and exciting winger is unquestionably one of, if not, the most impressive young talents to emerge from Scotland in recent times.

The teenager’s ability both technically and physically could see him snapped-up by a Premier League big-boy in the near future. The youngster would not look out of place in England’s big leagues as a genuinely solid left-sided winger capable of operating as an attacker is becoming increasingly more sought after.

As Kennedy naturally flourishes when faced with opponents one-on-one, his ability to know when to move more centrally plays a key role in his effectiveness to dictate proceedings.

It is clear that Kennedy’s team-mates follow his positional lead and that really is one of the greatest compliments a player can receive. With his peers acknowledging when to shift over and when to move into the space Kennedy has freed up for them, the 18-year-old really does showcase some superb tactical awareness which he effectively puts into practice by utilising his impressive physical traits.

The post Kai Kennedy | 18 | LW | Rangers’ attacking Scot who’s heading right for the top appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Loughborough University’s first-team full-back Tope Fadahunsi is turning heads as he embarks on a mission to turn fully professional. The youngster is catching the eye of industry representatives after he displays some eerily reminiscent attributes to leading Premier League full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

READ MORE: Ryan Nolan | 21 | CB | The young Irishman destined for the Premier League after impressive spell in Italy

Fadahunsi, 20, was with Watford’s academy from 2007 to 2015 before leaving to ply his trade in the Isthmian Premier for Tooting and Mitcham United FC.

After a brief spell in Finland for second tier side Kemi City, the British youngster is now back on home soil and tearing up the United Counties League with current club Loughborough University’s first-team.

Fadahunsi is best suited to being a full-back and by his own admission is comfortable playing on either side and can contribute effectively offensively, a modern day trait which is becoming increasingly more sought after.

The 20-year-old’s defensive game is where he really flourishes though, the youngster is extremely useful with his head and provides essential aerial cover which reaffirms his ability to read the game as he stands at five feet 10 inches tall.

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The youthful full-back also regularly demonstrates some highly mature defensive traits especially when facing up against an opponent in a one-on-one situation.

Fadahunsi showcases some remarkable natural mental ability as he avoids jumping into tackles and will instead opt to show his opponent down the line before closing the space off and attempting to win the ball back.

The British full-back also displays resolute characteristics which would compliment a host of clubs, the youngster is both calm when in possession and tenacious when attempting to win his side the ball back.

For a player still so young Fadahunsi is in top physical condition having become best known for his strength to out-muscle opposition players as well as his quick acceleration which he often utilises when operating on the flanks, addressing his physical strengths, Fadahunsi said: “I believe the strongest part of my game is my athleticism. I’m fast and quite strong which as a defensive player is always useful.”

One of Fadahunsi’s most impressive attributes is his leadership qualities, the youngster is well known within his side for being a leading figure who will encourage his peers to bounce back after a disappointing defeat.

The powerful defender possesses the confidence to command his back-line as he seeks to ensure those around him do not falter under pressure.

Fadahunsi could be an extremely attractive option for a leading club with the youngster already well accomplished in so many areas of his game but also able to adapt to tactical and positional tweaks as his versatility allows him to provide central cover for recovering defenders.

Like many young and aspiring players, Fadahunsi’s dream is play in England’s top-flight, he said: “I think for any footballer the Premier League is where you want to be. Being born in the UK it only makes sense for me. I am close to home, it’s arguably the highest level of football and i’m used to the weather and culture […] I’d play just about anywhere on the planet though.”

Given Fadahunsi’s age and current status, the youngster’s risk versus reward could prove too good to turn down for any club looking to add quality to their back-line in the form of a young and exciting defender who can operate soundly both offensively and defensively.

The post Tope Fadahunsi | 20 | RB | The British youngster turning heads with incredible defensive attributes appeared first on CaughtOffside.

RC Lens B’s attacking midfielder Kandet Diawara is currently on a tear in France’s Championnat National League 2 and could very well make a move to England’s big leagues sooner rather than later.

READ MORE: Exclusive: Arsenal among host of European clubs battling for highly-rated striker valued at £36m

The 20-year-old talented midfielder joined RC Lens in 2012 at the tender age of just 12 and has since gone on to make his way through the club’s academy ranks to now feature for the B side in the country’s Championnat National League 2.

Diawara has appeared in 18 matches during the 2019-20 season for RC Lens B and has been directly involved in three goals for his side.

The exciting Frenchman also has international experience having featured five times for France’s under 19s side.

The exciting right-footed midfielder possesses some seriously mature attributes for a player so young with large aspects of his game reminiscent of Leicester City’s star-man Wilfried Ndidi.

The youngster’s game really comes to life when presented with the opportunity to utilise his ball carrying skills and drive at the opposition’s back-line.

Whilst the young Frenchman displays resolute characteristics across most areas required to be an impactful box-to-box midfielder, Diawara’s ability to retain possession and initiate attacks really is highlighted by the fact he has some of the league’s best passing accuracy at a stunning 83.5%.

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Diawara is best situated in the middle of the park and has the physical as well as technical capabilities to bomb up and down the pitch providing both cover defensively and adding an additional threat offensively.

Most notably at the other end of the pitch, the 20-year-old wins well over half of his aerial duels which is highly impressive considering he stands at five feet 10 inches.

The RC Lens B midfielder will have time to develop his playing style as his versatility currently allows him to flourish as either an attacking midfielder or one which is tasked with operating box-to-box.

Diawara’s game would arguably suit the Premier League down to the ground as England’s top-flight continually requires not just the most technically gifted central players, but also the most physically dominate, both areas of which Diawara more than holds his own in.

Stats courtesy of WyScout

The post Kandet Diawara | 20 | CM | The young French star destined for move to England after tearing up Europe appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Ryan Nolan is a young, Irish centre-back currently playing senior professional football in Italy. After impressively captaining giants Inter Milan’s under 19s, the talented defender now dreams of a long-awaited move to England’s top-flight as he seeks to take the next step in his already remarkable career.

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Nolan, 21, was born in Shannon, Ireland in 1999 and has gone onto become one of European football’s most impressive young defenders.

After moving to Spain at the tender age of eight Nolan went onto play for Spanish outfit Valencia’s under 15s academy before making an impressive switch to Italy where he captained Italian giants Inter Milan’s under 19s team.

With Nolan’s superb leadership qualities Inter Milan’s youngsters went on to win the world renowned youth tournament Viareggio in 2018 and the Italian youth league Primavera twice in three years.

In an exclusive interview with CaughtOffside Nolan reminisced about his inspiring under 19s captaincy by saying: “It was a big honour to be the captain of the main academy team, the Primavera is highly regarded in Italy and I won it twice in three years.”

The young Irishman continued his impressive rise to top-flight football and made his first appearances for Inter Milan’s first-team in the Nerazzurri’s 2018-19 pre-season. Later on during the same season, Nolan was named in former manager Luciano Spalletti’s Europa League squad.

The intelligent centre-back also has a wealth of international experience after featuring for Ireland’s under 16s, 17s and 18s having played regularly for now senior manager Stephen Kenny.

Kenny, who is a huge admirer of Nolan was quoted by The 42 last year after he addressed his international intentions for the talented defender, he said: “He is on standby for this team at the moment. Ryan is on standby and is obviously a talented defender.

“He has been in with the U18s previously and I think he is a traditional ‘number 5?, if you like. He is a very, very good defender.”

In line with Kenny’s high praise, Nolan possesses some highly impressive qualities including incredible physicality.

At six foot two, right-footed Nolan is not only a commanding centre-back, his technically composed nature sees him best suited as a ball playing centre-back who has become accustomed to the modern game by way of seamlessly transitioning play from the back-line to the midfield.

Nolan also has the versatility within his game to play as a traditional number six often situated in front of his side’s back-line.

The youngster’s ability and tactical awareness to move the ball quickly and effectively places him in a very sought after category of defender. Modern football has become familiar with seeing defenders operate a more technical game in recent years after the likes of Pep Guardiola pioneered the defensive style of play.

Not only does Nolan provide a sense of calmness and composure when in possession, when without the ball, the Irishman thrives off making vital game-winning tackles and interceptions.

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When asked which professional Nolan most idolises, he said: “It has to be Nemanja Vidic and at present I love watching [Virgil] Van Dijk, he makes things look so easy.”

Despite Nolan’s impressive rise in Italian football, current Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte’s arrival at the San Siro in 2019 meant Nolan was forced to consider his future amid the possibility of limited competitive game-time.

Unlike England, there are no under 23s sides in Italy, therefore, Nolan opted to leave the club he had been with for three-years earlier this year and join Serie C side Arezzo.

Although the talented defender is enjoying life at his new club, he dreams of making a switch to England’s top-flight to play in the illustrious Premier League.

“Since I was a kid growing up watching English football, I have always dreamt of playing in the Premier League.” Nolan said.

There is often an inaccurate view that Italy’s third-tier contains a sub-par standard of football, however, Nolan has taken his chance to master his defensive abilities by plying his trade in a notoriously hostile league before aiming to unleash his talent on the British leagues.

It goes without saying that Italian football is best known for it’s defensive resilience and with Nolan’s ‘Catenaccio‘ style of play accompanied by his leadership and determined nature, the Irishman’s game really does have all the required ingredients to make it in England’s top-flight.

As clubs like Liverpool embark on a proven to work strategy of signing players with the raw attributes and then develop them into positional world-beaters through the use of managerial and tactical consistency, Nolan’s frame-work could make him a very attractive prospect for any aspiring club.

The 21-year-old is a smart and seriously skilled footballer in his defensive capabilities and he uses that skill to his advantage. The youngster reads the game exceptionally well and is exceptionally composed which allows the entire team to defend as an effective force.

Arguably the most appealing factor in Nolan’s situation is that he is currently available for free, or ‘Niente‘ as the Italians would say.

Given the current financial crisis clubs face at the hands of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Nolan’s risk-free availability could convince English clubs to seriously consider bringing the talented defender to the United Kingdom.

The widely regarded blue-print of clubs remaining self-sufficient has been a model football enthusiasts have witnessed be best deployed by the likes of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.

A plethora of clubs have become reliant on acquiring raw, talented players to develop internally before selling them on for a tidy profit and Arezzo’s Nolan would fit this model perfectly.

The gifted young pro displays all the characteristics both mentally and physically to warrant a dream move to England’s big leagues where he can be encouraged to take the next step in his promising career.

The post Ryan Nolan | 21 | CB | The young Irishman destined for the Premier League after impressive spell in Italy appeared first on CaughtOffside.