Let’s continue our look at some of the real wonderkids of FI. For Part 1 including thoughts on trading youngsters in general, see here.
Going through them today it’s clear just how many options there are. This weeks feature is a curated selection, rather than a listing of every possible promising youngster!
Real FI Wonderkids Part 2
Ryan Gravenberch - 18 - Ajax
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
A couple of years back, Gravenberch was just 16 and there was social media hype but thin evidence of FI suitability. He could also come in at well over £2+.
This was just too much, too soon. But that’s not the case anymore.
He’s 18 now, with improving numbers that show goal threat and assist potential as well as good overall involvement in the game. And he’s just 50p to £1.18 potentially.
The lower end of that is particularly appealing as he is closer to the long awaited big transfer than ever when the price is lower than it has been for a long time.
And shorter term he has a Europa R32 game with Lille coming up. Whilst Lille are slight favourites it would not be outrageous if Gravenberch were to produce a big score in the here and now.
Harvey Elliott - 17 - Liverpool
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Another example of traders predictably getting burned by chasing youngsters too far away from regular first team action at too high a price.
But, in what is becoming a theme of this article, when the hype collapses good opportunities can be opened up. Often there is a little something behind the hype and the problem is that people can just pay too much for it.
Paying £3.50 for Elliott in September 2020 was lunacy. There was just no way that was ever going to be justified anytime soon.
Now though, Elliott is doing well in his spell at Blackburn, showing very strong FI relevant numbers in the Championship, just as does in his Liverpool youth stats.
Liverpool are blessed with two young geniuinely FI suitable talents. Curtis Jones is closer to realising it, but in the next season or two Elliott may prove to be not that far behind. And going for it now when the price is around £1 is the time to do it.
Jules Koundé - 22 - Sevilla
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Centre backs are a bit awkward for FI but Koundé has very strong distribution which builds his baselines, and gets far more opportunities to score than most players in his position too. Particularly in recent games.
Looks like the typical player big clubs are just going to want and that could be this Summer, with many rumours including Man Utd.
90p-99p is decent value and the transfer rumours should keep coming. Another 2-3 big scores before the season is done would not surprise me, either.
Ferran Torres - 20 - Manchester City
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
I often wonder what this kid has to do to impress traders given his low price tag.
To get so many minutes and perform so well at City in his first season is not easy under Pep.
Often when played centrally he’s poor for FI but in his wider roles he is very competitive and if the two recent cup games had been scored for FI that would probably be more obvious.
He’s got real potential for big scores on FI. Those who overuse historic performance scores for their analysis won’t see it until it hits them in the face, but he does.
Under £1 is a steal with a view to holding him possibly for a year or more.
Aurelien Tchouameni - 21 - Monaco
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Monaco have really improved this season and we’re starting to see promising youngsters come through their ranks again.
Tchouameni is a regular by now and recently notched his first goal of the season. It’s actually very surprising it took that long because he has been getting regular chances.
He is capable of big scores at Monaco already, and has no shortage of transfer rumours. 39p to 66p is strong value for a patient hold.
Benoit Badiashile - 19 - Monaco
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Whilst we are at Monaco I have to mention Badiashile. He’s a centre back which are not always the best fits for FI but like Koundé he has that mix of strong distribution and better than average goal threat that brings him into contention.
And the big transfer rumours don’t hurt, either. Last Summer he reached £1.50 due to Manchester United links, and right now he has no bid price at all. He can probably be picked up for well under 50p which is great value.
Looks a solid long term hold.
Francisco Trincao - 21 - Barcelona
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Trincao went to Barcelona as a hot prospect this season yet did not make an immediate impact. He has been quietly racking up the minutes though, and on a per minute basis, showing some decent FI numbers.
This week he scored his first Barcelona goal, and it was a big one to win the game vs Betis as covered over in Scouting. And that goal was no fluke, he’d been looking dangerous in all 4 previous appearances.
For just 56p to 72p backing him to make a come back looks a smart play. Just one big score could see him back to £1 at least. And if he doesn’t get one, he’s just 21 and time is on his side.
Mason Greenwood - 19 - Manchester United
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Regular readers will know my feelings on Greenwood at £6+, never mind nearly £10!
That was just madness, bad trading that was always going to be punished whether FI had a bad 2020 or not.
But there was a bit of method behind this madness – he is a good prospect. And having crashed back down to £2.23 to £2.52 we are now in a reasonable price range. He may not be the best value on the list but at this price sensible traders can give this a second look.
Greenwood is capable of competitive scores, not too dissimilar from Rashford which may not sound like a compliment looking at Rashford’s recent scoring history. But I think Rashford has underperformed and should get more big scores than he has this season.
It’s fairly easy to see how one big score from Greenwood could get his price pumping given the trend fit and hype potential. And he is capable of 1-3 big scores before the season is out.
Particularly for traders who think they might be susceptible to chasing any rise in Greenwood, I’d say it’s better to just get him now when he is on the way down when someone will probably accept a bid around £2.25.
David Neres - 23 - Ajax
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
A bad luck story. Neres was about as “nailed on” as it gets for a big transfer until that horrific knee injury had him out for the best part of a year.
Returning in August 2020, he took a while to hit form scoring and assisting twice in November only to pick up an ankle injury just as he seemed to be turning the corner.
He’s now being nursed back with substitute appearances, scoring a superb goal on the 31st January versus Alkmaar.
For FI, he’s the real deal. If he proves fitness he could be on the radar of very big clubs once more and I’d back him for performance success at a Europa/CL club.
Recovering players can be a risk but at 44p to 56p and still just 23 years old – I like the odds.
Donyell Malen - 21 - PSV
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Not as obviously FI suitable as Neres, but safe in an ineligible league most people won’t notice. The goals record is impressive and he should have no trouble attracting big club transfer links.
Could be a good player to take into the transfer window and in the shorter term PSV have a winnable game versus Olympiakos coming up which could be a chance for him to get some attention. (That could also benefit team mate Gakpo).
A bid of 65p to 89p is value.
Dominik Szoboszlai - 20 - RB Leipzig
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
RB Leipzig may not have been the transfer destination of choice for holders, but they are a decent club where Szoboszlai could do well.
He’s got some solid numbers from Salzburg and although I take Austrian league numbers with a pinch of salt, he holds up quite well against good opposition in the CL too.
Szoboszlai has a short term injury so we are yet to see him in an RB Leipzig shirt, but he’s expected back in early March.
I might be inclined to watch this from the sidelines. It’s a tough ask to expect him to return from injury in a new team and immediately explode, and there is competition at RBL in his position.
If he doesn’t look strong straight away people in this market are likely to be impatient and may drop that £1.58 to £1.75 price, opening up a bit more value.
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo - 20 - Real Madrid
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
This pair can be discussed together as they share a lot in common. Huge expectations and big price tags on and off FI. And then massive disappointment.
Yet, both have shown some FI friendly numbers given the chance. There was some substance behind this hype.
The FI scoring history is poor for both but that’s as much to do with limited minutes as anything. As regulars getting 90 minutes I’d back both of them to be at least 
level players.
Zidane looks increasingly likely to go, and one of the main reasons the club are disappointed with him is his failure to get a host of young stars firing.
Clearly, things look bleak but a change in coach, or possibly a transfer, could change things very quickly. (Vinicius increasingly linked to the EPL lately in the gossip).
Both are just 20 years old and the talent that made them worth so much money has not gone away.
And given a full game, either could put up a big score now – they aren’t as far away as their dismal scoring history suggests.
With both possibly available for as low as 70p, I’d consider that good value for those who back a turnaround. That could be sparked either by Zidane leaving or a transfer.
Or more simply – if Zidane just gives them a full game a big score is not out of reach for either of them.
Honourable Mentions
Player
Thiago Almada - 19 - Velez Sarsfield
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Missed the transfer boat last time. But genuinely suitable for FI and those big links could be back before too long. Those getting a cheap bid now may end up happy.
Player
Enock Mwepu - 23 - Salzburg
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Frequently has big transfer links and he looks extremely strong for FI purposes if he can land at a good Europa/CL club. Traders do like a Salzburg player. Rock bottom price probably under 30p.
Player
Calvin Stengs - 22 - AZ
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Appeared to go off the boil this season although recently he has been doing well. FI numbers are very strong and there is a reason he has a dividend win to his name already. Just needs the transfer.
Player
Mohamed Ihatteran
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Another formerly hyped player now on hard times. He’s had a poor season by his high standards but let’s remember he is just 18. Real potential and could recover very strongly from under 50p with the right transfer link.
Player
Ilaix Moriba - 18 - Barcelona B
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Will need a season or two to cook but he is a hot prospect coming through at Barcelona and he has the numbers to make it on FI too. By next season holders could hope to see him making at least bench appearances. 79p to 99p good value for a long term holder.
Player
Viktor Tsygankov - 23 - Dynamo Kiev
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Last Summer was a miserable transfer window for many who expected moves given COVID, and Tsygankov was one of them. He shows FI friendly stuff and could land at a good club. A perhaps astonishing 30p to 45p by now.
Player
Weston McKennie - 22 - Juventus
Real FI Potential
Trend Fit and Hype
Doing extremely well to get regular minutes at Juventus and is in contention for wins already. If we saw just 1 big score for a 47p to 72p 22 year old Juventus player this season holders might bank a tasty profit.
From Scouting
In this series, I’ve covered some of the more up and coming youngsters usually not discussed every week in Scouting.
But it’s worth making sure we don’t forget some of the youngsters doing well week in week out already.
Here are some selected examples from recent Scouting. Note I have not included the obvious like Foden, Fati, or Sancho as I tend to discuss them a lot in Scouting and they aren’t exactly the best value around either.