Seven stars set to light up U20 World Cup including Garnacho pal wanted by Man Utd and Prem cult hero’s son
CHELSEA reacted quickly and secured three of the brightest young talents who will take the stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which begins in Argentina on Saturday.
The month-long tournament is often a showcase for the best teenagers in world football to get noticed by bigger clubs.
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Blues fans can relax in the knowledge that their club have already signed Brazilian midfielder Andre Santos, Ecuadorian prodigy Kendry Paez and US goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina.
But who else will the numerous scouts from European clubs focus on when things get going?
Fabricio Diaz (Uruguay)
Uruguayan captain Fabricio Diaz appears ready for a move to Europe this summer after outgrowing his domestic league, where he has already made over 100 appearances for Liverpool from Montevideo.
An insatiable tackler and accurate passer, Diaz is tactically mature for his age and also takes control of all of his team’s set pieces.
Barcelona were reportedly close to finalizing a deal for him last month, but things have gone quiet since then, while Premier League clubs have been put off because he does not have an EU passport, which currently makes it virtually impossible for him to get a work permit to get the UK .
Kim Ji-soo (South Korea)
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Huge Seongnam centre-back Kim Ji-soo may only be 18 but dominates in the air and in tackle in a way that has drawn comparisons to his compatriot Kim Min-jae from Naples.
He has recently attracted the attention of scouts from European clubs as Brentford appear to have offered a transfer fee equal to his £560,000 release clause.
The K-League team knows Kim’s value could skyrocket if he impresses in Argentina.
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Dor Turgeman (Israel)
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One of the stars of Israel’s outstanding side at last summer’s UEFA Under-19 Championship, Dor Turgeman is known for his masterful performance.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv striker is approaching the final year of his contract and although he appears to lack top-notch pace, he has reportedly attracted interest from Benfica.
Tomas Angel (Colombia)
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The son of former Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel, Tomas was born in Birmingham but plays for Atletico Nacional in Medellin.
In contrast to his father, who was a classic number nine, Angel acts directly on the front lines and can penetrate wide areas.
He caught the attention of Premier League and Ligue 1 scouts at last summer’s Toulon tournament and could leave Colombia in the near future.
Marcos Leonardo (Brazil)
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Marcos Leonardo, the current jewel of the Santos youth team, will wear the number 9 shirt for the Samba Stars in the tournament.
The quick and skilful 20-year-old scored 17 goals in 40 appearances last year and looks set for a bright future in football.
Santos has reportedly slapped an £18million price tag on his head amid interest from Roma and Sporting Lisbon.
Owen Wolff (USA)
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Owen Wolff is the son of former USA international Josh and currently plays central midfield for his father’s Austin FC team in Major League Soccer.
Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, who have a partnership with Austin FC, will be at the forefront of his services when the teenager’s timing is right to move abroad.
Ignacio Miramon (Gimnasia La Plata)
Ignacio Miramon, a 19-year-old defensive midfielder, has impressed in Argentina’s top flight this year and looks set to be under-20 head coach Javier Mascherano’s first choice this month.
He was scouted ahead of the tournament by the likes of Manchester United, Udinese, Fiorentina, Watford, Besiktas, Inter Miami and AC Milan.
Gimnasia will ask up to £9.5m for his signature, the value of his current release clause.