Kolkata: The Confederation Cup has already been underway and the event is easily being considered to be the dress rehearsal for the all awaited FIFA World Cup next year in the same country, Russia. The majority of the teams have sent inexperienced youngsters by giving necessary rest to their star players for the off-season. The FIFA event that pits various continental champions against each other, will feature talented young guns from Portugal, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Cameroon, New Zealand, Russia and Australia.
Nelson Semedo (Portugal): Top English clubs like Manchester United have launched a £30m for super-talented Benfica defender Nelson Semedo according to reports. The right back has been linked with Man United for months and according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo Jose Mourinho has opened the bidding for the 23-year-olrd.
But United could face competition from Manchester City as Portuguese news outlet Correio da Manha say that a bid from City is set to arrive in the coming days. Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are all expected to make offers too.
The speed merchant is sure to put on similar displays that got him two goal and six assists in the last season. The defender had an literally an outstanding season for the Portuguese club and will no doubt be a star attraction for the ongoing Confederation Cup 2017 for Portugal.
Julian Draxler (Germany): Germany youngster Julian Draxler is not yet among the world’s best, but can reach that level with strong performances in the Confederations Cup this summer, says boss Joachim Low.
Germany opened their Group B campaign in the competition against Australia on Monday, and the PSG player is among the biggest names in Low’s youthful squad.
Stalwarts such as Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer were left off Low’s team, and it will be a great opportunity for Draxler to push through and be the difference-makers for the defending world champions in the World Cup warm-up.
Paulo Diaz (Chile): The Chilean youngster to watch on the Confederation Cup is Paulo Diaz, a 23-year-old defender that plays for San Lorenzo in Argentina. The squad is having a great season, currently sitting second in the table behind Boca Juniors, and Diaz boosted his popularity with the fans by scoring the winning goal against powerhouse side River Plate on June 4. The center back will have to hope that San Lorenzo can keep up their good form while he is in Russia, as the Argentinian league is not on break like Liga MX.
A consistent performance can earn him a lucrative contract in the top European clubs as well. No doubt, the youngster is technically really solid to go the distance.
Gelson Martins (Portugal): Liverpool reportedly ‘made contact’ with the Portuguese outfit regarding Gelson Martins last week, but their efforts were rebuffed by the club. Now, according to Portuguese publication A Bola, Jurgen Klopp is willing to go in with a new offer of £44m that would likely be accepted by Sporting.
The deal would very easily surpass Liverpool’s highest fee ever paid for a player, which was the £35m for Andy Carroll back in 2011. Sporting’s latest prodigy has only scored 18 goals, assisting a further 13 in 88 games for the club.
The Confederation Cup might just be the stage for young Gelson to earn a deal to the Premier League side.
Timo Werner (Germany): Werner had an unbelievable appearance with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig in the last season where the reasonably small club made a serious challenge to the title in the Bundesliga, it is no surprise that top teams from Europe like Premier League side Liverpool are eyeing the 21-year-old striker. With an incredible 21 goals in German football last season, Werner is expected to be Germany’s x-factor at the Confederations Cup.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is sure to be watching as he plots to mount a raid of Leipzig with Werner who helped his club Leipzig to finish second to Bayern in the Bundesliga and ensured qualification for their first ever UEFA Champions League.