| U21 CBs Under the radar

This is the 4th part of my series where I use data to identify the most promising players in every position.

Let's take a look at some gems outside the top5 leagues!

The first graph is a mixture of general defensive skills and ball playing ability.

As you can see I highlighted the standout players on the graph above.

This next one focuses on quality rather than volume. It's great to see that our highlighted players are in the top right corner here aswell!

Also I added Obispo and Lucumí to the group.

The last one is all about buildup. I looked at progressive passes / progressive runs per90.

Most of our selection made it to the top right again. Also, mad respect to Ajer who absolutely bossed this graph!

I guess it's time to get to know our shortlist:

Kristoffer Ajer - Celtic (21)

Ajer is a 197cm CB, who is excellent with the ball. As we've seen, he's a monster when it comes to progressive runs, but his defensive stats are also above everyone else. He played his first game aged only 16! Pure talent.

Market Value: €3.00m

Strahinja Pavlović - FK Partizan/AS Monaco (18)

Monaco singed him in January but he stays at Partizan as a loanee until the end of the season. Pavlovic is an amazing passer, 194 cm, full of muscle, agressive and crazy fast. Fits perfectly into Monaco.

Market Value: €8.00m

Sven Botman - Heerenven/Ajax (20)

Sven is at Ajax since he was 9. As one of the best in Jong Ajax, he got loaned out to Heerenven for a year. Was so excellent there that Ajax just extended his contract until 2023. 2021 could be his breakthrough year!

Market Value: €1.50m

Carlos Cuesta - Genk (21)

This is his first season in Europe, he was singed for €3.5m after the U20 World Cup. A very proactive defender with above average passing ability. He wins only 55% of his aerial duels, but with 180 cm that's pretty impressive.

Market Value: €4.00m

Jhon Lucumí - Genk (21)

Lucumí arrived 1 year before Cuesta for a fee of €2.50m. He's maybe an even better passer than his teammate, completes 4,7 passes to the final third per 90, loves a long range ball and also wins his duels in a high percentage.

Market Value: €8.00m

Sebastián Cáceres - CF América (20)

The only player who plays outside of Europe. América just singed him for €2.30m in January from the Uruguayan Liverpool FC. He's an above average passer and also a beast in defensive duels: he wins 6,72 per game.

Market Value: €2.00m

Rick van Drongelen - Hamburger SV (21)

Despite being only 21, he already played 83 games for HSV. He's very mature and has an amazing eye for long balls. Needs to work on his heading though, the young Dutch only won 51% of his aerial duels this season.

Market Value: €8.00m

Armando Obispo - Vitesse/PSV (21)

A 186 cm tall left-footed CB from PSV's academy, currently on loan at Vitesse. Obispo played every single minute this season in Eredivisie. He looks like an average passer but wins his duels in a very high percentage.

Market Value: €900k

Leo Østigård - St Pauli/Brighton (20)

Last but definitely not least a '99 born Norwegian on loan at St Pauli. Great passer who wins 5,7 duels in the air per90 despite being only 182cm. Next season he will rejoin Brighton, can't wait to see him in the PL!

Market Value: €900k

Data: @Wyscout

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