Every top club has exciting young talent ready to make the step up and get on the transfer radar of Europe's elite sides.
As the 2022-23 campaign kicks off around the continent, our resident scout looks at the next group of players who could follow the path of Aurelien Tchouameni, who went from Monaco's midfield to being at the centre of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Liverpool's €80 million tussle for his signature this summer (eventually won by Madrid).
Who could the next breakout star be from Europe's top leagues?
Youssoufa Moukoko
Age: 17
Position: Striker
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Country: Germany
From his preferred position as a floating central striker, Moukoko tends to want passes played behind the defensive line, or into his feet in front of the centre-backs; partly because he's hard to catch with space to exploit, but also because his turn of pace and balance often put markers on the defensive.
His precise left foot, fine awareness in the penalty area and exceptional finishing set the Germany under-21 international apart at youth level, but he has struggled at first-team level. However, he has exhibited flashes of technical finesse, trickery and a burst of pace as a reminder that he can become a world-class talent. And with better decision-making and a bit more incisiveness in the last third, the teen will surely be attracting attention again as his contract expires in 2023.
Rafael Leao
Age: 23
Position: Forward / Striker
Club: AC Milan
Country: Portugal
The 23-year-old had already caught the eye of plenty of scouts over the years, but his superb season in AC Milan's Scudetto-winning campaign — 14 goals and 12 assists in 42 games — suggests he's on the brink of something big. Having previously shown flashes of physical and technical ability, Leao last season added finesse, tactical awareness and end product.
From his preferred role on the left wing — and the occasional cameo as a centre-forward — the Portugal international proved a threat with his incisive and direct runs causing opposing defenders plenty of trouble. His ability to take on a defence on his own saw Milan benefit from some crucial goals and fine attacking combinations, and his three assists in the title-deciding 3-0 win at Sassuolo in late May all came from exploiting space in wide areas. If Leao can build on his recent improvement, Milan could face a real struggle to keep hold of their game-changing forward.