They may not be making headlines now, but these signings could end up having a big impact
Krépin Diatta
Move: Club Brugge to Monaco
Estimated Fee: $22.00m
Age: 21
Position: RW
Nationality: Senegal
Diatta had been enjoying a breakout campaign at Club Brugge before Monaco snatched him up, contributing 10 goals through 19 matches from the right wing for the Belgian league leaders. The 21-year-old is already an experienced international for Senegal as well, and was named the Best Young Player at the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
Monaco have thrust Diatta straight into action as they chase European qualification. He came off the bench in a massive win over Marseille just days after completing his move and then started against Nantes this past weekend.
Diatta will offer Niko Kovač’s exciting side plenty of pace and penetrative dribbling, and could emerge as one of the stars of Ligue 1 if he continues to develop his end product. Diatta also profiles as an effective wide defender and has excelled in a variety of roles, including playing as a wing-back on both flanks.
Jeremie Frimpong
Move: Celtic to Bayer Leverkusen
Estimated Fee: $12.10m
Age: 20
Position: RB
Nationality: Netherlands
It’s been a rapid rise for Frimpong, who left Man City’s academy for Scotland and cracked the starting line-up for a title-winning Celtic side last season at the age of 18.
A modern full-back who excels getting forward, Frimpong was averaging 1.5 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per match this season and should fit in well with Peter Bosz’s aggressive tactics at Leverkusen.
Leverkusen have applied a committee approach to their right-back slot this season, with Lars Bender, Aleksandr Dragovic, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah deputizing at various points as more natural right-backs Mitchell Weiser and Santiago Arias have struggled with injuries.
Frimpong now has a chance to nail down the long-term starting role for a club that is famed for developing young talents.
İrfan Kahveci
Move: Istanbul Başakşehir to Fenerbahçe
Estimated Fee: $7.70m
Age: 25
Position: CM
Nationality: Turkey
Kahveci has already made an imprint on European football, helping Başakşehir secure their first-ever league title last season and putting in one of the finest performances of this Champions League season with a hat-trick against RB Leipzig.
The move to league leaders Fenerbahçe, for a bargain fee of less than $8 million, instantly makes him one of the pivotal players in a tight three-way title race between traditional powers Fenerbahçe (45 points), Beşiktaş (44 points), and Galatasaray (42 points). Kahveci’s new club will provide him with a larger platform to show off his strengths, most notably his clever dribbling, eye for a killer pass, and excellent long-range shot.
Kahveci will also have a chance to make waves in the summer as one of the key players for Turkey’s national team. Turkey will be bringing an exciting young squad to this year’s Euros and Kahveci should be at the literal and figurative center of the action for one of the tournament’s dark horses.
Mohamed Simakan
Move: Strasbourg to RB Leipzig
Estimated Fee: Over $18 million
Age: 20
Position: CB
Nationality: France
This one is technically not a winter transfer, as it wouldn’t go into effect until July 1st and is still pending a medical, but RB Leipzig have reportedly reached an agreement to bring Simakan to Germany. It appears the Frenchman is their ideal replacement for compatriot Dayot Upamecano, who is expected to make a big-money move to one of Europe’s elite once the summer transfer window opens.
Simakan emerged as a regular starter for Strasbourg last season at the age of 19 and has impressed with his aggression, mobility, and confidence on the ball. Simakan isn’t particularly strong in the air but excels in ground duels, successfully tackling 71.4% of attempted dribblers this season (sixth in Ligue 1). He also ranks among the top 25 outfield players in Ligue 1 in progressive dribbling distance and completed long passes, which helps to explain his 96th percentile Smaterscout rating for attacking output among Ligue 1 center-backs.
Leipzig have an excellent track record when it comes to identifying and developing high-potential defenders, and it will be exciting to see how far Simakan can take his game under the tutelage of Julian Nagelsmann.
Joshua Zirkzee
Move: Bayern Munich to Parma
Estimated Fee: $18 million buy option (after initial six-month loan)
Age: 19
Position: ST
Nationality: Netherlands
Zirkzee wasn’t going to be cracking the starting lineup for Bayern Munich anytime soon, as happens when you’re the understudy for the best striker in the world, but has flashed immense potential as a bit-part player over the last couple of seasons.
A 6’4″ with rare touch and technique for his size, Zirkzee is a highly intriguing prospect and has scored four goals in just 389 minutes of senior football for Bayern. He won’t be getting the same quality of service for relegation strugglers Parma, who have scored just 14 goals in 20 matches, but he should see plenty of time on the pitch.
It’s a low-risk move for Parma, who presumably would have trouble exercising their buy option in the event they get relegated, and a great opportunity for Zirkzee to gain the first-team experience that has eluded him at Bayern.
The Counterpress 