Updated version: Possible Wonderkids of Football Manager 2027
Welcome to the Ones to Watch FM 19 series. Here we aim to introduce the young players who, as well as being able to go straight into our starting eleven, may have the most room to improve in the game, helping our virtual managers reach new heights.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 20 anos (Liverpool FC)
First team debut at 17, a semi-finalist in the last Champions League, a semi-finalist at the last Euros, (almost) undisputed starter at right back and already more than 50 official games in a Liverpool shirt: Trent Alexander-Arnold doesn't have the same competitive experience as others his age. In fact, the youngster from the academy of the Reds is a product not only of his own talent, but also of Klopp and Lijnders.
Born and raised about 10 minutes from the Melwood training ground, which he joined aged 6, Alexander-Arnold played his entire youth career as a central midfielder until he was 16, when he started being converted to right back to force his way into the Liverpool first team, which happened in a League Cup game against Tottenham that Liverpool won 2-1.
Able to play down the whole right flank or through the middle, TAA is a very attacking player who likes to get forward often, fitting very well into Klopp's side. Very good technically and physically, Trent also has an eye for goal, whether from direct free kicks (e.g. his goal against Hoffenheim in 2017) or through inside overlaps, exploiting the half spaces left by the opposition defence.
The biggest problem in his game really is his defending, sometimes leaving too much space in behind, but this is something that will be corrected with time. Despite these defensive flaws, Nathaniel Clyne says Alexander-Arnold is: "good defensively (…) but still has to improve. (…) That's his next step. Going forward he is closer to his limit than defensively; that's what we're working on."
After an excellent season last year, in which he played 33 games, Alexander-Arnold can be expected to make the right back spot of the Reds and the England team his own for years to come.
Achraf Hakimi, 19 (Real Madrid, on loan at Borussia Dortmund)
After Danilo left for Manchester City, with Real Madrid not signing a new right back and with the heart problems Dani Carvajal revealed at the end of 2017, Zidane was forced to give minutes to Achraf Hakimi, with the young Moroccan playing 16 games in all competitions, including 2 in the Champions League and 5 in the Copa del Rey.
Born in Madrid and in the Real academy since age 8, Hakimi is already an international with some experience, having played 14 games for Morocco, 3 of them at the 2018 World Cup. Hakimi is on loan at Borussia Dortmund until the end of the 2020 season and, although there is no purchase option, his Real contract ends in 2021 and, with the recent signing of Álvaro Odriozola, I think there is a good chance players will be able to sign him in-game right after his loan at the German club ends.
Fast and able to cover large areas of the pitch, Hakimi is very good technically, which shows not only in the quality of his final balls, whether crosses or defence-splitting passes (he already has 2 assists in 3 Bundesliga games), but he also shows a good ability to beat his man. As well as his attacking quality, Achraf is also a versatile player, able to cover the whole right flank and, when needed, the left side of the defence.
Hakimi's main problem is his decision making, with or without the ball; the youngster is often in a hurry to play, which results in losing the ball and conceding counter attacks. He still needs to improve his attacking positioning, since he leaves a lot of space behind him when he goes forward; although these kinds of errors are constantly covered by the virtuoso Varane and Ramos, it's not something the youngster should get used to doing.
Ryan Sessegnon, 18 anos (Fulham FC)
Since his Fulham first team debut in 2016, Ryan Sessegnon has been one of the biggest targets of clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. However, two years on, the young left back is still playing for the club he joined when he was just eight.
Gifted with incredible humility for a youngster his age, there are many stories of how he washed his kit after a game because he couldn't find Fulham's kit man, or of the times he takes the bus to training; it is this personality that charms fans and teammates alike, with the Londoners' captain Tom Cairney praising him: "It's his personality. It's unique."
Fast, able to make good decisions and very skilful on the ball, Sessegnon is the prototypical modern full back, able to cover the whole flank and finish with a good cross or pass for a finish, as shown by the 1.6 chances per game he created last season. What stands out in attack is his ability to turn up in scoring positions inside the box, even when playing at left back. It was this movement off the ball and use of space that led Slaviša Jokanović, coach of the Cottagers, to try him in a more advanced position, a change that produced 16 goals and 8 assists in 49 games last season.
Being good going forward usually means defensive quality below what you'd expect, especially for a young full back, and that is Sessegnon's weakest area (only 3.3 successful defensive actions per game last season), something the youngster will have to improve in the future. His other big problem is his physique; he isn't particularly strong, which puts him at a disadvantage against most Premier League wingers and stops Jokanović from playing the youngster at left back.
After a difficult start to the season, his first in the English top flight, Sessegnon's output can be expected to increase, especially in the second half of the season or even by the end of the first half, once Fulham find their feet in the league and dominate games with their typical attacking possession play.
Honourable mentions: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Borna Sosa (VfB Stuttgart), Gian-Luca Itter (VfL Wolfsburg)
