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The chasm between the top 5 football leagues and the rest of Europe is quite big. But this doesn't mean that the other leagues don't have quality football players. Players such as Luis Suarez, Virgil van Dijk and even Cristiano Ronaldo have all come from outside the top 5 leagues.
Competitions such as Eredivisie and Primera Liga have quite often been seen as shopping spots for the big clubs. Even recently a lot of talent has come from these leagues. Frenkie De Jong, Steven Bergwijn, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix have all arrived from these championships and gone on to represent the European elite. Let's look at a few more who might make the switch this transfer window.
#10 Teun Koopmeiners
AZ Alkmaar enjoyed a fantastic season only losing out on the Eredivisie title due to goal difference when the season was called off. Arnie Strong's youthful side has captured a lot of eyeballs. Their captain Teun Koopmeiners is one of the stars of the team.
Capable of playing both as a centre-back and as a defensive midfielder, he will no doubt attract the attention of a lot of big football clubs. Koopmeiners is also a specialist at taking penalties and free-kicks, with 9 of his 11 goals this season coming from the spot, while the other two were free-kicks. Even at the age of 22, Koopmeiners brings a lot of maturity and leadership to the table, making him a worthy purchase.
#9 Donyell Malen
PSV Eindhoven have always been a hot spot for young football talent with Napoli's Hirving Lozano and Spurs' Steven Bergwijn the latest to make the switch to the big league from the club. Donyell Malen will surely be the next to make the move.
He first came into the spotlight when he scored on his international debut for Netherlands. He started this season in unstoppable fashion, scoring 11 and assisting in 2 in just 14 games.
Just when it was starting to look like a record-breaking season, Malen was ruled out for a long time with an ACL injury. He is gifted enough to play across the front-line and if his next season is anything like the beginning of this one, he will be starting for Netherlands in the Euros.
#8 Kristoff Ajer
Scottish football is often considered being boring and uncompetitive. Some of the criticism is just, provided that Celtic have won three domestic trebles on trot. The league however still supplies great football players, recent examples including Arsenal's Kieran Tierney and Liverpool duo Virgil Van Dijk (though he began in the Netherlands) and Andy Robertson.
According to experts and Celtic fans, Kristoff Ajer is a player in that bracket. The Norwegian centre-back is 22 and already one of the best players in the league. In internatioanal football, Ajer is a part of a young, promising Norway team that also includes the likes of Sander Berge, Martin Odegaard, and Erling-Braut Haaland.
A lot of big clubs have kept an eye on Ajer but a move to any of the London clubs would make a world of sense.
#7 Dominik Szoboszlai
Erling Haaland was RB Salzburg's star of the football season before he made the move to Germany, but it took the attention off another gem in their ranks. Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai has 9 goals and 10 assists in the Austrian Bundesliga this season and he too is only 19.
He has also scored in the Champions League. He can play as an attacking midfielder, a number 10 and on the left wing, making him ridiculously complete. He also has great expertise in free-kicks and penalties. Arsenal, along with AC Milan, are the ones linked the most heavily with the rising football star.
#6 Myron Boadu
14 goals and 6 assists aged just 19, Boadu looks like he will be joining a long line of legendary Dutch forwards. He showcased maturity beyond his tender years as he helped AZ Alkmaar to be joint on top before the football season got cancelled.
Boadu also displayed his class in the Europa League scoring 4 and assisting 2. He also scored on his international debut and with him alongside Malen, it looks like Netherlands will have a scary front-line in the years to come.
#5 Jonathan David
Canada has never been heralded as footballing nation. But recently the country has produced a couple of great talents. Alphonso Davies has already shown his pedigree this football season and so has Jonathan David. David plays for KAA Gent in the Belgian First Division.
The 20 year old has 18 goals in the league, making him the top scorer. He also has 3 in 7 Europa League games. He plays as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. A host of football clubs have been linked to him but a move to a Bundesliga club seems most likely.
#4 Odsonne Edouard
One of the more unfamiliar names on this list, Odsonne Edouard is absolutely tearing it up with Celtic in Scotland. The Frenchman, who is from the PSG football academy, topped the scoring charts in the SPFL last season, scoring 20 goals in 26 games which was 7 more than the next name on the list.
A striker who's fast and strong in the air, Edouard has been linked with a number of clubs including Arsenal as a candidate to replace Aubameyang if he departs.
#3 Nicolas Tagliafico
This looks like it is the season for left-backs. Nicolas Tagliafico is yet another one who should be moving this football transfer window.
Chelsea and City have both been linked to him and so have been Leicester. All in all, a move to the Premier League seems most likely. Tagliafico was a crucial part of Ajax's amazing Champions League run last season and he's also a crucial part of the Argentina national football team setup.
He got 3 goals and 4 assists and was the part of an Ajax defence that conceded only 23 goals in what was a curtailed Eredivise season.
#2 Andre Onana
Ajax had a dream run in last season's Champions League. Players like Ziyech, De Jong and De Ligt got massive attention and later got the big money moves they deserved. But Ajax's attacking quality meant that Onana's contributions flew under the radar. A good shot stopper and great with his feet, the Cameroonian has all the qualities that would make him one of the best football stars of the world.
Just 24, any team that buys the La Masia graduate will probably sort out their goalkeeping issues for a long time.
Chelsea have been linked to him quite heavily with even Ajax's coach Erik Ten Hag saying he wasn't sure if Onana would stay with them next football season.
#1 Alex Telles
Honestly it's a wonder how Alex Telles is still at Porto. Everybody knows how good he is and somehow nobody signs him. This is the summer that might change though. Paris Saint-Germain are linked very strongly to the Brazilian left-back and will be looking to get the deal through.
This season too, Telles has been extraordinary. He recorded 11 goals and 8 assists, which, for a left back, is astounding. His contributions helped Porto clinch yet another football league title. It might be high time that he made it to one of the elite football leagues.
