5 defenders who should consider a move into midfield

#2 Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)

Could Ryan Sessegnon become the next Gareth Bale?

Speaking of Gareth Bale, if any young player out there right now has the ability to move from a left-back role to the free-roaming, goalscoring position that Bale once took up for Tottenham and often operates in for Real Madrid, it’s Fulham’s young superstar Ryan Sessegnon.

The England youngster doesn’t even turn 18 until next May but it’s clear to anyone who’s seen him that his talent levels are simply unbelievable – it’s obvious why he’s been on the radar of clubs like Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Sessegnon has been gaining a lot of experience already with Fulham – it’s probably the major plus point of being at a smaller club rather than a Premier League giant – as he featured for the Cottagers 25 times in the Championship last season. Generally deployed as a left-back, it’s pretty clear that his future lies in midfield – or realistically, anywhere he chooses.

He’s got an unbelievable passing vision, plays at a tremendous pace, and he can score goals too – as evidenced in his performances for England’s U-19 team during their European Championship victory in the summer.

That tournament saw Sessegnon score three goals and finish as joint-top scorer, and in the group stage against Germany, in particular, he was utterly brilliant. It tells you a lot that he was named in the team of the tournament – as a forward.

He’s on fire for Fulham this season too – scoring a hat-trick against Sheffield United yesterday. Quite where his future position lies is unknown, but it’s most likely he’ll become an attacking midfielder, making the switch that Bale did before him.