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3. Uros Spajic – Toulouse FC (21 years old)
Uros Spajic
This season most of the plaudits in the Toulouse defence have gone to the eye-catching 21-year-old, Serge Aurier, but quietly under the radar, Uros Spajic, has been adapting to life in France and becoming an important part of Le Téfécé’s defence.
After moving from Red Star Belgrade, the Serbian defender has been excellent in his 29 appearances this season. Averaging nine defensive actions per game, including 74 interceptions, winning 56% of his 77 tackle attempts and there is space to improve as his record of nine yellow cards and two red cards will show (one of the red cards was given incorrectly).
He is comfortable in the air, winning 62% of his headed duels and great with the ball at his feet, with a 85% pass accuracy, there are definitely similarities to Lille’s towering centre-back Marko Basa, and Toulouse will be very happy if he can go on to emulate the Montenegro international.
4. Layvin Kurzawa – AS Monaco (21 years old)
Layvin Kurzawa
In Monaco’s rise from Ligue 2 to second place in Ligue 1, one of the revelations of the season has been attacking full-back, Layvin Kurzawa, and the 21-year-old left-back isn’t going to rest on the laurels of his first successful season back in the top-flight.
The French defender played a few games as Monaco were relegated to Ligue 2 back in 2010, but he was only young then, now he has matured and developed both mentally and physically and looks a complete threat all over the pitch.
Defensively he can still improve but is already impressive in wining 53% of his tackles and 69% of his headed duels. He has made 116 clearances and 96 interceptions so far this season, averaging eight defensive actions to dispel that theory of modern day full-backs not being able to defend.
Always eager to break forward, Kurzawa has brought that experience of playing as a striker in his younger days and used it to his advantage. He has scored five goals this season and created 20 chances in his 28 appearances.
Kurzawa has made the step up to the France Under-21 squad, and if he continues this path it won’t be long until he is making the move up to the senior national side.
