We are now in the semifinals of the Euros. Despite some teams being knocked out, they have had players in their ranks who have attracted interest from big clubs.
Giorgi Mamardashvili
The goalkeeper who plays for Valencia and Georgia has had an impressive performance in the Euros. Georgia had a memorable run in the tournament, reaching the Round of 16. One of the standout moments was their 2-0 victory over Portugal to qualify for the RO16.
Mamardashvili has long been considered one of the most promising young players in the market, and his performance in this Euro campaign may have finally caught the attention of big clubs looking for an exciting young goalkeeper.
His standout performance against the Czech Republic was the highlight of the Euro campaign. He made a total of 11 saves, helping his team secure their first ever point in the history of the Euros. His stunning double save and fingertip save against Schick had fans on the edge of their seats. Not only was his performance in the Euros impressive, but he also prevented the most goals in La Liga (9.07) and recorded 13 clean sheets surpassing his own record.
While he is not particularly impressive with the ball at his feet, he is still young and has room for improvement. His tall stature enables him to dominate while defending crosses and cover a large part of the goal, saving shots aimed at the corner.
Chelsea and Bayern are the clubs most interested in him, although it is a question as to whether they want a ball-playing goalkeeper. Only time will tell but he has a great future ahead of him. Already a starter for Valencia, he will look to move to a club where he gets regular playing time to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world expected from him after his Euros campaign.
Dávid Hancko
Slovakia and Feyenoord’s centre-back Dávid Hancko has delivered an outstanding performance this season. Since joining Feyenoord, Hancko has demonstrated exceptional skills by completing the most passes in the Eredivisie and making the most progressive carries among centre-backs, significantly contributing to his team’s build-up play and ability to penetrate dangerous areas quickly.
A tactically astute player, Hancko adeptly adapts to game situations and excels defensively. His imposing physical presence enables him to effectively repel attackers. Moreover, his adept ball-carrying prowess contributes to overloading wide areas and supports his team as an additional attacking threat, making him an indispensable asset for any coach.
Hancko’s standout performance in the Euros and his stellar defensive display against England, despite the loss, has garnered attention from clubs such as Atlético Madrid. Diego Simeone is known for his expertise in constructing a solid defensive setup that is challenging for opponents to penetrate. However, this season, Stefan Savić and José Giménez seemed to struggle, leading Atlético to recognize the need for a new centre-back pairing next season.
Reports suggest that they have secured the services of Robin Le Normand, and the addition of Hancko will provide Simeone’s defence with the much-needed fresh energy. As he potentially moves to a top club next season, the sports world eagerly anticipates his continued career progression.
Jaka Bijol
The Slovenian centre-back – currently playing for Udinese – had an outstanding campaign at the Euros. With only two goals conceded by Slovenia during the tournament, they were beaten by Portugal on penalties, largely due to Diogo Costa’s heroics in the Round of 16. Since joining Udinese in 2022, he has been one of the best centre-backs in Serie A. He initially played as a defensive midfielder before shifting to the centre-back position during the 2021/22 season.
He excels defensively, as shown in the Euros where he averaged 2.54 tackles per 90 minutes. He also displays great ability to win aerial duels and is strong in possession. Additionally, he has a knack for playing long, precise passes to the wide areas at the perfect moment.
In the Euros, he averaged nine clearances per 90 minutes, ranking in the top 97th percentile. He has displayed similar performances for Udinese this season, scoring three goals and providing two assists as well. He has credited Udinese’s environment for his constant rise in performance level.
Aston Villa is reported to be leading the race to sign him, although top Serie A clubs are also monitoring the situation. Aston Villa conceded 61 goals despite finishing fourth in the Premier League last season. They have quality defenders such as Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, and Tyrone Mings, but all of them had injury-hit seasons. Emery employs his backline to create an offside trap, which requires players to be positioned correctly to avoid transitions.
In a game against United, Villa struggled in duels and suffered against a team that excels in transition football. The arrival of Bijol helps Emery in his team’s defensive structure and strengthens their bid to achieve another top 4 finish and secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
