Europe's emerging talents (or the best players you probably don't know)
Three months into 2015, the European season has already featured big-name players living up to their big-name billing. However, a list of lesser known players are making waves and deserve to be recognized for their outstanding play at the start of the new year.
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Seeing as the Premier League gets enough coverage, this list of emerging youngsters does not feature Harry Kane and other emerging Premiership talents.
Bas Dost (Wolfsburg)
The 25-year-old Dutchman joined Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga back in the summer of 2012 and scored eight goals in his first Bundesliga campaign. Dost then started only six Bundesliga matches in his sophomore season and made more appearances off the bench than as a starter. However, the Dutchman did show signs of his goal scoring potential by netting four goals in a five-match stretch in February of 2014.
To start the 2014-15 campaign, Dost did not earn a single Bundesliga start until Dec. 14. Once given his opportunity, the Dutch striker took hold. Since Dec. 20, Dost has made 11 appearances across all competitions, scored 14 goals and set up two others. With Dost firing, Wolfsburg comfortably holds second place in the Bundesliga and should earn automatic qualification into the Champions League.
Felipe Anderson (Lazio)
The 21-year-old Brazilian playmaker is in his second year in Italy. After moving from Santos FC in the summer of 2013, which was the same time Neymar left Santos for Barcelona, Anderson had a difficult time adjusting to the Italian game. In his first 24 Serie A appearances, he only managed one assist and no goals.
However, Rome's second club stuck with the Brazilian, and the youngster has the eternal city lighting up watching his electrifying play. From Dec. 7, 2014 to March 1, 2015, Anderson has appeared in eight games, scored six goals and been credited with six assists.
Cristian Tello (FC Porto)
The Spanish forward joined Barcelona at age 11 and spent two years at Espanyol before returning to Barca in 2010. For his first two seasons at the Camp Nou, Tello featured more for Barcelona B than the first division squad. With seven goals and four assists in the 2012-13 La Liga campaign, Tello looked in line to become a first-team regular.
However, the arrival of Neymar led to only two La Liga starts for the Argentine in the 2013-14 season. With Luis Suarez also joining the Catalan club, the 23-year-old moved to FC Porto, where he has become a hit in a frontline that features Colombian Jackson Martinez.
Finding form with his new club, Tello claimed assists on both of Porto's goals against Boavista on Feb. 23. In his next match, the Argentine scored a hat trick in a 3-0 win over league rival Sporting Lisbon. With another goal against Braga in a 1-0 victory on March 6, Tello can claim responsibility for Porto's last six goals.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
While Griezmann may be a French international, the 23-year-old developed his game in Spain. Joining Real Sociedad's youth system in 2005, Griezmann made his senior team debut with Sociedad in 2009. From that point forward, he has continued to impress and was rumored to be coming over to Atletico Madrid when Sergio Aguero transferred away to Manchester City in 2011.
However, Griezmann would stay with the club that developed him and eventually led Real Sociedad into the Champions League by scoring a match-winning goal on the final day of the season. Sociedad qualified for the qualification round of the Champions League, where the Frenchman would score and help Sociedad reach the group stages.
In 2014, however, Atletico Madrid finally brought in Griezmann after Diego Costa moved to Chelsea. Since arriving at the Vicente Calderon, the Frenchman has scored 14 goals in La Liga and two goals in the Champions League. Appearing in five 2014 World Cup matches for France, the 23-year-old looks in line to be a key player for Les Blues at Russia 2018.
Alvaro Morata (Juventus)
Born in Madrid, the Spaniard made his storybook debut for Real Madrid in 2010 at the tender age of 18. Unfortunately, Morata spent more time with Real Madrid's B team than he did with the first team. In his first two seasons with the senior team, Morata only managed two substitute appearances in La Liga. During the 2012-13 season, Morata would make 12 appearances and score twice for Los Blancos. However, Real Madrid assembled the attacking trident of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in the following season, and Morata became a permanent substitute.
In his final season at the Bernabeu, Morata scored eight goals in 23 league games, but 20 of those appearances came off the substitutes' bench. Moving to Juventus in the summer of 2014, the 22-year-old has relegated compatriot Fernando Llorente to the bench. Since the start of 2015, Morata has five goals and four assists in 13 appearances across all competitions.
Arsenal and Liverpool have already been linked with the Spaniard.
Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
Icardi is one of the bright spots during Inter Milan's decline. Before making it to the senior level, the Barcelona youth player moved to Italy with Sampdoria. In the summer of 2013, Inter Milan brought in the Argentine. While he may be hot and cold with the club's supporters, Icardi has been on fire on the score sheet. He started 2015 with seven Serie A goals in nine appearances. In the 2014-15 season, Icardi is joint top scorer on 15 goals.
Chelsea and Manchester United have already been linked with the 22-year-old, and the rumors gained such momentum that Inter Milan came out and publicly stated that Icardi has a long-term future at the club.
Honorable Mention: Mohamed Salah (Fiorentina)
Since Chelsea sent Salah to Fiorentina on loan and took back Juan Cuadrado on a permanent deal, the Egyptian has capitalized on his playing opportunities. The 22-year-old scored six goals in his first seven games with Fiorentina, and most expect the Italian club will pay the required fee to make the loan deal permanent. Most recently, Salah scored twice at Juventus Stadium to give Fiorentina a 2-1 advantage in the first leg of the semifinal of the Coppa Italia.
Shahan Ahmed is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. He has previously written about the 2014 World Cup and 2013 Confederations Cup and regularly provides opinions on the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga. Follow Shahan on Twitter: @ShahanLA and @perfectpass
