The 2024/25 Premier League season is all but over. There are just a few things left to be confirmed, but for the most part, teams are beginning to wind down and think about their plans for the next campaign.
By Bradey Gibbs for FIRST.com
The 2024/25 Premier League season is all but over. There are just a few things left to be confirmed, but for the most part, teams are beginning to wind down and think about their plans for the next campaign.
Unlike last year, there’s no major international tournament taking place in the men’s game, which means that there will be an even greater summer focus on potential comings and goings in the transfer market.
Ahead of the transfer window, I’ve looked at a few continental options. Specifically, I’ve attempted to single out players that look capable of delivering top-tier quality without commanding top-shelf price tags.
Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo)
Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza has recently been highlighted as a potential replacement for Liverpool’s departing Trent-Alexander Arnold. The Celta Vigo full-back has enjoyed a promising campaign in LaLiga, playing a key role in the Galician club’s push for continental football.
A forward thinking wide defender, Mingueza can certainly mix it defensively, but he loves to get forward and put deliveries into the box, so it’s easy to see why he’s been highlighted as someone who could potentially step into the boots of TAA.
Let’s look at some of Mingueza’s key stats from the soon-to-be-finished campaign:
- 10 goals and assists in LaLiga, playing as a full-back or a wing-back.
- Averaging 0.33 goals and assists per 90 minutes in LaLiga.
- Ninth best player in LaLiga for passes in the final third.
- Fifth best player in LaLiga for passes into the penalty area.
- Ninth best player in LaLiga for through balls.
- Eighth best player in LaLiga for expected assists.
- Currently in the top 10% of full backs in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive passes, passes attempted and non-penalty goals.
Of course, being the manager of a club like Liverpool, Arne Slot has the luxury of taking his pick from a number of highly rated full-backs in the transfer market, so the Reds could very easily go in another direction. Even if Mingueza doesn’t head to Anfield, he’s absolutely a player that Premier League teams should be looking at, especially as attacking full-backs are now all the rage in the top division of English football.
Nikola Krstovic (Lecce)
Next on the list is hard-hitting, goal-hungry forward Nikola Krstovic, who despite playing for a team battling relegation has had a fine season in Serie A.
During the 2024/25 season, the Montenegrin forward, who proved his quality on the international stage by scoring a UEFA Nations League hat-trick against Turkey back in late 2024, has scored 11 goals in Italy’s top flight, averaging 0.34 goals per 90 minutes.
Robust, strong and happy to mix it physically, this super direct forward has the attributes necessary to cope with Premier League football, while being only 25, he’s yet to reach his full potential.
Here are some interesting Nikola Krstovic stats from the current season:
- Best player in Serie A (after 36 rounds) for total shots.
- Best player in Serie A (after 36 rounds) for total shots per 90 minutes.
- Third best player in Serie A (after 36 rounds) for shots on target.
- Currently in the top 5% of forwards for total shots in Europe’s big five leagues.
Having shown a clear hunger for goals and a wonderful willingness to fire off shots, even from deep, Krstovic, who stands at six foot one, would surely enjoy the hustle and bustle of English football, and if I was a bottom-half team looking for an improving goal-getter who isn’t likely to cost much, he’d be right up there amongst my top choices.
Fisnik Asllani (Elversberg, on loan from Hoffenheim)
Going down a slightly more rogue avenue now, we arrive at young forward Fisnik Asllani, who is just about to finish what has been a stellar 2. Bundesliga campaign for unlikely promotion chases Elversberg.
The 22-year-old Kosovo international has scored 18 goals in Germany’s second division this season, providing eight assists too. Given that he’s played his first full season as a fully-fledged pro, such numbers are highly impressive.
Let’s look at Fisnik Asllani’s key facts and figures from the current season:
- Second-highest scorer in 2. Bundesliga, scoring 18 goals.
- Best 2. Bundesliga player in terms of goals and assists.
- 0.87 goals and assists per 90 during current campaign.
- All 18 of his goals have come from open play.
- Second best 2. Bundesliga player in terms of total shots.
A clinical finisher, but also very creative, Asllani is something of a final-third all-rounder, one who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He’s a player on the way up, I have no doubt about that.
Now it may be that having proved himself for Elversberg, Asllani returns to Hoffenheim and plays a key role next season, though let’s be honest, if a Premier League team came calling, the Bundesliga would likely sell, such is the purchasing power of England’s top division.
Yeah, it would be a sizable step up, but Asllani looks like the sort of player who could easily handle several steps up. After all, he’s only 22.
With the teams relegated from the Premier League setting such a low bar this season, those coming up probably won’t be expected to do much, which in my opinion, gives them a free-shot, a chance to try something different, safe in the knowledge that they’re not expected to get it right anyway. Something different could be taking a punt on Fisnik Asllani, who relatively speaking will cost peanuts, both in terms of transfer fee and wages.
Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart)
Lastly, I like the look of Angelo Stiller, who has been a key creative figure for Stuttgart this season, providing eight assists in the Bundesliga.
As a club, Stuttgart have fallen short of the lofty standards set last season, but they’ve still challenged for a top-six spot, failing only narrowly, and during something of a transition season, Stiller has been one of their brightest individuals.
Here are Angelo Stiller’s key 2024/25 stats:
- Averages 0.26 assists per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga.
- Third best player in the Bundesliga for progressive passes.
- Eighth best player in the Bundesliga for through balls.
- Seventh best player in the Bundesliga for expected assists.
- Third best player in the Bundesliga for passes in the final third.
- Seventh best player in the Bundesliga for key passes.
- Currently in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive passes.
- Currently in the top 7% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for expected assisted goals.
For my money, Stiller has the feel of Brentford/Brighton type talent, and after the season he’s just had, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the 24-year-old attract attention from a Premier League club of that nature. Fabian Hurzeler, are you reading?
