Nick Bidwell picks out the players to keep an eye on in Germany, including breakout stars, rising talents, transfer targets and more
Ryan CHRISTIE
The Bournemouth midfielder is living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks. Before this season, the 29-year-old from the Scottish Highlands had made his name as a cultured, inventive playmaker or occasionally an inverted winger. However, all that was to change last summer when new Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola laid out his plans to use Christie in a box-to-box role at the Vitality Stadium.
Ostensibly, it seemed astrange call. But what a success the Scotland international, fast approaching 50 caps, has made of his revised brief. While the classy touches, eagleeyed vision and eye for goal remain, the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Aberdeen and Celtic star has transformed himself into aMarathon Man inthe middle of the park, full of energy, commitment and pressing intensity. Turnovers are one of the most valuable of commodities in the modern game and in the reimagined Christie, Bournemouth have unearthed agenuine specialist, one of the best inthe Premier League in harrying, intercepting and closing off passing lanes.
Despite appearing in all eight of Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, he only started in four and hehas yet to feature for his country as amidfield dynamo, with all four of those starts coming as awide midfielder-slash-forward. With Scotland struggling for form and confidence of late –losing five games and drawing two after beating Cyprus last September –and with fellow midfielder Lewis Ferguson ruled out of the tournament with aseason-ending ACL injury, manager Steve Clarke must betempted to give Christie an extended run inthe side.
Besides the midfielder’s heart of alion, hard running and desire, he is so strong on the ball, very comfortable picking it up from his defence and creating chances from adeeper position –arguably even more than he ever did when stationed further forward. He has become a completely different player. Time for Scotland to use Christie 2.0.
Joachim ANDERSEN
The classy Crystal Palace defender is a typically fearsome Scandinavian centreback: muscular, strong, never one to shirk a challenge and aerially dominant. An added bonus is the 28-yearold’s outstanding distribution, not least his eye-catching crossfield diagonal passes.
Nedim BAJRAMI
After representing Switzerland, his country of birth, in every category from the U15s to the U21s, the cultured attacking midfielder plumped, in 2021, to throw in his lot with Albania, the land of his parents. He has since become absolutely integral to the Eagles’ attack.
Jeremy DOKU
His self-confidence boosted by a highly satisfactory first season in the Premier League with Manchester City, the former Rennes left-winger is very much revelling in his new
