The best is obviously still to come - Accessing the brightest young playmakers so far in Europe top five leagues this season

The football world has evolved and the new generation has quite understood the requirements of the game, that will make them be considered world class and their brilliance getting recognition from the world.

BOCHUM, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 27: Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig celebrates after scoring his teams first goal during the Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum and RB Leipzig at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on February 27, 2022 in Bochum, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

The BundesLiga this season might as well be the home for the future stars in the attacking midfield aspect in tbe world of football, as well known, the German top-flight is a home that house and afford platform to upcoming stars, nurturing them into world beaters.

In the past, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne at Wolfsburg, Leroy Sané at Schalke 04, Mesut Özil at Bayer Leverkusen and so many others have come through the ranks in different German teams and most recently, Erlin Haaland and other strikers.

It is very evident that developing players considers the BundesLiga when taking that next step in their respective careers and it has paid dividends for a lot of them.

Here, we will be taking a look at the best attacking midfielders so far this season and it will longer be a shock, that it has been dominated by young and exciting talents, from the German top-flight.

5. Yacine Adli

Another one that came through the ranks at PSG Paris Saint-Germain, 21year old Adli is currently on loan at French club, Giroins de Bordeaux from AC Milan has has so far stand out amongst other young attacking midfielders in the league.

Bordeaux's French midfielder Yacine Adli looks on during the French L1 football match between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) at The Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux, south-western France, on December 5, 2021. (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP) (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

The Frenchman has created 48 goal scoring chances in the league this season, more than any other player of his age or under. Goals have been scarce to come by for him but with just one goal and seven assists in the league, he has surpassed his best attacking returns in the league for a season, with just 20 starts so far.

Adli has been linked with top teams in Europe in the past while at PSG and his performance so far for Bordeaux will help him secure bigger moves, or earn him a place in Milan, when he does return to the club at the end of his loan spell in France.

Bordeaux might currently be bottom of the Ligue 1 standing but that should not discredit Adli of what offers in the team, and will surely convince teams to take him even if Milan feels he is not yet ready to fit in at the club.

4. Moussa Diaby

The young Frenchman, 22, joined Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2019 from PSG Paris Saint-Germain for just 15 million euros. It was not an easy acquisition for Leverkusen as the player had several offers from top European teams but fortunately for them, he chooses the club as his preferred destination.

In his debut season in Germany, he registered eight goals and eight assists, whence he was just a growing player, with most of his 39 appearances coming as a substitute.

The following season, he was already being a more regular figure for Leverkusen due to the move of some players elsewhere in the summer of 2020. He made 43 appearances in all competitions, including 28 starts in the Bundesliga and finished the season with 25 goal contributions.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 06: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced) Moussa Diaby of Leverkusen celebrates his sides fifth goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on February 6, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images)

He continues to get better as into the current season, he already has 24 goal contributions in 30 appearances for Leverkusen across all competitions.

In the weekend, he scored two goals as Leverkusen outsted Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 at the Bay Arena. He has been a vital part of the Leverkusen set up, which has seen them to a place in the top three so far in the Bundesliga season, as the club continues her push for Champions League football next season.

3. Emile Smith Rowe

Last season, Emile Smith Rowe had his breakthrough for Arsenal amidst lack of squad depths, injuries and underperforming senior players. Though the Englishman did very well and was even considered by many as the club's best player that time, he did not quite have the numbers to show for his brilliance.

However, this season, he has been quite exceptional and more clinical. So far, no Midfielder in the Premier League has scored more goals than him even though recently, he has been relegated to a bench player.

With nine goals in the league this season, Emile Smith Rowe is the first Arsenal No. 10 to score as much league goal in a single campaign since Robin van Persie in the 2011-12 season.

Arsenal v Brentford - Premier League

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brentford at Emirates Stadium on February 19, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

While the pressure was on at the start of the season due to the new contract, new number that brims new and challenging responsibilities, Emile Smith Rowe has played his part to perfection for the club, and have them well placed for a place in the top four, and Champions League football next season for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

His brilliance and also earned him call up to the Three Lions squad, and he already won two caps, scoring one and assisting one.

Should Arsenal go on to qualify for the Champions League next season, much of this success will be accredited to the 21year old even if he will not go down as their best player, his contributions has been vital so far up to date.

Emile might be playing mostly on the left wing position so far albeit a recognition is deserved, after all his primary is playmaking.

2. Florian Wirtz

Regarded as one of the brightest talents in world football today and appositely so, the German has taken his chances well since becoming the hier to the position vacated by Kai Havertz, who joined Chelsea at the start of last season.

Wirtz has become more than just a replacement for Havertz, as per the standards set by the current Chelsea man in Leverkusen, 18year old Wirtz has been an upgrade on his countryman, who was one of his mentors in first few months at the club.

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 12: Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at BayArena on February 12, 2022 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

His breakthrough season was the last one, and he managed 16 goal contributions whilst representing Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Europa League. He was acknowledged for his talent and received several nominations for the FIFA and other awards for young players.

He has taken it to a different level this term and for a Bundesliga that parades some of the best players on the planet, he is up there with the best performers in the league so far this term.

His 17 goal contributions is only bettered by a few, but even that is just an ample of what he offers for Bayer Leverkusen. He has created more chances than any player in the team and over all in the league, only Thomas Müller has assisted more goals.

Across all club competitions, he has featured 28 times this season and contributed 23 goals, including six in the Europa League. Surely more recognition is to come for Wirtz, who has also been called up to the national team and performances like he has been showing could see him headed for Qatar with the Germany national team for the FIFA World Cup, when he would have been 19.

Moreso, Florian Wirtz has created 58 chances in the Bundesliga this season, only Thomas Müller has done more and with age very much on his side, continuously performing at this level will surely take him to greater heights, and a big move awaits in a few years to come.

1. Christopher Nkunku

Another talented playmaker, who was shipped out of PSG Paris Saint-Germain like Moussa Diaby, Christopher Nkunku came through the ranks at Les Parisiens but moved to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2019, when he was not considered good enough to make it at the club. How much will they be hurting now ?

Maybe PSG did have better players like Nkunku now but most of them are aged and the only young one in the midst, Kylian Mbappé, the chances are very high that he will be headed for Madrid in the summer, and for free, a player they got for 180 million euros.

Nkunku, now 24 might be slightly above the age cut of being considered for our selection but so far, he has been the best playmaker in Europe top five and we thought age should not be a limitation to acknowledging him for what he has been doing.

21 when he left Paris, Nkunku made an explosive start to life in Germany, registering five goals and 15 assists in 32 league appearances, when he had started only 21 times. He also made nine champions league appearances that season but most as a substitute, he was able to add an assist to Leipzig’s cause.

Also, Leipzig reached the semi final of the Champions League that season before losing out to PSG Paris Saint-Germain in the semi final, thus, Nkunku was also a part of the Leipzig team that made history for the club in the competition.

The following season due to injuries, he was not able to make as many starts as he did in his first season for the club and he managed seven goals and eleven assists all through that campaign, but along with other players, they were able to see Leipzig to a second place finish in the league, their best ever finish in the topflight.

However this campaign, he has arguably been the best playmaker in Europe top five leagues and has already accumulated 36 goal contributions in 35 games, a number only bettered by Bayern Munich talisman, Robert Lewandowski in the football world.

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 24: Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig looks on during the UEFA Europa League Knockout Round Play-Offs Leg Two match between Real Sociedad and RB Leipzig at Reale Arena on February 24, 2022 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Ion Alcoba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Nkunku has become an integral part of the RB Leipzig set up and it is still unclear as to why he is yet to receive a call up to the national team. But consistently performing like this will make him too much to resist for even a star studded French side.

Of course there are several young attacking midfielders who have been doing fine but the impact of these five has had more significance on their teams and so they are considered the best as far as we have come this season.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi