Top ten breakthrough stars of 2014/15
There is nothing more exciting than spotting a player with all the talent to become a major force, and Daniel Storey plumps for ten under the age of 21 who are ready to hit the heights this season
Tuesday 22 July 2014 14:15, UK
10) DORIA (BOTAFOGO)
Given the shambles on show during the World Cup semi-final, Brazil will be relieved to hear that, in Doria, they potentially have the perfect long-term partner to Thiago Silva in central defence. This one does not go wandering onto the left wing when things get sticky, either.
Captain of Brazil's Toulon Tournament-winning side in 2013, Doria joined Botafogo at the age of 12 and is now a key part of their side despite still being just 19. He also has a senior international cap to accompany plenty of interest from abroad.
Serie A seems the most likely destination (both Juventus and Udinese have expressed an interest), but the likes of Porto and Benfica must also be considered as likely candidates to bring him to Europe. Watch this space.
9) OLIVER TORRES (PORTO, ON LOAN FROM ATLETICO MADRID)
Loaned to Villarreal for the latter stages of last season, when Diego Simeone considered experience more important than the exuberance of youth in Atletico's title run-in, Torres has now been loaned out to Porto for the whole of this season - a move that will at least see him play regular football.
A natural playmaker but with a slight frame, Torres possibly suffers slightly from his nationality - he is at the back of a long line of Spanish midfielders waiting for an international chance, with new £28million Manchester United signing Ander Herrera still waiting for his first cap.
Inevitably compared to Andres Iniesta (and labelled the 'Miniesta'), Torres is a midfielder with a wonderful knack for the simple pass, only to surprise you with something more adventurous so wonderful that it makes you wonder why he ever bothers to play it short.
After struggling to hold down a first-team place at the Calderon, it will be interesting to see how big an impact Torres can have in Portugal. It could be the making of him.
8) RYAN GAULD (SPORTING LISBON)
Scottish youngsters do not often move abroad to play football, so when Sporting Lisbon slapped a £48m buyout clause upon the head of £2m signing (and 18-year-old) Gauld, eyebrows were obviously raised. Then again, it is not that often that a Dundee United player gets compared to Lionel Messi.
With Sporting competing in the UEFA Champions League group stage and hoping to sustain another title bid, Gauld may have to bide his time in order to force his way into Marco Silva's first-team plans, and Scotland manager Gordon Strachan is yet to be fully convinced that this is the right move.
7) LUCAS PIAZON (CHELSEA)
In many ways, Piazon is the poster boy of Chelsea's FFP-satisfying stockpiling methods. Secured on a pre-contract agreement in 2011 when aged just 17, the forward has played on loan at both Malaga and Vitesse Arnhem, registering only 15 minutes of Premier League action. Now 20, the star of Brazil's Under-17 team has not made the step up to any of Brazil's more senior sides, and faces a crucial summer for his future development.
Another loan seems likely, perhaps this time in the Bundesliga.
6) RICHAIRO ZIVKOVIC (AJAX)
The youngest player on this list at just 17, Zivkovic signed a deal in March to leave Groningen for Ajax after turning down reported offers from Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Ajax seems the perfect choice
