VIKTOR FISCHER

Who is he? Where does he play?

He's Ajax's talented Danish youngster who is not Christian Eriksen. At 18, is 3 years younger than his fellow countryman but the similarities are clear. He can play as a centre-forward, or in his more natural role on the left side of a three-pronged attack. Like all good graduates from the famed academy in Amsterdam, Fischer is blessed with the basics of close control and astounding balance.

Ajax definitely like their Danes don't they?

They certainly do. After Frank Arnesen, Soren Lerby, Michael Laudrup and Jesper Gronkjaer have passed through history, Fischer has joined Eriksen and Nicolai Boilesen at the Amsterdam ArenA has Ajax's future looks eternally bright. The ex-Midtjylland teenager is tipped to be one of the most promising talents however, with his pace, technical ability and vision making him an awesome attacking force at such a tender age. He can play as a number 10, but the Dutch club view him as better feeding off the work of a play-maker, hence his impressive tally of 10 goals from 21 games so far this season.

So he plays out on the left?

He does, playing alongside the wonderfully gifted Eriksen, he has helped Ajax go four points clear at the top of the EreDivisie with performances which showcase his superb ability. He has earned comparisons to Dennis Bergkamp after scoring this lovely chip. He can finish chances off well and create them with skill and poise, starting out on the left but popping up in various positions as manager Frank De Boer urges fluency and cohesion in his 4-3-3. He is a nightmare to mark given his fantastic balance and wizardry on the ball.

All this at 18?

Yep, it's frightening right? After coming from Midtjylland for a fee of 1.3 million euros in 2011, he helped Ajax reach the final of the Next-Gen series in 2011 before De Boer saw fit to promote him into the senior side, saying he reminded him of Barcelona's midfield magician Andres Iniesta. He has been slowly immersed into the side since then as Ajax remain cautious with his progression, though he has won the prestigious Ajax Talent of the Year award for this campaign. He can drift into space, dribble from deep and finish chances off with unerring composure, but remember, he's only 18! Just take a minute to marvel at that if you will.

We'll see the name much more often then?

We almost definitely will. Ajax's business model will probably dictate his sale but given his burgeoning career in Amsterdam, he will be in no rush to move on. It is indicative of his growing reputation on the continent that Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and AC Milan have all been linked with the 18 year old.

With 2 caps for the Denmark national team and at a club that will afford him first team chances to aid his progression, it is hard to see why Fischer would leave in a World Cup year. But he surely will be a huge talent to keep an eye out for.

M'BAYE NIANG

Who is he? Where does he play?

He is one of AC Milan's new guard, an 18 year old French striker who is beginning to make his mark on Serie A with a few powerful performances which suggests he will be a star for a considerable while yet.

Milan's future is beginning to look very bright then eh?!

With Mario Balotelli and Stephen El Shaarawy firing in attack, then it can be argued that it is looking very rosy indeed for the Rosaneri (good eh?) and although Niang still has too settle for a reserve role among the talented attacking trio, his substitute appearances this season, of which he's made 4, alongside 6 starts, has shown he will grow to be an impressive talent over in Italy.

Furthermore, he has a delightful mohican hair-do, fitting in nicely with the eccentric hairstyles of his two young Italian strike-partners.

So then, what does he give a team?

A great deal of pace which means Masimiliano Allegri sees fit to introduce Niang on to the right-wing when opposition defences are tiring, despite his natural position being a centre forward. He likes to cross the ball, as well as dribbling inside to release shots at goal. He has yet to score for Milan but it's things like this, which demonstrates his pure power, that shows his worth to Allegri in the long-term.

As well as playing as a striker leading the line, or on the wing like Allegri thinks, his technical quality allows him to also be a threat when dropping off into the hole to feed passes through to the front line. It is this versatility which raises the prospect of Milan fielding Balotelli, El Shaarawy and Niang as a front 3 eventually in the future. Allegri must be purring at the thought.

Where did he come from?

He was a product of Caen's youth academy who took him on when he scored an impressive hat-trick during a trial. This was written when the striker was 16 giving an insight into the robustness of the striker who also keeps defenders on their toes with intelligent movement off the shoulder. It also brings an interesting comparison to Thierry Henry, relating to his fondness in starting runs on the flank, utilising his pace and power to full effect as he cuts inside. 

That article mentions Senegal? What's the score on that?

He's recently made a few appearances for the French-under 21s which suggests that is where his loyalties will lie in the long run, but with the shadiness of FIFA's rule on international legislation, who knows? 

STEPHAN EL SHAARAWY

Who is he? Where does he play?

C'mon, you're surely not asking that after all the headlines the lad gets? He's as high profile as youngsters become, established in the AC Milan side at the tender age of 20. The Italian is also producing the goods, registering eight goals in eleven games already as he cuts through notoriously tight Serie A defences like a carving knife.

Bit of a hitman then?

You would think that given his hot-streak in front of goal this season, but this is the first year he's suddenly burst into an effective goal-bagger, filling in the void for the summer-departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as the early days of his blossoming career have been spent on the left-wing. Only since Massimilliano Allegri took a gamble on moving the mohican-headed youngster to the middle has he found his scoring boots. 

Weird name.. what's the story?

He was born in Savona (northern Italy) to an Egyptian father and Italian mother which kind of explains the difficult-to-pronounce surname. Joining Genoa aged 13, he went on to become the fourth youngest player in the history of Serie A as he made his debut aged 16 and 55 days old. After being loaned to Padova where he showed his quality in firing the Venetian club to a near-miss on promotion to the top league, giants Milan jumped in with £13 million to land the attacker and haven't had to wait long, despite a slow start, for the fee to start being repaid.

This is turning into a good year for him?

As good years go, his has been pretty damn good so far. Kicking off with the signing of a new long-term contract in July, he followed that up by making his senior Italian team debut against England in August. Not content with such little impact, El Shaarawry became Milan's youngest ever Champions League scorer by netting against Zenit St Petersburg. 

What can he do?

Pretty much anything. Effective at running at defenders, dropping deep and turning with pace, he can be useful on the counter attack. His Zenit goal, starting on the left, beating 3 players with skill and direct running shows elaborately what he is capable of. He's confident at going forward but can also contribute well to the defensive side, making him a valuable asset to the Allegri cause. 

Milan are in tenth? Will he leave?

It's unlikely despite the reported interest of mega-bucks Manchester City. If a contract binding him to the Rossoneri until 2017 is not enough, Milan CEO Adriano Galliano has taken it upon himself to refute claims of a possible departure, "enough of the speculation!" he said.