Real Madrid Transfers: 3 rapidly-improving forwards to monitor

Athletic Bilbao FW Oihan Sancet

Real Madrid fans know all about Oihan Sancet by now after going up against him head-to-head multiple times this season. Sancet scored a lovely goal against Madrid in December in a 2-1 win for Los Blancos, as the young forward kept Athletic Bilbao close with his wonderful strike.

Another all-around young talent, Sancet is just 21 and is already making his mark as one of the best attacking players in LaLiga. He is a joy to watch whenever the Lions play. Even though he has only started 11 matches compared to 10 appearances off the bench for Bilbao, Sancet has still found a way to score six goals with four assists.

It is his overall game that sets him apart, though all his starts may be from the center-forward position. Sancet averages 1.4 dribbles completed per 90 minutes and 1.7 key passes per 90. When you take into account the fact that his per-game stats are skewed due to all the substitute appearances, you begin to realize just how incredibly good of a playmaker Sancet is.

Signing a player from Athletic Bilbao is never easy, as their top talents usually remain loyal. And they rarely ever go to Real Madrid.

But Sancet is so good that he is worth watching. The young man has that X-Factor about him, and he brings a well-rounded skill-set that could suit Real Madrid in a backup role. In a way, the romantic in me would prefer Sancet to stay in Bilbao for the rest of his career and be another legendary figure for them, but the cutthroat Madridista in me would also selfishly like to see him at the Santiago Bernabeu IF he keeps progressing. Sancet has been a breakthrough performer this season, though, no doubt.