Where does Fede Valverde rank among the best young midfielders in the world right now?

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Federico Valverde of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 14, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Federico Valverde of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 14, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

1. Jude Bellingham

The player who tops our list is none other than Real Madrid’s 2023 target and one of the promising midfielders of this generation, Jude Bellingham.

Is he the next big thing to come out of Borussia Dortmund after Haaland? Well, players like Haaland come once in a lifetime but the Englishman with his capabilities in his natural position holds the prospect of becoming someone more exciting than the Norwegian goalscorer in the long run.

Often compared with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jude Bellingham is a complete midfield package owning the ability to orchestrate attacks, foresee runs from his teammates and dominate the midfield on his own with his aggressive challenges.

Jude Bellingham is the blueprint for a modern box-to-box midfielder and he is constantly sharpening his skills to achieve that perfect role. Since his arrival at Dortmund from Birmingham City, the German outfit has been relying on the 19-year-old to cover their whole midfield due to a lack of central quality in Dortmund’s squad.

Bellingham plays a role where Dortmund uses him to get out of suffocating situations. When the opponents are pressing high, the team just needs to get the 19-year-old into space and he has the ‘drive’ to quickly transition defence into attack.

Like Fede Valverde when he’s in midfield, Jude too acts as a cover for the defence when one of the defenders is out of position and while the ball is won, he is the first man to exhibit a burst of pace to aid a successful transition.

Reports state that the promising midfielder will attract a sizeable price tag next summer but it is certain that whoever reserves services will have their midfield secured for the next decade or so.