Maehle and Damsgaard among Euro 2020 stars on Premier League radars
There is always a risk that comes with signing players on the back of a strong summer tournament. Karel Poborsky's move to Manchester United back in 1996 is the main cautionary tale on the issues of spending big on star man who shone for his nation at a Euros or a World Cup.
Poborsky's time at Old Trafford lasted just 18 months - in part due to a certain David Beckham's rise to stardom - yet teams are more cautious now when it comes to making statement signings following a player's 15 minutes of fame. Nevertheless, potential suitors may have used Euro 2020 as a test to determine how a certain player can handle the pressure of performing for their nation.
Here, we look at 10 players who impressed at the tournament and who may yet end up securing a Premier League move this summer.
In Daniel Wass, Jans Stryger Larsen and Joakim Maehle, Kasper Hjulmand had three solid right wing-back options for Denmark this summer, but few to play the role on the opposite flank. Of the trio, Maehle was the strongest option on the right, yet Hjulmand elected to use the Atalanta star on the left. There comes a risk with using a right footed left-back, however the 24-year-old excelled regardless.
The perceived lack of balance didn't impact Denmark, with Maehle's superb outside-of-the-boot cross for Kasper Dolberg against the Czech Republic a case in point and the newfound versatility to his game is another weapon in his arsenal. Premier League sides keen on a new left-back may elect to take the plunge on the Danish star, whose career has really taken off since his move to Atalanta at the turn of the year.
Chelsea are rumoured suitors for Maehle, especially with question marks surrounding the future of Marcos Alonso and Emerson. Ben Chilwell may have started 11 of 19 league matches at left wing-back under Thomas Tuchel last season, yet a lack of competition could stunt his development. Coupled with Maehle's ability to cover two roles, and excel as a wing-back, Chelsea's supposed interest in the Atalanta star isn't a shock.
The Netherlands suffered a surprise last-16 Euro 2020 exit at the hands of the Czech Republic, who capitalised impressively on their one-man advantage after Matthijs de Ligt was given his marching orders shortly after the break. Nevertheless, that early exit won't have deterred interested parties in Denzel Dumfries, who carried his solid Eredivisie form over to the international stage.
The 25-year-old garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.12 in 2020/21, enough to feature in the Eredivisie team of the season, and a Premier League switch seems to be on the cards in the not-too-distant future. Indeed, Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Dumfries, who they eye as the perfect successor for Seamus Coleman at right-back.
Centre-backs Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate were each used in the role last season, so a high-quality option in the position is required for Rafa Benitez. Dumfries proved at Euro 2020 he has the attacking qualities to shine for the Toffees as he scored as many goals in four games at the tournament as he managed in 30 league outings for PSV last term (2). With Lucas Digne on the opposite flank, Everton fans have every right to be excited at the potential full-back pairing on offer at Goodison for 2021/22.
The second of three Denmark players to feature here, Mikkel Damsgaard final contribution at Euro 2020 was to score the first and only direct free-kick at the tournament. The Sampdoria youngster was called upon the fill the creative void left by Christian Eriksen, whose European Championship came to a premature end when he collapsed in Denmark's opening group stage game against Finland. Eriksen's continuing his recovery, thankfully, while in his absence, the Danes have found a new hero in Damsgaard.
The 21-year-old only moved to Serie A side Sampdoria last summer, but has made a commendable impact with the Italian outfit. Should they elect to sell, then there won't be a shortage of suitors in England, with a host of Premier League sides believed to be keeping tabs on Damsgaard.
One of those is Tottenham, and who better to replace Eriksen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than the player who replaced Eriksen for Denmark at the Euros? Damsgaard came in clutch for the Danish Dynamite when they needed him the most, with one of his two goals at the competition firing Denmark ahead against Russia in a game they needed to win and Spurs could certainly use a gamechanger of his ilk for the coming campaign as they seek to usher in a new era in north London.
Had Donyell Malen tucked past Tomas Vaclik early in the second half against Czech Republic, the Netherlands may have secured a spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. However, the PSV man fluffed his lines in front of goal and, moments later, compatriot Matthijs de Ligt was dismissed. The rest, as they say, is history.
Malen failed to score at the competition, but two assists in his four outings is a commendable return for a player who created four clear-cut goalscoring chances at Euro 2020; only Gareth Bale (5) made more. A side in need of a versatile forward would do well to land Malen and after his 19-goal haul in the Eredivisie last season, Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.
Having failed to successfully defend their Premier League crown, the Reds are looking to bring in star performers to aid their push for glory. Ibrahima Konate has shored up the defence, and Malen would bolster their attack. That said, there is plenty of competition for starting spots on the frontline at Anfield, so it depends if the Dutchman is prepared to wait for his chance for regular game time.
There is often a risk with signing a player from one of Europe's so-called 'lesser' leagues, but having smashed in 17 goals and laid on an additional six assists for Gent last season, Roman Yaremchuk continued his good club form for country at Euro 2020. The 25-year-old scored two and assisted one for Ukraine, playing a key role in their progression to the quarter-finals in the process.
Standing a shade under 6'3", initial perceptions are that Yaremchuk uses just his height to trouble opposition defences. The Ukrainian is a solid performer in the air, scoring three headed goals for Gent in 2020/21, but he is a player better suited with his back to goal and the ball to his feet in order to bring teammates into play.
Yaremchuk's pass success rate of 80.2% was good for a striker in Belgium last season, and that rose to 85.3% at Euro 2020, so a Premier League side that looks to utilise runners in behind the striker would benefit from his approach. West Ham are a side that could certainly utilise these traits, especially when considering Jesse Lingard (9), Jarrod Bowen (8) and Pablo Fornals (5) were among their top Premier League scorers last season.
Back in April, and playing centre-back, Tomas Holes netted Slavia Prague's equaliser in the Europa League against Arsenal to put his name in the limelight. However, it was his performances in midfield at Euro 2020 that really caught the eye. Holes put in a superb showing in the Czech Republic's 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the last-16, scoring the opener and then turning provider for Patrik Schick to confirm their quarter-final spot.
The Czech household names in the squad were Schick and Tomas Soucek, and that, to an extent, allowed Holes to quietly go about his business in midfield. Able to play in the middle of the park or in defence, the 28-year-old's veratility is a precious commodity that a number of Premier League sides could maximise.
Tough to get the better of, having made three tackles and 2.4 interceptions per 90 at Euro 2020, Holes' ability to play a number of roles would suit a team like Leeds, where the Czech star could offer cover for Kalvin Phillips, while an ability to play at centre-back would certainly appease head coach Marcelo Biela.
Few gave the Czech Republic much of a chance at the Euros, but they had other ideas. Spearheaded by Patrik Schick, Jaroslav Silhavy's side worked wonders to make the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, where they eventually fell to Denmark despite a spirited comeback in a game that saw Schick net his fifth goal of the tournament; no player scored more at Euro 2020.
After scoring just nine goals for Bayer Leverkusen last season, nobody expected Schick to have such an impact this summer and after a campaign struggling to consolidate a first team spot, the 25-year-old may feel his form this summer is deserving of regular game time. Schick has the attributes to succeed in England were any top tier side prepared to take a punt on the striker, with West Ham, like Yaremchuk, potentially a viable destination for the Czech star.
Having failed to replace Sebastien Haller on the back of his January move to Ajax, Schick could prove the perfect striker to aid the Hammers in their European adventure next season. West Ham have enjoyed plenty of success with the Czech stars, too. Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal have become key men under David Moyes, with the latter's two assists at Euro 2020 coming for Schick to score, so the striker would be a welcome addition east London were the club to make a move.
It's hard to believe that Kasper Dolberg is still only 23 years of age. Having broken onto the scene with Ajax in 2016, the Dane was primed to take the world by storm, but his development has stagnated. Dolberg netted just six times for Nice in Ligue 1 last season. His inclusion in Denmark's Euro 2020 squad may not have been a surprise, however his goal haul at the tournament certainly was.
Dolberg hit the back of the net three times for the Danish Dynamite, including the decisive strike in Denmark's quarter-final win over the Czech Republic and in the days since, Crystal Palace have been credited with an interest in the striker. The Eagles, now managed by former Nice boss Patrick Vieira, brought Dolberg to France in 2019 and was duly rewarded for the faith the former midfielder showed in the Dane as he ended a 2019/20 Ligue 1 season cut short as the club's top scorer.
Wilfried Zaha (11) and Christian Benteke (10) finished last season as Palace's top scorers, but beyond the pair, goal threats for Palace are a little thin on the ground. The young forward would be an exciting arrival at Selhurst Park and a frontline involving Zaha, new signing Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, when he recovers from injury, and Dolberg is an exciting propostion for Palace.
Hungary gave a solid account of themselves in the Group of Death, earning draws with France and Germany on their way to an unfortunate group stage exit. Without Hungarian football's poster boy Dominik Szoboszlai, Roland Sallai took over the attacking burden and shouldered the pressure well.
The Freiburg forward finished Hungary's Euro 2020 campaign with a WhoScored rating of 7.08, that better than any other player for the Magyars, as he provided key assists in draws with Les Bleus and Die Mannschaft. Operating primarily on the frontline for Hungary this summer, Sallai's versatility means he is able to play through the middle or out wide to good effect.
Despite starting just 22 league games last term, Sallai ended the campaign with eight goals and three assists to his name. Provided Freiburg were tempted into selling, Brentford could prove a viable destination for Sallai. There is ample competition for starting spots out wide and up front for the Bees, but the capture of the 24-year-old would certainly boost Thomas Frank's options in the final third.
Joel Pohjanpalo was a national hero for Finland when his goal secured their first ever tournament win over Denmark last month, though victory was overshadowed by Christian Eriksen's collapse. Jere Uronen utilised a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'crossing' to pick out Pohjanpalo to head past Kasper Schmeichel on the hour mark.
Uronen returned a cross success rate of 34.8% in the Jupiler League last season, that the eighth best of the 139 players to attempt 25 or more crosses, and a team that uses a three-man defence could benefit from this goal threat from deep. In the absence of Solly March, Brighton lacked a consistent attacking threat from wing-back, with Jakub Moder, a central midfielder by trade, used in the role, as was the towering Dan Burn.
He may not be a household name in England, but Uronen has experience in playing as a wing-back and that would be a huge benefit for Brighton boss Graham Potter.
