Revealed: The best Super League players at risk of being banned from Euro 2020

 

Football has taken another desperately sad turn this week, as 12 of Europe's wealthiest clubs put the wheels in motion to breakaway from the rest.

 

Six clubs from England, three from Spain and three from Italy have clubbed together in secret and divised their own money-spinning plan. Named the Super League, the idea is to replace the Champions League and get the biggest clubs playing each other more often regardless of where they finish in their domestic leagues. All to drive their own revenue streams. There is nothing super about it.

 

UEFA, backed by FIFA, has reacted strongly. They have threatened to ban any players in the Super League from participating at major tournaments again, including this summer's Euros. So who would miss out? Based on WhoScored.com ratings from Europe's top 5 leagues this season, here are the top-10 players in danger of not playing at Euro 2020.

 

10) Federico Chiesa (Juventus / Italy) - 7.29 rating

 

Not that his international record is anything to shout about, but Federico Chiesa is a key member of Roberto Mancini's Italy side. Chiesa has grown into his first season with Juventus and currently has 14 goal involvements for the Old Lady (seven goals, seven assists). The 23-year-old is the highest WhoScored rated Italian at one of the 12 founding members of the Super League.

 

9) Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City / Germany) - 7.31

 

Ilkay Gundogan has been a revelation for Manchester City this season and Germany head coach Joachim Low will certainly hope to tap into his remarkable goalscoring form this summer given their woes up front. With Timo Werner having a nightmare season for Chelsea, Low needs goals to come from somewhere and Gundogan is certainly finding the back of the net with ease this season. The 30-year-old is City's top scorer in all competitions this season with 16 goals.

 

8) Joao Cancelo (Manchester City / Portugal) - 7.37 rating

 

After playing a bit-part role during his first campaign at Manchester City, if you can even call it that, few would have expected Joao Cancelo to emerge as one of the club's top performers this season. Cancelo has played a key role in City rediscovering their best form, starting in a full-back position but often playing as far forward as some of the strikers. Portugal have decent options at full-back in reserve but based on Cancelo's form he would be a big miss for the holders.

 

7) Mason Mount (Chelsea / England) - 7.37 rating

 

Mason Mount was widely ridiculed by supporters at the start of the season, unfairly compared to Jack Grealish, but he has shown just what a top player he is for Chelsea under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel. Gareth Southgate noticed his qualities early on and he looks set to be a guaranteed starter in England's midfield this summer. The 22-year-old is Chelsea's top rated player in the league this season by a considerable distance (7.37 rating) with a direct hand in 10 goals (six goals, four assists).

 

6) Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd / Portugal) - 7.46 rating

 

Bruno Fernandes is one of the few footballers that have responded since news broke of the Super League and he isn't happy. Fernandes has been a revelation ever since he stepped through the door at United and is set to play a big part at Euro 2020 with Portugal if he is allowed to go. The 26-year-old has remarkably played a direct hand in 27 goals in 32 league appearances from midfield this season (16 goals, 11 assists) - one of four players in Europe's top five leagues to reach double figures for both goals and assists.

 

5) Romelu Lukaku (Inter / Belgium) - 7.53 rating

 

There are only four active players that have scored more international goals in Europe than Romelu Lukaku and the Belgium striker is only 27. Lukaku has been a goal machine for the Belgian Red Devils and he would obviously be a major loss for Roberto Martinez's side this summer. Inter are on track for their first league title since 2009 and Lukaku has been instrumental in that, with a direct hand in 30 league goals this season - only the second time he has managed the feat in a single league campaign in his career.

 

Revealed: The best Super League players at risk of being banned from Euro 2020

 

4) Kevin De Bruyne (Man City / Belgium) - 7.56 rating

 

If losing Romelu Lukaku wasn't bad enough then Roberto Martinez may also have to make do without Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. The 29-year-old is enjoying another standout year for City, who are on track for a European treble. De Bruyne has registered double figures for assists in four of the last five league campaigns, only failing to do so in 2018/19 because injuries limited him to just 11 league starts. Moreover, a return of 3 key passes per game ranks third in Europe's top five leagues this term.

 

3) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan / Sweden) - 7.62 rating

 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic only came out of international retirement last month to play at Euro 2020 and now AC Milan's decision to join the Super League could put him back in it. Ibrahimovic has bounced back remarkably from a career-threatening knee injury in 2017 and is still a goalscoring machine at the age of 39. Milan were on course for the title in Serie A at one point thanks to Ibrahimovic's goals but are still looking at finishing second. Ibrahimovic has scored 15 goals in 17 league appeaerances this season, netting every 89.5 minutes of playing time.

 

2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus / Portugal) - 7.73 rating

 

Cristiano Ronaldo may not even get the chance to help Portugal defend their Euro title should UEFA succeed in their ban on players in the Super League. Juventus look set for another disappointing campaign but Ronaldo has still excelled individually for the Old Lady. Ronaldo is the top scorer in Serie A this season with 25 goals, four more than any other player in the division. In fact, it means Ronaldo has now scored at least 25 goals in 11 of the last 12 league campaigns.

 

1) Harry Kane (Tottenham / England) - 7.81 rating

 

Daniel Levy probably thinks signing Tottenham up to the Super League, when they look set to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League, will ensure Harry Kane stays but it might backfire on him if it comes at the cost of his place captaining England at this summer's Euros. Indeed, only Robert Lewandowski (41) has played a direct hand in more goals than Kane (34). Remarkably, Kane has both scored the most goals (23) and registered the most assists (11) in the Premier League this season.

Revealed: The best Super League players at risk of being banned from Euro 2020