From Roger Milla via George Weah to Didier Drogba, the African continent has produced some of the most exciting players to grace the European game. While the transfer market goes crazy, with the world record transfer fee broken twice already this summer, many clubs will be looking to Africa's long list of potential superstars as a cheap solution to their squad's problems. Sport.co.uk guides you through some of the best young players the continent has to offer.
Name: Ransford Osei
Age: 18
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker
Nationality: Ghanaian
Club: Maccabi Haifa
The young Ghanaian goal scorer has lightning pace and an eye for goal having been awarded the Golden Boot at both the 2007 African U17 Championship and the U20 African Youth Championship, and the Silver Boot at the FIFA U17 World Cup. World Soccer Magazine included Osei as one of their 50 Most Exciting Teenagers on the Planet and his form in youth competitions in Africa earned the striker a move to Maccabi Haifa in 2008 and helped them on their way to the Israeli Premier League. The opportunistic striker was awarded his first national team call up to the Ghana side at the age of sixteen and hopes are high that this young starlet can develop into the real deal for Ghana.
Name: Taye Taiwo
Age: 24
Position: Full Back
Nationality: Nigerian
Club: Marseille
Marseille's sought-after left back Taye Taiwo was named third best player in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, behind Chelsea's John Obi Mikel and Barcelona's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, as well as the African Young Player of the Year in 2006. The Nigerian defender has stated his desire to play in the English Premiership and speculation has linked Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City to the powerful full back. Marseille are keen to keep hold of one of their best players; however the French outfit understands that the lure of playing in the Premier League may prove too much for the ambitious defender.
Name: Kermit Erasmus
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Nationality: South African
Club: Feyenoord
The powerful South African centre forward secured a move to Dutch side Feyenoord in 2008 after finding the net in six out of seven games for the South African U17 side. The young striker has the raw power to unsettle defences and his playing style has been compared to Wayne Rooney. It will be up to Feyenoord to get the well-built striker into shape and scoring goals if his dream of playing in South Africa's 2010 World Cup squad is to come true.
Name: Macauley Chrisantus
Age: 19
Position: Striker
Nationality: Nigerian
Club: Hamburg SV
Macauley Chrisantus sparked a frenzy amongst European clubs after finishing as the top scorer with seven goals in the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in 2007. The player's agent cited Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Ajax, Barcelona and Real Madrid as some of the twelve very serious bids the player's club had received. A powerful centre forward and a cool finisher, Chrisantus eventually ended up at Hamburg SV in the Bundesliga but the 18 year old wonderkid's development will undoubtedly still be very closely monitored by Europe's elite.
Name: Daniel Opare
Age: 18
Position: Full Back
Nationality: Ghanaian
Club: Real Madrid
Daniel Opare earnt a call up to the African Cup of Nations from Ghana coach Claude Le Roy at the age of just seventeen. Unfortunately a persistent ankle injury denied the crusading full back his chance to star in Africa's pivotal competition. The attacking full back has been compared to Brazilian legend Cafu for his willingness to attack down the flanks, and his speed and delivery have also caught the eye of many top clubs, while he has also shown himself to be equally impressive defensively. Real Madrid eventually signed the wonder kid and he is currently earning his stripes in the Real Madrid B team in Spanish football's third tier league, however he has recently been linked with Liverpool.