Youssouf Fofana

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

In the red and black of AC Milan, Youssouf Fofana is quietly establishing himself as the metronome in a Rossoneri side chasing glory. With Milan sitting 2nd in Serie A and riding a superb unbeaten run of five matches (WWDWW), the 27-year-old Frenchman has become an integral cog in Stefano Pioli's machine. Across 22 appearances this campaign, Fofana has contributed 1 goal and 3 assists from defensive midfield - numbers that undersell his true value. His €28m price tag reflects a player whose influence lies in the unseen: the turnovers won, the tempo controlled, the ball retained under pressure. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker, Fofana's primary strength lies in keeping possession ticking, allowing the likes of Rafael Leão to flourish further forward. With just one yellow card in over 1,500 minutes of football, his defensive work is calculated rather than chaotic. For a Milan side with title ambitions, Fofana represents the kind of understated quality that championship-winning teams are built upon.