Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

At the bottom of Serie A, Hellas Verona find themselves in desperate need of fresh legs and fighting spirit. Enter Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, the 33-year-old Ivorian midfielder whose box-to-box engine has earned him 90 minutes across two appearances this season. While his stats sheet shows zero goals and assists, Akpa Akpro brings something that doesn't register on paper: tireless work rate. In a relegation-threatened squad valued collectively at far higher sums than his modest €500,000 market value, the experienced campaigner represents grit over glamour. Compared to midfield teammate Antoine Bernede (63 rating), Akpa Akpro's 40 rating suggests limited impact, yet his defensive contributions (45) and physical presence (50) offer manager options when chasing games or protecting leads. With Verona languishing in 20th position and facing an uphill battle for survival, every squad player becomes crucial. Akpa Akpro's journey from the Ivory Coast to Italy's top flight embodies the resilience Verona desperately needs to claw their way out of the drop zone.