Jesper Karlström

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

At 30 years old, Jesper Karlström has become the unsung metronome in Udinese Calcio's midfield engine room. Sitting 9th in the table, Udinese have relied heavily on the Swedish international's availability and consistency - he has featured in all 26 league appearances this season, averaging 89 minutes per match. While teammates Nicolò Zaniolo and Idrissa Gueye grab the headlines with their attacking flair, Karlström operates in the shadows as a deep-lying playmaker, clocking 2,310 minutes of action with a single goal to his name. His strength lies not in goalscoring but in ball retention, providing the defensive shield that allows Udinese's more creative talents to flourish. Valued at €4 million, the Stockholm-born midfielder represents steady, experienced presence in a team balancing ambition with pragmatic football. Four yellow cards suggest a combative edge to his game, but his zero dismissals reveal the discipline required of a player who rarely leaves the pitch once he's on it.