We reveal how the best young creators on the Continent have been in this campaign.
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5) James Ward-Prowse (Southampton): 39 Key Passes (KPs)
The highly rated Saints midfielder has enjoyed a really impressive campaign at St Mary’s so far under the inspirational coaching of Argentinian boss Mauricio Pochettino, as the above stat ably demonstrates, with two assists to his name in his 33 top-flight outings.
And if the England Under-21 international carries on developing at this same rate, then it will not be long before many of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big boys’ come knocking on the south coast club’s door inquiring about the 19-year-old’s availability.
4) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool): 49 KPs
What an outstanding season the young Reds wide man has enjoyed, especially the second half of the campaign where Sterling has really managed to catch the eye with his exhilarating displays up front for the Merseyside giants.
And with 48 key passes to his name, as well as a further nine goals and seven assists in his 32 Premier League outings, you can see why the 19-year-old is now heading to the World Cup finals in Brazil with England this summer.
3) Julian Draxler (Schalke 04): 56 KPs
No wonder Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger has spent most of the last year trying to lure the coveted Germany international from Schalke to north London, with Draxler having been in sparking form in the centre of the park for the Bundesliga outfit in this campaign.
And having been the provider of 56 key passes to team-mates, you can understand just why his employers have been holding out for a whopping transfer fee of £32m from the Gunners for their 20-year-old starlet.
2) Johannes Geis (Mainz): 66 KPs
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a wonderful debut campaign for Mainz, with an impressive 66 key passes to his credit in the Bundesliga in this season to go along with the holding midfielder’s one goal and seven assists in his 32 German top-flight outings.
As a result, Geis was called up to make his Germany U21 international debut in a friendly against Finland last August.
1) Hakan Calhanoglu (Hamburg): 68 KPs
So the Continent’s most creative young player is Hamburg’s much talked-about Turkey international, a starlet who has been making the headlines of late after it was widely reported across Europe that Premier League giants Chelsea were interested in signing the 20-year-old for next season.
And with good reason too, if the attacking midfielder’s current campaign in the Bundesliga is anything to go by, where Hakan has not only been responsible for a breathtaking 68 key passes in the season, but he was also behind 11 goals and four assists in his 31 league matches for struggling Hamburg too.