The best players not plying their trade in the major European leagues.
As the most highly regarded and competitive domestic leagues in the world, it is only natural that most of the top footballers will congregate in England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany, but who are the best players outside of these five major leagues but still playing in Europe?
SEE MORE:
Worst dressed footballers
Henderson contract – Talks opened
Premier League worst penalty conceders
Here are 10 that deserve a move from the backwaters soon:
Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Despite being linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer, Argentina international Ezequiel Garay made the surprise move from Benfica to Zenit, the Russian club top of their domestic league under Andre Villas-Boas.
Jackson Martinez (FC Porto)
Colombian striker Jackson Martinez’s goalscoring record for FC Porto is incredible, so it is no surprise that Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked should Martinez decide to move in in January.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Ajax)
Despite persistent rumours linking him with a move to Queens Park Rangers this summer, Ajax managed to keep hold of prolific Icelandic striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, one of the finest in the Eredivisie.
Demba Ba (Besiktas)
Former Newcastle United and Chelsea striker Demba Ba showed just what a fine goalscorer he is in the Premier League, so it is no surprise how well he has started since joining Besiktas in Turkey.
Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb)
Heavily linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, young Dinamo midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is the best player in Croatian domestic football right now and very much in the mould of Luka Modric.
Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)
Surprisingly still at Benfica in the Portuguese League despite regularly being linked with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitain is brimming full of creativity.
Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk)
One of numerous talented Brazilians to find themselves playing in the Ukrainian league with Shakhtar Donetsk, Douglas Costa is probably the pick of the bunch – hence why he was so heavily linked with Arsenal this summer.
Daniel Agger (Brondby)
Still a high level Premier League centre back when fit, it was a huge surprise when Danish international centre back Daniel Agger decided to return to Brondby from Liverpool this summer – a real coup for the Turkish league.
Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray)
Once the playmaker-in-chief for the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan, Wesley Sneijder is playing the latter years of his career in the Turkish league with Galatasaray.
Virgin van Dijk (Celtic)
The best player in the SPL currently is Celtic central defender Virgin van Dijk, a Dutchman who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United to help solve the Old Trafford defensive crisis.