2 – Shkodran Mustafi
An alternative option rarely linked in the media – Shkodran Mustafi. The Valencia defender has been a positive for an extremely poor Valencia team this season. He is young (24), but strong and commanding for his age. Formerly of the Everton youth setup, Mustafi has gone from strength to strength, joining Sampdoria in 2012 and then Valencia in 2014. With 10 caps for Germany, he already has international pedigree and is expected to become a prominent figure in the international setup over the next few years. He is very good in the air, winning over 3 aerial duels on average each game.