Alternative midfield target for Manchester City among biggest risers on Football INDEX

Football INDEX is the world’s first football stock market where you can buy and sell shares in footballers with real money. Football INDEX offers fans a chance to bet on the future success of football players compared to the short-lived outcome of betting on football results.

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Still undecided what footballers to add to your portfolio? Football INDEX even provides users with a handy tool to help you make informed decisions on trending players, located at the top right hand side of the home page. Share prices can also increase based on the media attention a player receives on any given day of trading.

Everyday, Football INDEX highlights the five biggest market movers over a 24-hour period. Here are the current five at the time of writing:

1. LUCAS PEREZ (ARSENAL)

Lucas Perez is something of a forgotten man at Arsenal after enduring a nightmare two seasons under Arsene Wenger, but the 29-year-old will reportedly be handed a lifeline by new head coach Unai Emery.

The 46-year-old knows Perez well from his time in Spain and will give the versatile forward a fresh chance at the Emirates. Perez’s first season at Arsenal was so frustrating that he ended up returning to Deportivo on a season-long loan deal in the second.

The start of Perez’s loan stint didn’t exactly go to plan for the 29-year-old but he did finish the season strongly and ended up playing a direct hand in 14 goals in 35 league appearances for the Spanish side.

Perez scored or assisted in each of his last four appearances for Deportivo but it wasn’t enough to help the Blue and Whites beat relegation.

Arsenal fans were bemused by Perez’s lack of chances under Wenger even though he did play well when given the chance and news he will have the chance to start over will certainly please a vast majority of them. 

Perez has even returned early from pre-season to catch Emery’s eye and he should certainly be considered for your Football INDEX portfolios. His share price is currently £0.87 and that will only increase if he performs well in pre-season and forces his way into the first-team reckoning next term.

2. BENJAMIN PAVARD (STUTTGART)

Benjamin Pavard is arguably one of the most unknown quantities among the biggest sides at the 2018 World Cup yet he will start in Sunday’s World Cup final.  

The Stuttgart defender has been adapted at right-back by Didier Deschamps this summer and has grown into the tournament, even attracting interest from German giants Bayern Munich.  

It seems unlikely that Stuttgart will be able to hold onto Pavard for much longer and Bayern are understood to be plotting a move for the Frenchman at the end of next season.  

Pavard has a €35m release clause in his current Stuttgart deal that will become active next summer and Bayern are reportedly set on triggering it.  

The 22-year-old scored a goal of the tournament contender against Argentina and his reputation will only soar further with a solid showing against Croatia on Sunday.  

His Football INDEX share price is only £1.68 and he should be considered for your portfolios with an eye on Sunday and the future.  

3. JULIAN WEIGL (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)

Regarded as one of the brightest midfield targets in Europe, there could be even more eyes on Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl next season depending how this summer plays out.  

Manchester City look set to lose out on top midfield target Jorginho to Premier League rivals Chelsea and that will force Pep Guardiola back to the drawing board.  

Manchester United are long-term admirers of Weigl but the Germany international could emerge as an alternative target for City in the coming weeks.  

Guardiola is determined to sign a new midfielder capable of anchoring City’s midfield with an eye on finding Fernandinho’s long-term replacement.  

Weigl certainly fits a similar mould to Jorginho but it remains to be seen whether Guardiola is willing to prise the 22-year-old away from Dortmund following a relatively underwhelming campaign last term.  

The Dortmund starlet only started 20 league games last season and gained a less-than-impressive WhoScored rating of 6.82. He should still be considered for your Football INDEX portfolios, as his share price is only £1.26, but proceed with caution.

4. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (LA GALAXY)

Unsurprisingly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made a typically immense start to life at another new club in his illustrious career. The former Manchester United striker has hit the ground running for LA Galaxy this season and already has 11 goals in 14 MLS appearances.  

Ibrahimovic is one of the most iconic players of his generation and continues to perform brilliantly despite the fact he is 36 and still trying to fully recover from a career-threatening knee injury last year.   

Only Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez (18) has scored more MLS goals than Ibrahimovic this season and the former Sweden international’s feat is all the more impressive when you consider the Galaxy’s struggles this season.  

Ibrahimovic’s Football INDEX share price is staggeringly only £0.30 at the time of writing and he should definitely be considered for your portfolios. Rarely will you ever have the chance to purchase shares in a player as good as Ibrahimovic for such little money.

5. DUVAN ZAPATA (ATALANTA)

Duvan Zapata is the final big market mover over the last 24 hours and his share price will only continue to soar following his move from Sampdoria to Serie A rivals Atalanta.  

Newcastle expressed late interest in the 27-year-old, while there was also money on the table from China, but Zapata’s preference was to remain in Italy and the Colombia international has achieved that.

Zapata has struggled to find a club to call home in the last three or four years and now he will finally be looking to settle at Atalanta during his two-year loan spell, which includes an option to buy.  

Despite the fact his long-term future has remained uncertain wherever he has been in recent seasons, it hasn’t prevented the powerful striker from contributing regularly.  

In fact, Zapata has reached double figures for league goals in each of his last two seasons, netting 21 times in the process. His Football INDEX share price is currently £1.03, but he would be a worthy addition to your portfolios.