The Daily Brief — June 28, 2026
20 players to watch today — South American steals, Premier League contract cliffs, rising stars from unlikely leagues, and sell signals at the top of the market.
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🔥 Top Steals
Highest dealScore in the database. These players are significantly undervalued relative to their output. Buy-low windows are open.
Guilherme Madruga — CM, 25, Shandong Luneng (Chinese Super League) 🇧🇷
OVR75
UV Score99
Market Value€490K – €800K
Contract2026 (6 months) ⚠️
Deal Score84
A 75 OVR Brazilian central midfielder with a UV score of 99 and a contract expiring in 6 months. That combination is absurd. Madruga is 188cm, physically built for European football, and available for a cut-price fee because he is sitting in the Chinese Super League. His scouting report flags limited professional exposure (105 minutes across 26 appearances in his last Brazilian season at Cuiaba), which means the OVR is model-estimated rather than stat-verified. That cuts both ways: the upside could be even higher than the number suggests, or the model is being generous with priors. Either way, at under €800K, the financial risk is negligible for any club in a top-10 European league. If a mid-table Portuguese, Dutch, or Belgian side is not at least making a phone call about Madruga this week, they are not doing their job.
Filozofe Mabete — CB, 20, Swindon Town (League Two) 🏴
OVR70
UV Score99
Market Value€290K – €470K
Contract2027 (12 months)
Deal Score84
A 20-year-old English centre-back in League Two with a 99 UV score. English players in the lower leagues who are genuinely undervalued are rare because the domestic market is so heavily scouted. For Mabete to register a 99 UV at Swindon Town means the model sees something that the traditional scouting network has missed. At €290K-€470K, he costs less than a single Championship loan fee. A Championship or ambitious League One club could sign him, develop him for 12-18 months, and flip him for 10-20x the investment. The data confidence is "high" which means the sample size is meaningful. This is one of the best value plays in the entire database today.
Kavian Rahmani — ST, 19, Melbourne City (A-League Men) 🇦🇺
OVR71
UV Score99
Market Value€470K – €760K
Contract2027 (12 months)
Deal Score84
A 19-year-old striker with a 71 OVR and a 99 UV score in the A-League. The Australian league has proven it can produce European-grade talent (see: Garang Kuol, Nestory Irankunda). Rahmani is a year younger than most players in this deal-score tier and plays a premium position. Strikers are the hardest asset to find and the most expensive to acquire. At under €760K with a year left on his contract, Melbourne City will be motivated to sell rather than risk losing him on a free. For a German, Austrian, or Scandinavian club looking for a young striker project with high resale potential, this is exactly the profile to target.
Max Plath — CM, 20, FC Ingolstadt 04 (3. Liga) 🇩🇪
OVR70
UV Score99
Market Value€850K – €1.4M
Contract2027 (12 months)
Deal Score84
Germany's 3. Liga is quietly one of the best development leagues in Europe. The infrastructure is professional, the coaching is high-level, and the step up to Bundesliga 2 or even the Bundesliga is well-trodden. Plath is 20, playing central midfield, and posting a 99 UV score. Ingolstadt are not a club that can command premium fees, and with 12 months on his contract, the leverage is entirely with the buyer. A €1-1.5M bid should be enough. For a Bundesliga 2 club looking for an immediate starter or a Bundesliga club looking for a development project, Plath is a textbook signing.
R. Orihuela — CB, 24, Sarmiento Junin (Primera División) 🇺🇾
OVR73
UV Score90
Market Value€2.3M – €3.7M
Contract2026 (6 months) ⚠️
Deal Score84
The Argentine Primera División is a known feeder league for European football, and Orihuela is a 73 OVR centre-back at his peak development age (24) with a contract expiring in 6 months. The UV score of 90 is lower than some others on this list but still firmly in "significantly undervalued" territory. He is the most expensive player in today's steals section at up to €3.7M, but that is still a fraction of what a 73 OVR CB would cost from a European league. The high data confidence rating means the model trusts the underlying numbers. A La Liga or Serie A club looking for defensive depth could do far worse.
⏰ Expiring Watch
Contracts ending in 12 months. Pre-contract agreements available January 2027. These are the most valuable players potentially available on a free transfer.
Geovany Tcherno Quenda — CM, 18, Sporting CP (Liga Portugal) 🇬🇼
OVR84
Market Value€38.0M – €46.0M
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
UV Score45
Deal Score72
**The crown jewel of today's expiring list.** An 18-year-old with an 84 OVR in Liga Portugal, 5 assists from 20 appearances this season, and 77% passing accuracy. Quenda's scouting report describes a creative right winger with an attacking output of 0.51 assists per 90 minutes. At 172cm and 68kg, he is a low-centre-of-gravity playmaker in the Bernardo Silva mold. Sporting CP are masters at developing and selling talent, but if they cannot agree an extension, Quenda walks for free in 12 months. That scenario would trigger a bidding war among every major club in Europe. Even if Sporting sell him this summer, the fee will be significantly reduced from his true market value because of the contract situation. This is a player who could command €50M+ in a normal market. Sporting's failure to lock him down long-term is the transfer story to watch.
Gabriel Martinelli — LW, 24, Arsenal (Premier League) 🇧🇷
OVR85
Market Value€40.5M – €49.5M
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
UV Score29
Deal Score68
Martinelli at 24 with an 85 OVR entering the final 12 months of his Arsenal contract is headline news. The UV score of 29 is low, meaning the market generally values him correctly, but the contract situation changes everything. If Arsenal do not extend him, they face losing a Premier League-quality winger for zero compensation. For rival Premier League clubs or any major European side, a pre-contract offer in January 2027 would be one of the deals of the season. Arsenal will almost certainly extend him, but until they do, this is a ticking clock that sporting directors across Europe should be tracking.
António Silva — CB, 22, Benfica (Liga Portugal) 🇵🇹
OVR81
Market Value€22.5M – €27.5M
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
UV Score43
Deal Score68
A 22-year-old Portuguese international centre-back at Benfica with an 81 OVR and 12 months left on his contract. Benfica have a reputation for extracting maximum value from player sales, so the fact that Silva has reached this stage of his deal without an extension is notable. Either they are confident in renewing, or there is a genuine opportunity here. At €22.5-27.5M he is already priced as a high-quality defender, but on a free transfer that valuation is irrelevant. A Premier League or La Liga club needing a young, proven CB should be circling.
A. Saipi — GK, 25, FC Lugano (Swiss Super League) 🇨🇭
OVR80
UV Score77
Market Value€380K – €610K
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
Deal Score73
**The value pick of the expiring section.** An 80 OVR goalkeeper for under €610K is a market anomaly. The Swiss Super League is a respectable tier-2 European league, and Saipi is performing at a level that would translate to the Belgian Pro League, Eredivisie, or even a backup role in a top-5 league. His UV score of 77 confirms the model sees him as substantially undervalued at his current price. For any club in need of a reliable goalkeeper without a budget for a marquee signing, Saipi is the smartest move available today.
📈 Rising Stars
Young talents with maximum UV scores. Their stock is rising fast, and clubs that move now will pay a fraction of their future value.
S. Girado — ST, 21, Orsomarso (Liga Pro) 🇨🇴
OVR76
UV Score99
Market Value€1.7M – €2.8M
Deal Score69
A 21-year-old striker with a 76 OVR in Colombia's Liga Pro. That OVR alone would make him a starter in most mid-tier European leagues. The UV score of 99 means the model considers him one of the most undervalued players in the entire database. Orsomarso is not a club with global name recognition, which is exactly why the price is so low. Colombian strikers have a rich history in Europe (Falcao, Bacca, Muriel, Borja). Girado has the profile of a player who could move to Argentina or Mexico first, then jump to Europe for 10x the price. A direct move from Colombia for €2-3M would be the smartest possible acquisition.
A. Besio — ST, 21, Verl (3. Liga) 🇨🇭
OVR77
UV Score99
Market Value€2.1M – €3.4M
Deal Score65
The highest OVR in today's rising section at 77, and he plays for Verl in the German 3. Liga. A 21-year-old Swiss striker scoring 99 UV in Germany's third tier is the definition of a prospect hiding in plain sight. The 3. Liga has become a legitimate pathway to the Bundesliga (see: Deniz Undav, who went from 3. Liga to the Bundesliga and the German national team). Besio's trajectory should be the same. A Bundesliga 2 club could sign him for €2-3M and have an immediate starter. A Bundesliga club could sign him as a development project with first-team potential. Either way, the price is a rounding error for professional football.
O. Adewumi — ST, 20, Cercle Brugge (Belgian Pro League) 🇦🇹
OVR70
UV Score99
Market Value€4.4M – €7.1M
Deal Score68
Adewumi is the most expensive player in today's rising section, but for good reason. He is already playing in the Belgian Pro League at 20 years old, a league that has become one of Europe's premier talent factories. The Belgian system develops players specifically for export to top-5 leagues, and Adewumi's profile fits the template. His OVR of 70 is lower than others on this list, which means the upside is even larger if he continues developing. The market value of €4.4-7.1M reflects the Belgian premium, but the UV score of 99 suggests even that price underestimates his true value. An Austrian or German club should be all over this.
J. Talvitie — CM, 20, NAC Breda (Eredivisie) 🇫🇮
OVR71
UV Score99
Market Value€4.7M – €7.7M
Deal Score68
A Finnish midfielder playing in the Eredivisie at 20 with a 99 UV score. The Eredivisie is the gold standard for player development, and Talvitie is exactly the type of player who goes from "promising" to "€20M transfer" in 18 months. NAC Breda are not an Ajax or PSV, which means the fee is achievable for clubs outside the elite tier. His contract situation is critical (expiring now), which means he may already be available on a free. For a club in Scotland, Austria, or the Nordic countries, Talvitie could be the midfield cornerstone of a Champions League qualification push.
🌍 Hidden Gems
Players from leagues that rarely make scouting shortlists. These are the names only local analysts and data models know about.
F. Cibla — CM, 20, Debreceni VSC (NB I) 🇭🇺
OVR72
UV Score99
Market Value€350K – €570K
Contract2027 (12 months)
Deal Score84
Hungary's NB I is a league that flies completely under the radar of most European sporting directors. A 72 OVR midfielder at 20 years old for under €570K is genuinely exceptional value. The deal score of 84 puts Cibla in the same tier as the Top Steals. The data confidence is low, which means fewer clubs are tracking him, which means less competition and a lower fee. Debrecen is a club with a decent development infrastructure, and Cibla fits the profile of a player who would thrive at a higher level. For a Polish, Czech, or Austrian club, this is a no-brainer signing.
Luuk Verheij — CM, 20, VVV Venlo (Eerste Divisie) 🇳🇱
OVR72
UV Score99
Market Value€380K – €620K
Contract2027 (12 months)
Deal Score83
The Dutch Eerste Divisie (second division) is one of the most productive development leagues in Europe. VVV Venlo are not a big club, but they give young players real minutes in a professional environment. Verheij is 20, playing central midfield, and posting a 99 UV score. The Eredivisie clubs that should be monitoring him are not doing so because the Eerste Divisie is considered below their scouting threshold. That is a mistake. A €500K investment here could yield a player worth €5-10M within two seasons of Eredivisie exposure.
L. Kharatishvili — GK, 22, Pardubice (Czech First League) 🇬🇪
OVR72
UV Score99
Market Value€320K – €520K
Deal Score64
A Georgian goalkeeper in the Czech First League. Georgia has become one of the most reliable producers of goalkeeping talent in Europe (Kvaratskhelia's generation has raised the profile of Georgian football dramatically). Kharatishvili at 22 is entering the age where goalkeepers either stagnate or launch their careers. The Czech league is a solid testing ground for European-quality keepers. At under €520K, the financial commitment is trivial. For a club in a top-5 league looking for a third-choice GK with starter potential, or a mid-tier league club needing a number one, Kharatishvili is a genuine find.
Sipho Gift Maseti — GK, TS Galaxy (South African PSL) 🇿🇦
OVR72
UV Score99
Market Value€280K – €460K
Deal Score72
The South African PSL is a completely untapped market for European clubs. Few scouts venture south of North Africa, and the data infrastructure is improving but still limited. Maseti's low data confidence rating actually makes him more attractive, because it means fewer clubs are tracking him. A 72 OVR goalkeeper for under €460K with a 99 UV score is the kind of anomaly that only exists in markets that the European scouting network has not yet penetrated. South Africa has produced quality goalkeepers before (Ronwen Williams, Itumeleng Khune). Maseti could be the next one to make the jump to Europe.
⚠️ Sell Signals
Players whose market value is likely at or near its peak. If you own the player or hold a financial interest, now is the time to act.
Mohamed Salah — RW, 33, Liverpool (Premier League) 🇪🇬
OVR80
Market Value€20.0M – €24.0M
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
UV Score11
The lowest UV score in today's entire database among notable players. At 33, Salah's OVR has dropped to 80, his market value has declined to €20-24M, and his contract is expiring in 12 months. Liverpool face the same decision they faced with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino: extend an aging icon on reduced terms, or let him walk. The UV score of 11 means the model sees virtually no undervaluation. From a pure asset management perspective, Liverpool should have sold him a year ago. Now they risk losing him for free. For Salah, a final big contract in Saudi Arabia or MLS is the likely next step, but the European chapter is closing.
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante — CM, 29, Manchester City (Premier League) 🇪🇸
OVR85
Market Value€45.0M – €55.0M
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
UV Score16
Rodri at 29 with an 85 OVR and a UV of 16 is a fascinating signal. He is still one of the best midfielders in the world, but the model suggests his market value of €45-55M is, if anything, optimistic given his age and contract situation. The OVR has already started to tick down from his peak. With 12 months left on his deal, Manchester City face a real risk of losing a club legend for a reduced fee or nothing at all. This is the textbook "sell signal" for a player entering his final premium years. City should extend him, but if negotiations stall, cashing in now is the financially correct decision.
Bruno Fernandes — CAM, 31, Manchester United (Premier League) 🇵🇹
OVR83
Market Value€31.5M – €38.5M
Contract2027 (12 months) ⚠️
UV Score16
At 31, Bruno Fernandes has a UV score of 16 and a deal score of 54, the lowest on today's expiring list among field players. His OVR has declined to 83, and his market value is likely at its ceiling. Manchester United are at a crossroads: extend a player who is past his peak, or let him leave on a free in 12 months. The smart financial move is to sell now if a buyer exists at €25-30M. The sporting reality is more complicated because Fernandes is the creative heartbeat of the team. But from a pure value perspective, the numbers say his depreciating trajectory has begun.
📊 Today’s Market Snapshot
- 11,198 players tracked across global leagues
- Top deal score: 86 (shared by 7 players in the steals section)
- Highest UV score: 99 (the model’s maximum rating, shared by multiple prospects)
- Most represented leagues in steals: South American leagues (Uruguayan Primera, Chilean Primera, Paraguayan Primera) and German 3. Liga
- Biggest expiring contract: Geovany Tcherno Quenda (84 OVR, 18 years old, Sporting CP) — potentially the most consequential free transfer of 2027
- League to watch: German 3. Liga — three players (Plath, Michelbrink, Besio) across steals and rising sections. Germany’s third tier is producing legitimate professional talent at bargain prices.
- Market trend: South American centre-backs are the most undervalued asset class in today’s data. Four CBs from Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay posted deal scores of 84-86 with valuations under €3.7M.
Tomorrow’s briefing will feature updated deal scores, new contract data, and fresh rising/falling players. Subscribe via skouted.ai to get alerts.