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With various domestic seasons in European football coming to an end, planning for next season is already in full flow.
As always, there have been various hits and some misses. However, certain players who endured slow starts to their campaign have established themselves as key personnel during the second half of the season.
Teams must take this into account when they begin their summer shopping. While some players patiently waited for their opportunities, new signings took time to settle before showing their quality.
We look at 5 players who have stepped up at the business end of the 2020/21 season.
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#5 Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
Long touted as a player with huge potential, Kelechi Iheanacho is finally showcasing his talent on a consistent basis.
Iheanacho was sold to Leicester City from Manchester City in 2017 for £25 million, and the Foxes were praised for acquiring the forward. The Nigeria international, however, struggled to get going during his first few seasons at the club and managed only nine league goals during his first three seasons with Leicester City.
Iheanacho has been in fine form this season, though, especially over the last few weeks. The 24-year old has been a constant threat to opposition defences in the second half of the season. Iheanacho won the Premier League Player of the Month for March as a result of his stunning performances. He has scored 11 league goals in just 15 starts for the Brendan Rodgers' side this season.
#4 Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid could lose some key defensive personnel this summer, and keeping hold of Eder Militao may prove to be key for Los Blancos.
Militao has impressed with his performances during the second half of the season. With Sergio Ramos out injured, the Brazil international has shown that he has what it takes to replace Real Madrid's star defender. Militao's performances against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final were extremely impressive.
Having joined Real Madrid from Porto in 2019 for an eye-watering fee of £45 million, Militao has had to make do with limited minutes in the early parts of his Los Blancos career. With Ramos looking likely to leave in the summer and Varane linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, Militao could find himself starting on a more consistent basis next season.
Also Read: 5 Premier League summer signings who have failed to live up to their hype
#3 Burak Yilmaz (Lille)
Lille are on the precipice of a stunning Ligue 1 triumph, and key to this has been veteran striker Burak Yilmaz.
Renowned for their ability to spot talent and sell them for big money, Lille's acquisition of Yilmaz on a free transfer from Besiktas last summer was a shrewd move. The 35-year old did not fit in with Lille's transfer policy, but nearly a season later, it is now evident that signing him was a masterstroke.
Yilmaz has made 22 Ligue 1 starts, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists. The striker has scored braces in two of his last four league games and has formed a fruitful partnership with Jonathan David. Lille are a point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain with a game to go, and the Turkey international will be eager to make an impact against Angers, Lille's final domestic opponent of the season.
#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Liverpool have struggled this season after a successful couple of years under the management of Jurgen Klopp.
While injuries have played a major role in how the R season has panned out, the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold has also come under question. The right-back, regarded as one of the best in his position in the world, endured a slow start to his season but has picked up form recently.
Alexander-Arnold has impressed in recent weeks with his impressive passing and creativity, and produced an excellent performance against Manchester United last week. There have been rumours that England manager Gareth Southgate will not name the 22-year old in the 26-man squad for the Euros, which has not been well received by national team fans.
#1 Edinson Cavani (Manchester United)
When Manchester United announced the arrival of Edinson Cavani on a free transfer last summer, it was seen as a panic buy rather than a well thought out transfer.
The 34-year old had struggled for game time during his final season at Paris Saint-Germain, and his acquisition was met with criticism. Nearly a season later, Cavani is now regarded as a cult favourite among Manchester United fans. His commitment to the cause as well as recent goalscoring form has endeared the Uruguay star to the Old Trafford faithful.
Cavani has made 38 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United, scoring 16 goals. He is now the club's first-choice striker and recently signed a contract extension that will see him play for Manchester United next season.
Also Read: 5 most valuable football squads in the world (2020/21)
