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The upcoming edition of the Indian Super League is set to begin on the 21st of November. All the matches will be played behind closed doors in Goa, something that has never really happened in the history of the league. The ISL will conclude on the 31st of March 2021.
Over the years, there have been a plethora of players who have made the trip to India with many having etched their names into Indian footballing history. Such has been their impact that players like Iain Hume and David James have more or less become household names. However, with the ambitions of the franchises becoming larger each year, the transfers of players who have made their mark overseas has also increased.
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Let’s take a look at five overseas players who can make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
1) Facundo Pereyra (Kerala Blasters)
Having made a mark for himself in Greece with PAOK, Facundo Pereyra became the Kerala Blasters' first foreign signing for the upcoming season of the ISL when he penned down a contract recently. Generally deployed as an attacking midfielder, Pereyra’s speed also means that he can play as a second striker.
With the loss of Slavisa Stojanovic, Bartholomew Ogbeche and Halicharan Narzary, it would seem as though Pereyra is the only striking option Kibu Vicuna has at the moment.
In the grand scheme of things, the 33-year-old Pereyra becomes a rather important part of the 2020-21 Kerala Blasters squad. Moreover, with a tremendous goalscoring record in the past, fans will be keen to witness what he is capable of.
2) Cleiton Silva (Bengaluru FC)
While the accolades, titles and trophies definitely paint a pretty picture for Carles Cuadrat’s Bengaluru FC, the 2019-20 ISL campaign was more or less a reality check. With the loss of talisman Miku, a lot fell on the shoulders of the ageing Sunil Chhetri and an out-of-form Udanta Singh. In addition to this, with the likes of Deshorn Brown and Manuel Onwu misfiring, there was to be no glory for the Blues.
The signing of Cleiton Silva from Thai club Suphanburi has been one of the most talked-about stories in the Indian transfer season so far. Silva’s ability to play in any of the three positions in the front three and his penchant for putting the ball in the back of the net has been unparalleled, evident by his last outing with Supanburi where he netted 11 goals in 30 matches.
Needless to say, fans of Bengaluru FC would be waiting for the 33-year-old Brazilian to make his mark in the upcoming campaign. This will be Silva's first season in the ISL.
3) Aridane Santana (Hyderabad FC)
Hyderabad FC’s first-ever season in the ISL ended in a washout. It began with a string of losses followed by several changes in management, leaving the club at the bottom of the table with just two wins in their first season. In addition to this, the Brazilian duo of Bobo and Marcelinho, who had accounted for 12 of the 21 goals the previous season also decided to move on to seemingly better footballing pastures.
The signing of Aridane Santana has been a clear sign of intent from coach Manolo Marquez. Having made his debut with Odisha FC last season, the Spaniard smashed nine goals in just fourteen appearances, thereby establishing that he does indeed have a knack for scoring goals.
Given the fact that Hyderabad FC managed a paltry 21 goals last season, Santana’s signing could very well prove to be the shot in the arm for Marquez’s men.
4) Ahmed Jahouh (Mumbai City FC)
Having become the first Moroccan to play in the ISL, Ahmed Jahouh was quite literally the heartbeat of the FC Goa midfield. This season, however, the 32-year-old has made a rather high-profile move to Mumbai City FC, following in the footsteps of his FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera.
Jahouh finished the 2019-20 campaign with 1279 passes in the 17 matches that he played in, a record in the ISL. In addition to that, Jahouh also accounted for 182 tackles and 57 interceptions, something that attests to his attributes as a hardworking and industrious midfielder.
A source affiliated with the club stated:
“The City Football Group believes that Ahmed Jahouh is an important player for Lobera’s system and that’s why they agreed to break the bank for him."
5) Steven Taylor (Odisha FC)
In the years before he left Newcastle United, Steven Taylor was a name synonymous with the Magpies’ defensive unit. A regular starter in the team, Taylor is somewhat of a living legend in the Northeast before making the move to Australia, a place where he found considerable success.
The 34-year-old’s defensive prowess is beyond question. For someone who is good in the air and can play the long ball forward, Taylor’s credentials certainly do not need any reinforcement. However, for Stuart Baxter, it will be Taylor’s leadership skills that come into question as he aims to pick a suitable captain.
Speaking about his move to the ISL, the former Newcastle United man said:
“I am very happy to be working under Stuart once again and can’t wait to meet all the young Indian lads. I hope I can help the lads push on and in turn egg the team on towards the play-off spots.”
