Scouted Says

Deadline Day was a hectic one, but plenty of interesting deals were concluded - as well as some pretty baffling ones too. Ranks FC's Sam Tighe joins Joe on this week's episode to recap the big moves, the loan moves and the niche moves of this year's January transfer window. Use the following timecodes to skip to the players who you want to hear discussed the most. Dominik Szoboszlai to RB Leipzig (5:10)Amad Diallo to Manchester United (12:30) Dennis Man to Parma (17:13)Kouadio Koné to Borussia Mönchengladbach (23:47)Krépin Diatta to AS Monaco (30:14) Ozan Kabak to Liverpool (33:01)Ainsley Maitland-Niles to West Bromwich Albion (40:17)Joe Willock to Newcastle United (40:17)Taylor Harwood-Bellis to Blackburn Rovers (46:16) Moisés Caicedo to Brighton & Hove Albion (48:26)

Mali are current holders of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as 2015 and 2017 champions of the U17 AFCON tournament. Over the past 15 years, Malian football has slowly been developing a core of top level footballers, including Yves Bissouma, Diadie Samassékou, Amadou Haidara and Sékou Koïta. At the heart of this development has been the JMG Academy, fronted by former French international Jean-Marc Guillou. In this episode of the Scouted Football Podcast, we explore JMG's influence over Côte d'Ivoire's golden generation including the Touré brothers, pathways to Europe, their recent success in Mali and the country's attempts to qualify for the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar for the very first time.

We're going way back with this one, to the days when Erling Haaland was merely Alf-Inge Haaland's son, when Arsenal fans didn't know the name Dominik Szoboszlai, even before Noni Madueke's rise to stardom on TikTok - and with PSV. This week, we've delved into the Scouted Football Podcast archives to dig out the best snippets from the first 50 episodes. 

50 not out. The Scouted Football Podcast reaches its 50th episode. For the half-century, Joe is joined by The Athletic's Alex Stewart to talk us through a little-known story outside Italy, that of AC Monza, who've surged up the leagues and are on the cusp of Serie A football for the first time in their history. They're owned and backed by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - once of 'bunga bunga' fame - and ex-AC Milan director Adriano Galliani, a Monza boy born-and-bred. In amongst all that, they have made some interesting young additions, as well as experienced duo Mario Balotelli and Kevin Prince Boateng, to their squad as they look to breach the gap between Serie B and Serie A. It's a cracker.

We are almost at the halfway stage of the Serie A season and there is something of a title race ensuing. As such, we have enlisted the help of our resident Juventino Stephen Ganavas to decipher who has enjoyed the best start, which under-23 players have played a starring role and our surprise packages of the campaign so far.

Join Joe and Ben Wells @FRfotballBen as we delve into the key players behind FK Bodø/Glimt's historic first Norwegian title, a campaign in which they scored 103 goals, winning 26 of 30 games. It's one of the best, and yet little-known, stories of 2020 - a true underdog tale. Includes players earning dream moves to Italian giants, maintaining a legacy of familial success and the running of a semi-popular fishing channel.

French football has been rocked by broadcaster Mediapro renèging on its agreement to televise - and bankroll - Ligue 1 this season. Mo Ali from GFFN (Get French Football News) breaks down the key complexities of a great deal gone bad, and whether Ligue 1's best young talents will be flooding out of France's top flight this January.

It's that time of the year, the Champions League and Europa League Group Stages have been decided. RB Leipzig are through to the big dog knockouts, but Red Bull Salzburg drop into the Europa League once again. We're joined by author of Wings of Change, a biopic on Red Bull's Football Family, Karan Tejwani to discuss Salzburg and Leipzig. Breakout names, scouting structures and academy stars - it's all there.

Caution: contains Folarin Balogun, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah. We're lucky enough to speak to Scouted Phil about Arsenal's start to the season and discuss the positives (and a few negatives) surrounding the Gunners at the moment. From Mikel Arteta, to William Saliba, a mini-Ibrahimović and how Hungary's latest star would fit into this current side. Don't miss it.

Scouted Football Handbook contributor and professional scout Lee Scott joins the podcast on his regular slot, this time discussing a throng of players from the EFL, made up of the Championship, League One and League Two in England. Contains a 5ft 7in winger who only scores with his head, revered left-footed ball-progressing centre-backs, set-piece specialist full-backs and a goalkeeper playing right-back? Listen now.

Joe welcomes regular Scouted Football Podcast guest David Cartlidge back onto the airwaves for his hat-trick, a third appearance discussing the happenings in Spanish football. This week, it's David's specialist subject: Valencia, and the maelstrom that seems to have enveloped the club under owner Peter Lim. As a result of a summer firesale, youth teamers and young players have been called up to the first-team squad. The Scouted Football Podcast explores how they're getting on.

Philadelphia Union and USMNT defender Mark McKenzie joins Joe and Justin Sousa on the Scouted Football Podcast to discuss his career so far. The Union have just sealed their first MLS Supporters' Shield topping the Eastern Conference, which has been in no small part down to their homegrown centre-back McKenzie who made his international debut in February. Check out the exclusive interview.

Our latest episode is a deep discussion on football, race, culture, expression and homegrown heroes, set around on the diverse and thriving region of South London. Joe is joined by talkSPORT presenter and Channel 4 sports reporter Jordan Jarrett-Bryan whose knowledge and insight on why his backyard produces so many top players, is peerless.

Our 40th episode sees Joe and returning Scouted Football Podcast guest Lee Scott tackle four teams taking part in this year's UEFA Europa League. PSV Eindhoven promise to be lots of fun under Roger Schmidt, while CSKA Moscow, AC Milan and OGC Nice make a return to the Europa League with squads packed out by under-23 protagonists. Listen now. Rate. Subscribe. Tell a friend.

We are in esteemed company this week as Mr. European Football himself Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) joins us for a foray into this summer's under-23 transfers. Joe and Sam each pick their favourite under-23 move in each of Europe's top five leagues. Expect agendas and anecdotes aplenty, it's not one to miss.

Despite what the Premier League table shows, Brighton have started the 2020-21 season, erm, brightly. We're joined by Albion Analytics (@AlbionAnalytics) founder Liam Tharme to muse over Tariq Lamptey, discuss how Ben White is settling in and the recruitment structure which has seen the Seagulls accumulate a wealth of under-23 talent. Listen now. Subscribe. Rate. Review.

Joe is joined by author, analyst and scouting guru Lee Scott who explores the Danish, Belgian and Dutch top flights, sharing his thoughts on four exciting young players from each league. Lee's reach in the scouting world is unmatched, and his diligent analysis is some of the best - hear his opinions on Mo Daramy, Jérémy Doku, Mohammed Kudus and more.

The 2020-21 season is here and Europe's big leagues are finally underway. French league football has returned following a six-month break, while Juventus and Bayern München attempt to prolong their domestic dominance in their respective leagues. Joe and Steve pick out which under-23 players could have a bigger role to play at the top clubs across Europe's top five leagues this season, including new signings Sandro Tonali, Victor Osimhen and Francisco Trincão as well as teenagers Eduardo Camavinga and Rayan Cherki; both ready for a breakthrough season.

Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille have been one of the most profitable clubs in the transfer market in recent years and this summer is no different.  Victor Osimhen, Jonathan David and a handful of other under-23 incomings and outgoings have taken place at the French club. We discuss their business with broadcaster and data analyst Kevin Jeffries.

Maurizio Sarri out; Andrea Pirlo in - Juventus have an ageing squad and look set to offload big earners and big names in the coming months. The club are entering a potentially volatile and hugely transitional period. Joe is joined by Juve fan and Scouted co-founder Stephen Ganavas to chew the fat on what lies ahead for the Bianconeri.