With the first anniversary of the Brazil World Cup looming, we’re approaching that stage in the close-season when fans regain their thirst for competitive football.
Thankfully, while we don’t have a World Cup or European Championship to look forward, the Copa America is here to fill the gap in the calendar.
This year’s tournament brings together the usual suspects – including reigning champions Uruguay – as well as first-timers Jamaica.
It’s a chance to do a bit of talent-spotting as Premier League squads look to recruit for the new campaign, and JOE has picked out some of the players you ought to keep an eye on in Chile over the next few weeks…
Jackson Martinez (Colombia)
It seems a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’ for the Colombian marksman’s proposed move to England.
Arsenal have been circling for some time, with a fee in the region of £25m quoted for one of the top scorers in last season’s Champions League.
Martinez’s international record isn’t quite as impressive as his scoring rate at club level – he hit 28 goals for Porto in 2014/15 – but with captain Radamel Falcao back in the picture he’ll know that big performances are needed to earn his place in the starting line-up.
Roberto Firmino (Brazil)
Uncapped and relatively unknown before the 2013-14 season, Firmino has spent much of his fledgling career with mid-table German side Hoffenheim.
The club has helped a few notable names kick-start their careers, such as former Chelsea striker Demba Ba and Brazil World Cup midfielder Luiz Gustavo.
Firmino has scored more than 30 goals over the last two seasons and opened his account for his country last year, leading to rumours of a big-money move to Manchester United this summer.
Arturo Vidal (Chile)
The Chilean has been linked with a whole host of Premier League clubs, and remains in demand after leading Juventus to the Champions League final and fourth Scudetto in a row.
He will be a key player for the Copa America host nation, as they look to progress from a very winnable group including Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Juve will be keen to hang on to the midfielder, especially if Paul Pogba leaves, but a big offer could tempt the Serie A champions to sell – with Sami Khedira already arriving as a possible replacement.
Ezequiel Garay (Argentina)
Garay impressed in his first season with Zenit St Petersburg, helping the club win the Russian Premier League, and a strong Copa America could convince potential suitors Liverpool or Manchester United to test the water with a bid.
The 28-year-old defender formed a partnership with United centre-back Marcos Rojo at last summer’s World Cup, so the Red Devils could be keen to reunite the pair.
Garay’s task in Chile will be made easier by group stage opponents Uruguay missing out on the services of suspended striker Luis Suarez.
Andre Carrillo (Peru)
A young winger with bags of talent, Carrillo will look to put himself in the shop window at this summer’s tournament.
The 23-year-old has already passed 100 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, and could cause plenty of problems in testing matches against Brazil and Colombia.
Both Stoke and Newcastle have been heavily linked with Carrillo, but a strong showing could put him on the radar of the Premier League’s top six.
