Mamadou Sakho     21     Defender     Paris St Germain

Of all the players on this list, few have blossomed as well as Sakho. Tireless energy and no little ability have cemented the Paris born defender as a first choice for his club, and also seen him ready for a place in Laurent Blanc’s France side. An excellent and assured defender, the only small blight is the odd off-the-field incident still cropping up, but make no mistake, this is a future captain of his country.

With a new cast of exciting players alongside him at PSG as the money flows through the club’s transfer budget, Sakho has become the player a defence can be built around. He now has the opportunity to perform at the highest level and won’t be found wanting.  Could be a huge player at the 2012 European Championships in every sense of the word.

“COLUSSOUS!” – Andrew Gibney (French Football Weekly)

“A beast. A rock. A man-mountain. Ligue 1's best defender and symbol of PSG's exciting new future (if they can hold on to him long enough)’” – Tom Williams (European football reporter for Agence France-Presse)

“Excellent last season. A towering physical presence, a defensive rock and a supreme athlete, Sakho has an important part to play if PSG are to fulfil the ambitions of their new Qatari owners and grow into a European powerhouse” -  Jonathan F (Just Football)

“Delivered with his best season yet for PSG and following last season's phenomenal performances he was appointed captain when Claude Makélélé retired. Still more to come’”- Jonathan Johnson (French Football Weekly)

B     Your time is now