Deadline day Liverpool target makes U21 Team of the Month for January

The turn of the year is often used as a period for players to start fresh mentally. Start the year with a bang, as they often say. So with that in mind, it's time to reflect on the first month of action across Europe's top five leagues. Here we will run through the best U21 XI for January. In order to qualify players must have been no older than 21 as of the start of the year and have made at least three league appearances across the month.

Goalkeeper: Illan Meslier (Leeds) - 7.10 rating

Just edging out AC Milan superstar Gigi Donnarumma, Leeds United's Illan Meslier makes yet another appearance in one of our best rated U21 XIs. The 20-year-old didn't manage a clean sheet from his three appearances but did play his part in two victories in that time. Moreover, the Leeds youngster managed five per game across his three appearances.

Right-back: Wilfried Singo (Torino) - 7.26 rating

It's painfully slow but Torino are slowly clawing their way towards safety. The Serie A outfit lost just one of their six league matches in January but also only won once. After the low of being sent off before Christmas, Wilfried Singo has emerged as a key player for Torino since the turn of the year with a goal, assist and WhoScored Man of the Match award in three different games in January.

Centre-back: Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) - 7.13 rating

Perhaps used more than he would have expected this season due to Barcelona's injury woes, Ronald Araujo has certainly jumped at the chance for regular playing time. The Uruguayan made four league appearances in January and finished with a pass success rate well in excess of 90% in three of those outings. Against Elche he even finished with more than 100 total passes, reaching the milestone for the second time this season.

Centre-back: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.03 rating

Bayer Leverkusen made a nightmare start to the year, losing four of their six matches in January but it didn't stop Edmond Tapsoba from garnering a WhoScored rating above 7.00 and attracting deadline day interest from Liverpool. The 21-year-old impressively made more than 100 passes in half of Leverkusen's league games last month, managing as many as 130 in a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen. Moreover, Tapsoba averaged 4.7 tackles and interceptions combined per game across his six outings and even had an attempt on goal in five of them.

Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.10 rating

Alphonso Davies has struggled to reach the heights of last season in 2020/21 but there were at least signs of improvement in January. The 20-year-old managed 3.5 tackles and interceptions combined pg across his six league outings last month, while driving Bayern forward with a steady return of 2 successful dribbles pg.

Central midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco) - 7.66 rating

Monaco have made a better start to 2021 than any other side in France, with five straight wins across January. 21-year-old midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has really thrived for the Principality club in that time, averaging 5.3 tackles and interceptions combined pg in that time. He even scored his first goal of the season in an impressive 3-1 home win over Marseille towards the end of last month.

Central midfield: Cheick Doucoure (FC Lens) - 7.47 rating

We are staying in France for our next central midfielder but making the long drive north to Lens to shine the spotlight on Cheick Doucoure. The 21-year-old has played a direct hand in three league goals all season and they all fell in January. Doucoure closed the month with a goal and an assist in a match-winning performance in Lens' 2-1 win away to Montpellier. Moreover, the Lens midfielder averaged 6.3 tackles and interceptions combined pg from his four starts.

Central midfield: Mason Mount (Chelsea) - 7.49 rating

Notably benched for Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge of Chelsea, Mason Mount bounced back with a solid performance in his second game and claims the final midfield spot in our XI. Mount, who turned 22 midway through January, scored one goal from his five league games last month, that the match-winner in a 1-0 victory over local rivals Fulham. The England international averaged 6 tackles and interceptions combined pg and 4.3 key passes pg across his four league starts.

Right wing: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) - 7.91 rating

Arsenal's change in fortunes under Mikel Arteta have really centered around Bukayo Saka's stunning run of form. The 19-year-old scored in three of his four league appearances in January and also registered an assist in that time. He notably finished with a pass success rate above 90% in two of those fixtures, while finishing the month with 3 shots pg and 2 key passes pg.

Striker: Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad) - 8.19 rating

Life without Willian Jose couldn't have gone any better for Real Sociedad, with Alexander Isak hitting a great run of goalscoring form in January. The Spanish side will certainly have to lean on the 21-year-old more now Willian Jose has left the club but they couldn't ask for much more from the youngster than a scoring streak of three matches in January. Isak actually played a direct hand in both of Real Sociedad's goals in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis, grabbing an assist to go with his goal.

Left wing: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.35 rating

After a difficult start to the season, there is no doubt Borussia Dortmund are starting to see the best from Jadon Sancho again. The 20-year-old played a direct hand in seven goals in six league outings in January, having only managed three goal involvements in 11 Bundesliga appearances during the first half of the season. Sancho both scored and assisted in back-to-back league games to start the year to fire Dortmund to three points over both RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg. In fact, his goal contributions in January were worth six points. He is our U21 Player of the Month in Europe for January.