Europe's top 50 - Part VII: Liverpool target Timo Werner breaks top 20

We are now at the business stage of our countdown of the top 50 players in Europe's top five leagues for 2019/20. Using WhoScored's unique player rating system, it's time to kickstart the charge to No.1 with 20-16 in edition seven of our 10-part series.

Some huge names have already been drawn. Mo Salah has dropped 17 places from last season to place 30th on the continent for the 2019/20 campaign, while a rejuvenated Romelu Lukaku wasn't even in the top 500 in Europe's top five leagues last season but now sits in 32nd following an impressive debut campaign for Serie A giants Inter.

Kicking off the top 20 this season is Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago. The Spaniard already has more Bundesliga goals in 2019/20 (3 from 22 appearances) compared to 2018/19 (2 in 30 appearances). Successful dribbles are also up from 1.9 per game to 3 per game. Moreover, a dribble success rate of 87% is the best in Europe (50+ dribbles attempted). However, Thiago has surprisingly failed to register a single assist in the Bundesliga 2019/20, down from six last season.

While he has improved in some areas this season, the fact he hasn't set up a single goal in the league is a real surprise. It also facilitates a drop from 10th in Europe's top five leagues in 2018/19 to 20th this season. His WhoScored rating has decreased ljust 0.05 across the two campaigns.

Staying in the Bundesliga for 19th, Filip Kostic pips his league rival to the next spot. After losing both Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller over the summer, it was a surprise no one tested Frankfurt's resolve for Filip Kostic. The Serbia international has been a superbly consistent performer for the German outfit in recent years and is perhaps one of the most underrated players in the Bundesliga. Kostic has played a direct hand in 12 goals from 23 league appearances, mostly coming from left wing-back.

He has picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match award five times in that spell, matching his tally from 34 league appearances in 2018/19. In the Bundesliga he ranks second and third for key passes per game (2.6) and dribbles per game (2.9), respectively. As a result of his fine performances this season, Kostic has moved up 30 places in our rankings, breaking into the top 50 as a result.

Regardless of your opinion on Luis Suarez, there is no doubt Barcelona have suffered as a result of his absence. Barcelona limped through games before football was suspended, with Suarez limited to just 17 league appearances. In that time, the 33-year-old played a direct hand in 18 goals (11 goals, seven assists). Suarez's performances have been criticised this season but he still averages a goal or an assist every 71.1 minutes of playing time in LaLiga.

His WhoScored rating has only decreased 0.01 compared to 2018/19 but he has dropped six places in our top 50 to 18th place. Crucially for Barcelona, however, he will be fit and ready to return when league action resumes in LaLiga.

Atalanta have been one of the most entertaining sides to watch in any of Europe's top five leagues this season. Only two sides have scored more league goals than Atalanta (70) on the continent and their Serie A games average more than four goals a game (4.2). They've managed to be so prolific even without Duvan Zapata on a regular basis. Zapata has struggled to stay in peak physical condition all season, which makes a return of 16 goal involvements in 15 league appearances even more impressive (11 goals, five assists). Indeed, the 29-year-old requires just 66.5 minutes per goal or assist in Serie A in 2019/20.

Zapata only sneaked into the top-50 by the end of the 2018/19 campaign but the Colombia international has cemented himself as one of the top rated players on the continent this term. He has improved his position by 25 places compared to last season.

Timo Werner has really kicked on for RB Leipzig this season and will improve whatever team he decides to join in the summer. Robert Lewandowski has stolen all the headlines in Germany for his goalscoring exploits this season but Werner is only four behind. The Germany international has already matched his best goalscoring return in a single league campaign (21) and Leipzig still have nine games left to play. When factoring in assists, Werner has already been involved in more league goals (28) than any other previous Bundesliga campaign in his career. Liverpool and Bayern Munich are understandably keen on his signature.

Werner's red hot form in front of goal has unsurprisingly catapulted him up the standings compared to last season's ranking (98). The 24-year-old, who also has eight WhoScored Man of the Match awards, is now the 16th top rated player in Europe's top five leagues.

Rankings catch up: 50-46, 45-41, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21