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A left-back for 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln · Ligue 1
The situation
We are searching for a new left-back to lift the quality of our defensive flank. Our full-back line currently sits at a median strength of around 1728, below our club's broader ambition level of roughly 1814 — so the priority is a player who clearly raises the standard on that side rather than merely filling a slot. No incumbent has departed and no fixed budget ceiling has been set, leaving us free to weigh both ready-made and developmental options.
Where your squad needs work
Goalkeepers
+2 1816 vs 1814
Centre backs
−69 1745 vs 1814
Full backsscouting
−86 1728 vs 1814
Midfielders
+32 1846 vs 1814
Wide forwards
−290 1524 vs 1814
AM / strikers
−134 1680 vs 1814
ahead of the barbehind│ the bar = your ambition level (Team Elo +5%)
The profile
TargetstarterBudget€8.9M
The ideal target is an attacking-minded left-back who can also operate as a left midfielder, comfortable in possession and capable of providing end-product. We are screening across Ligue 1, Serie A, the Belgian Pro League, the Süper Lig and beyond — all routine routes into the Bundesliga — with a preference for players whose Elo sits at or above our ambition level and whose recent form is trending the right way.
Elo 2028, affordable (€7M). Form rising sharply, stands out for goals (88th percentile).
Strongest
Goals88Key passes84
Lightest
Blocks21Interceptions13
Perraud has travelled a long road from the French lower reaches — Nice, Paris FC and Brest — through a spell at Southampton in the Premier League, back to Nice and Real Betis, and now to Lille, where he joined in 2025 at 1943 and has pushed on to 2028, just shy of his December 2025 peak of 2069. The pattern is one of sustained climbing maturity rather than decline: he is at 98% of his peak and his form over the last few months is rated Good, meaning clearly above his team's average level. His type is the attacking left-back who also plays left midfield, and the numbers bear it out: better than 88% of his position for goals and better than 84% for key passes — real end-product from the flank. The trade-off is defensive: he ranks only better than 13% for interceptions and 21% for blocks, among the weakest in his position there, so he is a player who gives going forward more than he stops. His Elo sits above our current full-back level and around our ambition level, a clear upgrade. About 48% of comparable transfers of this type work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is moderately reachable: he is under contract at Lille, a strong side, but the France-to-Germany step is routine and his recent value is contained at €6–10.5M. A high-ceiling, attack-leaning alternative to Sykes.
Elo 2146, affordable (€4.5M). Form rising sharply, stands out for duels won (95th percentile).
Strongest
Duels won95Interceptions74
Lightest
Tackles45Key passes40
Sykes has built his career on a single, decisive upward arc: after four years grafting at Accrington Stanley in the English lower leagues, he joined Union St. Gilloise in 2022 at a modest 1386 and has climbed almost without interruption to a current 2146, only a fraction below his April 2026 peak of 2187. That is a player still at or near the very top of his powers, and the trajectory over the last few months remains strongly positive despite one sharp dip in early May. His form is rated Elite — exceptional, in the top sliver of his position — and it sits on top of a steady, rising pattern rather than a one-off spike. As a playing type he is a genuine two-footed full-back who also covers right-back, defensively dominant: better than 95% of players in his position in duels won, better than 74% for interceptions, and even better than 73% for goals, with no notable weaknesses flagged. His Elo is well above the current level of our full-back line and clearly beyond our club's ambition level, meaning he would be a genuine upgrade. About 46% of comparable transfers work out, which is a fair return for a player of this strength. On attainability — and this is an estimate — he looks gettable: his contract is expiring, his playing time is regular and the move from Belgium to Germany is a routine, well-trodden route. We value him at €5.5–9.5M. He is our top pick.
Elo 1962, affordable (€6M). Form rising sharply, stands out for key passes (97th percentile).
Strongest
Key passes97Duels won63
Lightest
Blocks23Interceptions20
Parisi, 25, came through Empoli, earned an Italy U21 call-up and moved to Fiorentina in 2023, where he has settled steadily and now sits at 1962, essentially at his October 2025 peak — a stable, gently rising profile with one dip in March 2026. His form over the last few months is rated Good, clearly above his team's average. As a creative left-back who also plays left midfield, his calling card is exceptional distribution: better than 97% of his position for key passes, among the very best creators on the flank. The flip side is defensive output — better than only 20% for interceptions, 23% for blocks and 24% for goals, so he is a provider rather than a stopper or finisher. His Elo is above our current full-back level but a touch below our ambition level, so a solid rather than transformative upgrade. About 46% of comparable transfers work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is moderately reachable: under contract at Fiorentina, with a routine Italy-to-Germany route and a value of €8–13.5M. A reliable creative option.
Elo 1750, top of the budget (€8M). Form rising sharply, stands out for tackles (100th percentile).
Strongest
Tackles100Duels won86
Lightest
Key passes79Blocks46
Rubens, 25, rose from Atlético Mineiro to Dynamo in Russia in 2025, joining at 1808 but currently at 1750, below his June 2025 peak of 1852 — the move has coincided with a softening of his level rather than a lift. That said, his form over the last few months is rated Elite, exceptional output that suggests he is performing strongly even as his Elo has eased. He is a left-back who also covers left midfield, and his profile is outstanding across the board: the very best in his position for tackles (top percentile), better than 86% for duels won, 83% for goals, 82% for interceptions and 79% for key passes, with no weaknesses flagged — a genuinely complete statistical picture. His Elo, however, sits only around our current flank's level and below our ambition level, so he would not by himself raise the standard. About 46% of comparable transfers work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is fairly reachable on cost at €1.5–3M, but the Russia-to-Germany step is a rare, seldom-used route that adds real friction. A high-output, low-cost gamble best treated as a developmental option.
Elo 2105, affordable (€5M). Form dipped, stands out for goals (99th percentile).
Strongest
Goals99Key passes84
Lightest
Tackles27Interceptions9
Elmalı, 25, climbed steadily through Kasımpaşa and Trabzonspor before joining Galatasaray in early 2025, where he has continued to rise to a current 2105 alongside regular Türkiye caps, near his October 2025 peak of 2157. The longer-term trajectory is strongly upward, but the recent picture is flatter: his form over the last few months is rated Average, meaning at his team's level with no above-average recent output — the climb has plateaued. He is a left-back who can also fill in at centre-back, and his standout trait is goals, better than 99% of his position, with key passes better than 84%. Defensively, though, he is exposed: better than only 9% for interceptions and 27% for tackles, among the weakest in the discipline. His Elo is comfortably above our flank's current level and beyond our ambition level. About 48% of comparable transfers work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is among the harder of this group to sign: under contract at Galatasaray, a strong club, though the Turkey-to-Germany route is routine. We value him at €5–9.5M. Attacking quality, but the defensive gaps and stalled form temper the case.
Elo 1732, a bargain (€900k). Form on the up, stands out for tackles (97th percentile).
Strongest
Tackles97Key passes96
Lightest
Goals24Blocks20
Currie, at 23 the youngest defender here, has climbed through the English pyramid — AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient and now Oxford United — rising steadily to a current 1732, right at his March 2026 peak, a clean upward line for his age. His form over the last few months is rated Average, meaning at his team's level with no recent over-performance. He is a left-back who also plays left midfield, defensively and creatively busy: better than 97% of his position for tackles, 96% for key passes and 73% for duels won, though weak for blocks (better than only 20%) and goals (24%). His Elo sits only around our current flank's level and below our ambition level, so he is a project rather than an upgrade today. About 46% of comparable transfers work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is among the easiest to sign: no contract obstacle recorded, regular playing time, a low value of €2.5–5M and a routine route into the Bundesliga. A long-term developmental signing rather than an immediate solution.
Elo 2157, top of the budget (€8M). Form dipped, stands out for tackles (77th percentile).
Strongest
Tackles77Key passes75
Lightest
Interceptions21Blocks21
Jakobs, 26, has a wide-ranging career — a 1. FC Köln graduate who moved to Monaco, then Galatasaray, with regular Senegal duty along the way — and reached a high peak of 2202 in March 2026, sitting now at 2157. The long-term story is one of strong growth, but the most recent months are the concern: his form is rated Below, and the latest signs point to a sagging spell with a notable dip in early May, so he arrives off the back of a downturn rather than a rise. He is a left-back who also plays left midfield, balanced across the board — better than 77% of his position for tackles, 75% for key passes and 73% for duels won — but weak for blocks, interceptions and goals (all around the bottom quarter). His Elo is well above our current level and our ambition level. About 46% of comparable transfers work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is reasonably reachable: his contract is expiring and the Turkey-to-Germany route is routine, though his recent form weakens his case. Valued at €6–10.5M. Strong on paper, but the form trend gives pause.
Elo 2076, affordable (€6M). Form rising sharply, stands out for tackles (80th percentile).
Strongest
Tackles80Key passes61
Lightest
Interceptions28Blocks9
Mitaj, at just 22, is the youngest serious option and has risen remarkably fast: from AEK Athens via Lokomotiv Moscow to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, climbing from the mid-1200s to a current 2077, close to his February 2026 peak of 2136. The arc is steeply upward with the natural volatility of a young player still finding his ceiling, including a sharp dip in March, but the overall trend remains positive. His form over recent months is rated Good — clearly above average — and at his age the room to grow further is real. He is a left-back who can also cover defensive midfield, with his standout trait being tackling (better than 80% of his position); his blocks are a clear weakness, better than only 9%. His Elo already sits above our flank's current level and at our ambition level. About 46% of comparable transfers work out. On attainability — an estimate — he is harder to prise away: he is under contract at a wealthy club, and the step from Saudi Arabia to Germany is a rare, less-travelled route, which adds uncertainty. We value him at €5.5–10M. A developmental bet with genuine upside.
Sykes (Union St. Gilloise) is the standout recommendation: an elite-form, two-footed full-back whose strength is well above our current flank, on an expiring contract that makes him gettable. Perraud offers a more attacking profile with proven top-five-league pedigree, while the younger Mitaj and Parisi are worth tracking as upside plays. Elmalı and Jakobs carry strength but flat or sagging form; Currie and Rubens are lower-cost developmental punts.
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