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In a blink of an eye, the summer break is over the 2022-23 European football campaign is upon us. It is shaping up to be an action-packed season, especially with the first-ever winter FIFA World Cup to take place in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18. - Premier League 2022-23 preview: Team-by-team guide, burning questions
- Picks and predictions for 2022-23 season across Europe's top leagues
- Breaking down how Asian qualifiers will work for 48-team World Cup in 2026 Some of Asia's brightest talents will once again be strutting their stuff across Europe's top leagues, ranging from the big names looking to stay at the top of their game to the up-and-coming prospects ready to take their chance -- and even a forgotten man set to be handed a new lease of life. Here, we look at seven of the continent's stars to keep a close eye on this season. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) The most obvious candidate on the list, Son Heung-min is now established as one of the world's best players. The question is: can he get even better? Even simply matching last season's efforts -- where he became the first Asian to win the Premier League's golden boot which he shared with Mohamed Salah -- would be some feat, but the 30-year-old should be entering the prime of his career and is clearly thriving at Tottenham. Adding to the intrigue surrounding Son is the pressure he will be under captaining South Korea at the World Cup, especially given the tough draw they have been handed where they will take on Uruguay, Ghana and Portugal in Group H. That daunting task, coupled with Spurs' continuing quest to win a major trophy for the first time since 2008, should make Son a man with no shortage of motivation this season. Kim Min-jae (Napoli)  For a while now, Son's main supporting cast for South Korea has come in the form of Bordeaux striker Hwang Ui-jo and Wolves attacker Hwang Hee-chan, as well as midfield general Hwang In-beom -- who recently signed for Olympiakos but was previously making a name for himself in Russia with Rubin Kazan. Nonetheless, a new bona fide star could soon emerge in Kim Min-jae. Aptly nicknamed 'Monster' albeit in an affectionate manner for his imposing physique and never-say-die attitude, Kim only has one season in Europe under his belt with Turkish giants Fenerbahce but has since earned a move to Serie A outfit Napoli. Replacing Kalidou Koulibaly -- who has now joined Chelsea -- will not be easy but the 25-year-old's rapid progress and undeniable defensive ability should give him the best chance of doing just that. Takumi Minamino (Monaco)  Takumi Minamino's time at Liverpool may have seen him become a Premier League and Carabao Cup champion, but he was never able to force his way into Jurgen Klopp's starting XI -- despite scoring some crucial goals in cup competition. The Japan international's search for regular first-team football has now taken him to Ligue 1 with Monaco, with the 2022-23 season shaping up as a pivotal one in his career. At the age of 27, Minamino should soon be performing at the peak of his powers and he would ideally like to be making an impact on the field each week rather than be warming the bench. The silky-skilled attacker is also one of Japan's most-talented individuals and will need to be firing on all cylinders at the World Cup, especially with the Samurai Blue coming up against former champions Germany and Spain, as well as Costa Rica, in the group stage. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)  In addition to Minamino, another man Japan can hope to turn to at the World Cup is Kaoru Mitoma, who is about to embark on his first campaign in the Premier League with Brighton having spent last term on loan with Union SG. Mitoma caught the eye in Belgium with eight goals from 28 appearances in all competition, and has long been regarded as one of Japanese football's brightest talents from the time he broke through with Kawasaki Frontale. Still only 25, Mitoma might have to bide his time in order to break into the Seagulls first team but has been given an opportunity to impress in preseason. Along with Arsenal rightback Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mitoma is shaping up as the future of Japanese football but also as individuals who could very well make an immediate impact this season. Mehdi Taremi (Porto)  Playing in Portugal may mean less of a spotlight for Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi, but that has certainly not stopped him from forcing his way into the spotlight with reigning Primeira Liga champions Porto. Having been named in the league's Team of the Year for the past three seasons while also claiming the top scorer award in 2019-20, when he was still plying his trade with the more-humble Rio Ave, Taremi has proven to be a player for the big occasion -- evident when he scored a spectacular bicycle kick against Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals. The 30-year-old has regularly been linked with some of Europe's bigger clubs but has remained at Porto for now, and will also look to lead Iran farther than they have ever gone at this year's World Cup, alongside fellow Europe-based star Sardar Azmoun of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Team Melli memorably held Portugal to a draw and only lost narrowly to Spain in 2018, as well as beating Morocco, which should give them belief that they could pull off an upset or two against the likes of England, United States and Wales in November. Zidane Iqbal (Manchester United)  While born and bred in England, and also eligible to represent Pakistan, Manchester United prospect Zidane Iqbal's decision to represent Iraq internationally saw him almost immediately introduced to the national team fold midway through last term -- where he has since made two senior appearances for the Lions of Mesopotamia. The 19-year-old remains an unknown quantity although he has made his debut for United in the Champions League, but it has been a handful of preseason appearances that has gotten the Old Trafford faithful -- and the Asian football community -- excited. Especially in a 4-0 friendly win over Liverpool, Iqbal exuded confidence in possession but also a combative nature in the middle of the park, and new manager Erik ten Hag's history of blooding young talent could see provide opportunities this season. It will be interesting to see if Iqbal does taste first-team action in 2022-23, although it should not stop him from being heavily involved with Iraq as they prepare for next year's AFC Asian Cup. Nguyen Quang Hai (Pau) He may not be among the biggest headline acts in Asian football, and it will be the second tier of French football where he will be plying his trade in -- but the 2022-23 season will be massive for Nguyen Quang Hai. The Vietnam international, long regarded as one of Southeast Asia's brightest talents, has finally earned his move to Europe with Pau in Ligue 2 after eight years at hometown club Hanoi. The left-footed playmaker with a penchant for spectacular goals produced star turns in both Vietnam's title-winning AFF Championship campaign in 2018, as well as their historic run to the Asian Cup quarterfinals the following year. At the age of 25, it is the perfect time for Quang Hai to kick on in his career and do what few from the region have managed before by succeeding in Europe.
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