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12 November 2023, Saxony, Leipzig: Soccer: Bundesliga, Matchday 11, RB Leipzig - SC Freiburg at the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig's Xavi Simons waits at the corner flag. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa

The top assisters in Europe in 2023-24: Simons, Salah, Aubameyang…

Footballers from Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Aston Villa are among the top creative players in Europe in 2023-24.

With Lionel Messi no longer playing in Europe and Kevin De Bruyne only just back from injury, a host of fresh faces have made their way onto this list.

Here are the 10 players with the most assists in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

When players are tied on assists we have ordered them by their assists per 90 ratio. For context, Pedro Porro, Marcus Thuram and Kieran Trippier have seven assists but miss out on this list due to their inferior assist-per-90 ratio.

10. Xavi Simons – 7

People were talking up the Dutch wonderkid when he was a child in Barcelona’s La Masia academy. He continued his development in PSG’s youth set-up and is increasingly looking as though he’ll realise his potential and return to nail down a regular place in the French capital.

The Ligue 1 giants exercised their buyback clause on Simons after his exceptional breakout campaign with PSV last term. They’ve since loaned him out to RB Leipzig, where he’s taken his game up another level yet – the 20-year-old has four goals and seven assists and looked one of the brightest young talents in Germany, if not all of Europe.

9. Florian Wirtz – 7

After leaving his injury troubles behind, Wirtz seems to be loving life under Xabi Alonso right now. Bayer Leverkusen have been a fantastic watch in the Bundesliga and they deservedly sit at the top of the tree after 17 games.

Wirtz has been their main creative outlet so far, producing seven assists in 1,291 minutes. It’s no wonder the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City have been sniffing around the German youngster.

8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 7

After looking like a shadow of his former self at Chelsea, Aubameyang looks like a player reborn in France. Along with the seven assists he’s chipped in with, he’s also got 13 goals in the league and cup.

7. Victor Boniface – 7

Boniface is enjoying the most prolific season of his career to date and he’s also been great from a creative aspect with seven assists in 16 matches.

The Bundesliga title race looks like it could go down to the wire this season and Boniface will have a key role to play for Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of the campaign.

6. Jan-Niklas Beste – 7

Hoffenheim have been fairly inconsistent of late, but more often than not, they have been able to rely upon Beste’s creative skills.

Undoubtedly, his best performance of the season came last month against Darmstadt as he assisted all three of Hoffenheim’s goals in a thrilling 3-2 triumph.

5. Julian Brandt – 7

The attacking midfielder has been Borussia Dortmund’s standout player so far this season. With 13 goal contributions in total, he’s played a key role in Marco Rose’s side.

4. Pedro Neto – 7

Having burst onto the scene a few years back, Neto looked set to succeed Diogo Jota as Wolves’ next big thing. But he struggled with injury and has spent the past two seasons struggling to refind form.

Suddenly under Gary O’Neil, Neto has looked back to his best. He’s set up goals against Everton, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Newcastle and been sorely missed in recent weeks.

The Portuguese winger has set up three of Hwang Hee-Chan’s goals so far this season. That’s one of the most fruitful partnerships in the Premier League.

3. Ollie Watkins – 8

Aston Villa are flying high under Unai Emery and several of their players are enjoying their best seasons to date. Watkins especially has been in the form of his life during 2023-24.

Along with the nine league goals he has scored, he’s also produced an impressive eight assists for his teammates. In the Premier League, he’s currently averaging a goal contribution every 108 minutes which is some going.

2. Mohamed Salah – 8

Along with leading the Premier League Golden Boot race, alongside Erling Haaland, Salah is also competing for the playmaker prize.

Liverpool’s Egyptian King is absolutely integral to the way they play and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping he returns from AFCON without a scratch.

1. Leroy Sane – 10

The German winger is enjoying by far his best season since he left Manchester City. He’s notched eight goals and a further 10 assists in the Bundesliga and is building a wonderful relationship with European football’s top goalscorer, Harry Kane.

“For our style of play it’s important that we have a real No.9,” Sane said earlier in the season.

“But Harry also drops deep so that we can rotate well. I love moving from attacking midfield up front with pace – it’s worked well with Harry a few times and with more games and training sessions it can definitely get better.”

Sane also ranks high for chances created and successful dribbles. His all-round numbers are phenomenal.


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