The Scottish Premiership has showcased some of the best footballing talents of the last 25 years. From the iconic goalscoring prowess of Henrik Larsson to the smooth defensive calmness of the world's most expensive defender, Virgil Van Dijk, professional footballers north of the English border can fly under the radar. Still, there are always hidden gems north of the border who put themselves in the shop window to move to leagues where considerably more money is on the table.
#4 - Todd Cantwell
Just a few years ago, Cantwell was dazzling opposition at Carrow Road for Norwich City, and the combination of his long, blonde hair and Norwich City's iconic mustard-coloured jersey became synonymous with their style of play. When Cantwell entered the scene, he found comparisons with players of a similar style and age, such as Jack Grealish. However, football is a complex game and there often need to be a few components that come together for a player to reach the elite echelons of the game.
Grealish has undoubtedly surpassed Cantwell, but following a move to Rangers, Cantwell will be keen to rekindle some of the form that made many critics earmark him as one to watch. He has started his Rangers career off well, and at the age of 25, he could cement himself as one of the top players in Scottish football and may have his eyes on moving back to England at some stage.
Although Celtic are pushing ahead of Rangers in the early stages of this year's SPL, there is a long way to go. While the green and white side of Glasgow may be bookmakers' favourites to win the league again, the exciting arrival of Cantwell, and Rangers looking to challenge their arch-rivals, means there's a wide range of bet tips that could provide value throughout the course of this year's Scottish Premiership.
#3 - Reo Hatate
As the first of two Japanese internationals who play for Celtic, Hatate has been generating some significant praise at Celtic Park. Despite a shock omission from their 2022 World Cup squad, Hatate has proved invaluable and incredibly versatile to a range of Celtic managers over the last few seasons. His excellent ability to break up play and find the back of the net means he is one of the most valuable players in the Celtic squad.
Given that Celtic lifted the championship last season, that automatically means Hatate is one of the most valuable in the league — and it'll be intriguing to see how the next couple of years of his career pan out. He should quickly return to the Japanese squad if he keeps up his current form.
#2 - Cameron Carter-Vickers
Six or seven years ago, many Tottenham fans believed American international centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers could break into their first team and become a regular. Six years and as many loan spells later, it seemed like he wouldn't find his feet and he would become a journeyman player operating at a modest level of the game. However, once he arrived in Glasgow, he immediately felt at home and his consistency is one of the most valuable assets of his game.
Having signed a four-year deal last summer, his performances have gone from strength to strength, and he is now considered one of the top defenders in Scotland. Given that he, too, is still only 25 like Cantwell, there's a long way to go for him. If he can continue his current form for the next couple of seasons, he will undoubtedly become a top defender in the league. He's already in that discussion; he just needs to keep doing what he is doing.
#1 - Kyogo Furuhashi
Another Celtic star takes the final spot in today's piece. With 43 goals in 62 games for Celtic and a multitude of personal and team honours, the Japanese international is currently the most valuable player in the Scottish Premiership. After signing a new deal this summer, despite Tottenham Hotspur's apparent interest, his new wages highlight his value at Celtic.
Fans and fellow players voted him as their Player of the Year, and he's hit the ground running again this season. Barring any injuries or serious off-the-field issues, or if St Mirren continues their electric start, it seems like Kyogo is on his way to getting his hands on the SPL Golden Boot and championship again this season. Kyogo is adored by the Celtic Park faithful, and after capturing the hearts of the supporters, he is well on his way to becoming one of the best players the SPL has seen this decade.