Baltic Bargain Bucket: Cut-price potential on the outskirts of European football
Seldom heralded for its footballing exploits, the Baltics have an ever-expanding influence on the transfer football chain. Exploited like the agricultural sector’s bottom feeders, if clubs in this sensitive geopolitical area cut out the middle man, they may reap the totality of the benefits that come with seven-figure transfers. I am not going to pretend that Baltic Football is elite or that it isn’t on the back burner compared to the quasi-religious relationship that Basketball has is in the area, especially in Latvia and Lithuania. Also, I am not for one second suggesting that teams like Manchester City and Bayern Munich should send scouts to Daugavpils or Kaunus. Instead, I am suggesting that clubs in a less bountiful financial position could do astute business looking to the Baltics. Clubs like FC Lorient could have saved millions when signing their current top-scorer Terem Moffi if they signed him straight from Riterai instead of a year later from Kortrijk. In recent years, the Baltics have developed into a proving ground for African talent upon their arrival to Europe, especially Nigerians. This mix of international and local talent allows for an exciting pot of potential, mostly attacking, proportionately superior to any other aspect. Below is a graph I made showing the attacking exploits of strikers who have played in the Baltics over the past two seasons. Many have succeeded and left to pastures new, some staying, no doubt pushing for a future move, and some have newly emerged and will fuel the entertainment for the next few seasons. In this article, I will look at the successful alumni, current high rollers, and the stars of tomorrow.
The Past
I wrote this article off the back of the successes of Terem Moffi for Lorient in Ligue 1, Aiyegun Tosin for FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League, and Tolu Arkorade for FC Koln. The first time I had heard about any of these players was when Terem Mofi was linked with my team, Rangers, last summer. His transfer from Riterai to Kortrijk was a fraction of what Rangers were touted to purchase him for, all after a solitary year in Belgium. Why couldn’t we cut out the middleman and looked at him whilst in Lithuania? Admittedly riskier due to concerns over the level but with prospects of greater reward. After digging a bit deeper, I realised that football in the Baltics contained talent, especially at the top end of the pitch, who would leave for-profit to good leagues around Europe in the past few seasons. It then happened again this summer. However, this one was special; this was a club from a top-five league, cutting out the middleman in Belgium or Switzerland. The Bundesliga’s FC Koln had signed Valmiera’s frontman Tolu Arkorade on loan with an option to buy. With earlier interest and bids from Anderlecht averted, Arkorade had graduated from the Baltics to the big leagues. He is yet to really impress whilst in Germany; however, his form isn’t concerning; it was never going to be a seamless transition from playing in the 2000 seater Jānis Daliņš Stadiu to the 50k RheinEnergie Stadium. If his move proves successful, this will be an unmitigated success for football in the area, helping develop the image. The movement hasn’t been limited to Europe; some have ventured as far as the MLS. Estonian youngster Erik Sorga now plies his trade in the US’s capital Washington for DC United, while Chinoso Offor, in the recent January transfer window, traded Riga’s RFS for the windy city’s club, Chicago Fire. With every transfer, the bank balances and clout of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania clubs increase. Evidently, there needs to be a consistent pipeline for the acquisition and development of talent. With the growing trend of Africans making the Baltics their first stop in Europe, this could progress into a mutually exclusive partnership, which fuels the league for the foreseeable future.
The Present
Though not having the spoils of talent preceding them in the years before, there is still ample talent in the Baltics. Rauno Sappinen and Edrisa Lubega are the two players primed for an upgrade. Both playing in Estonia’s Meistriliiga are a step above the rest of the league and should look to challenge themselves against better backlines outside the Baltics. Sappinen is about as complete and accomplished as a forward can be at this level, with good pace, finishing, and dribbling. After a few uninspiring stints in Holland, Belgium, and Slovenia, an eventful 2020 has primed Sappinen for a move. Last month, news broke that the Estonian has requested to leave and is searching for avenues to leave Tallinn. Moves to Russia or Poland seem the most likely, countries he has been linked with in the past. It appears more when than if, but if Sappinen can recreate half of his form at Flora, he would add to the growing list of successful Baltic exports. The less accomplished of the two, Ugandan Edrisa Lubega, after 19 games, also seems that his stint in Estonia will be short and sweet. His blistering pace and cute finishes could see him in a more familiar league soon. However, at 23 and not currently ripping the league up like Sappinen, Lubega may not follow in the footsteps of past successes, but shouldn’t avoid the challenge of a higher level.
The Future
A lot of top talent arrives in the Baltics as opposed to being developed in the region. Smart recruitment provides the majority of success stories. I can’t predict which unknown prospects will arrive; however, I can mention some talented local youngsters who could follow Erik Sorga or Rauno Sappinen. Two of the finest come in the form of Valmiera’s Raimonds Krollis and Paide’s Henri Valja. Krollis recently joined Valmiera’s despite interest from Serie A clubs Cagliari and SPAL. The young striker has shown plenty of promise in Latvia and should spend the next few years there as his development could be jeopardised by the lack of playing time associated with a premature move. The striker has shown an array of skills and promise, suggesting he could provide Valmiera’s a healthy transfer fee in the upcoming years. Valja is perhaps the more lowkey of the two prospects with little mention outside of Estonia. Regardless, he appears to be the top local prospect in the Meistriliiga. Like Krollis, he could be keen on a move abroad for a better pay packet and exposure, but these expectations should be tempered, as he should wait for the optimal opportunity. How long they stay in their home countries is unknown; however, if all goes to plan, they should continue to reaffirm and develop Baltic football’s promising reputation.
Whether you buy into the hype or not, it is exciting to see the development of leagues outside the traditional circuit. Hopefully, the development of leagues can coincide with the improved performance of the Baltic national teams. An improving league circuit and the national team will help the sport’s long-term health in countries where it often plays second fiddle to alternative offerings.
