Last week, Olly Burton did a piece outlining three leagues in the world where there might be value for Lincoln City.
These were not your run-of-the-mill leagues like Belgium or Scotland. They weren’t even low-coefficient leagues with possible talent, like Estonia or Latvia. These were full-on global leagues where savvy Championship clubs have had some success in the past.
These are leagues that have been exploited in the past. Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) and Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City) are both established Championship players from the K-League. Daryl Dike has been a decent player at Championship level for a while after signing for West Brom from MLS side Orlando City, while Yūki Ōhashi (Blackburn) and Yū Hirakawa (Bristol City) both came into English football from Japan.
These are leagues not likely to be on the radar of League One clubs, but for the Championship, the boundaries change and, hopefully, the ESC slots change as well.
With that in mind, Ed Harrison has been digging into the three leagues, South Korea, Japan and MLS, to see if he can unearth a gem or two for Jez to go and watch.
Chae Hyun-woo
FC Anyang are not a side that dominate possession for long stretches, which means their wide players tend to have fairly demanding roles both with and without the ball. Chae Hyun-woo usually operates from the right side, where he can receive wide, attack space and cut inside onto his stronger left foot. His game feels built around intensity and directness rather than slow possession play.
The first thing that stands out when watching him is his work rate. He presses aggressively, chases second balls and tracks runners consistently, which probably explains why he has already built up a decent amount of senior football despite the attacking output still developing. Coaches trust players who contribute without the ball, and Chae already seems to fit that mould.
In possession, he is more comfortable driving forward than simply holding width and crossing repeatedly. He carries the ball well into advanced areas and looks confident taking defenders on, especially when moving inside from the flank onto his left foot.
The biggest question is the end product. The raw numbers are still fairly modest and there are moments where the final decision feels rushed. He gets involved around the box and does not shy away from shooting situations, but the finishing and final pass remain inconsistent.
His crossing can also be erratic. At times, he seems more comfortable carrying the ball into dangerous positions than delivering the final action once he gets there. There are flashes of quality, but not the consistency yet.
Physically, he competes well despite not being especially tall. He does not look lightweight and seems capable of handling direct football and defensive responsibilities. Combined with the intensity off the ball, that gives him a fairly solid baseline even before the attacking side fully develops.
Right now, he feels more like the sort of winger a coach trusts than one supporters build a side around. However, the tools are clearly there. He already has senior experience, athletic intensity and the willingness to contribute in multiple phases of the game. If the composure in the final third improves, there is definitely something to work with.