Premier League teams told to sign 20-year-old World Cup star given Maradona nickname

Algeria star Ibrahim Maza is on the cusp of greatness – a Premier League must take a gamble on him.

That’s the view of European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, after watching Maza start in both of his country’s opening World Cup Group J matches against Argentina and Jordan.

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The 20-year-old attacking midfielder only linked up at Bayer Leverkusen last summer from Hertha Berlin in a £10.3million deal.

Maza chipped in with five goals and seven assists in 44 matches across all competitions to help the Bundesliga outfit secure a Europa League spot by finishing in sixth spot.

His dazzling displays have affectionately seen him dubbed by fans as ‘Mazadona’ in tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

What has been said about Maza?

Speaking to talkSPORT, Brassell was asked about what youngsters have impressed so far – and remain ones to watch in North America.

Brassell discussed Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has already held talks with Arsenal and Liverpool over a potential move from Lille.

Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande – the subject of a recent £69m plus £17.3m bid by the Reds – was also mentioned.

As was Croatia centre-back Luka Vuskovic, who Brighton made a £45m bid to sign him from Tottenham last week.

The last player mentioned was Maza, with Brassell waxing lyrical over the midfielder.

He said: “I think Ibrahim Maza of Algeria, who came into first team at Leverkusen at the start of last season as a teenager.

“Because they were a bit of a mess after Erik ten Hag got binned off after three games, they needed someone to build around.

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“You would have assumed it would be an older player, but it was this guy who turned 20 last season [in November].

“I think really, his keynote point when you really want to make a judgement of how far he can go, the way he played against Manchester City in the Champions League when Leverkusen won there last season [in the league phase of the competition].

“He ran the game, he absolutely ran the game at 20.

“And someone who can play the deeper role, who can dribble the ball out, who is sensible on the ball, who can receive it under pressure and give it accurately.

“And can probably add a few more goals to his game as time goes by, I think someone’s got to have a go at him.

“Because he is a guy that is only going to get more expensive from here, he’s shielded a little bit from that sort of hyperinflation, because Leverkusen didn’t make the Champions League next year.

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“So people aren’t going to see him in the Champions League and go, ‘Wow,’ you don’t really get that effect with the Europa League.

“But look, anyone who watches Leverkusen knows this guy is a serious player, and he can direct operations for a team.

“I think he would be brilliant in the Premier League.”

Attention for Maza will now turn to Algeria’s final match Austria on Sunday.

Victory will see the African nation secure a place in the knockout stages, while a draw is likely to see them advance as one of the best eight third-placed teams.