Sky Sports Scout is where we scour the globe looking out for the best talent, next up are the Bender twins.
We run the rule over German starlets Lars & Sven Bender
Sky Sports Scout is our exciting feature where we scour the globe looking out for the best talent and bring you a report on what we find.
Our Scout will report back and you can comment on what you think of our appraisal.
Also, in association with Football Manager, we give all readers the chance to win a copy of the latest game by nominating a player.
You can only nominate a player by
emailing here, including the word 'Scout' in your subject line.
Should your player get reviewed by our scout, and you were first to send in his name, then you will win a copy of Football Manager Live! - which includes a pre-paid four-month subscription.
Latest under our scout's gaze are 1860 Munich's twins
Lars & Sven Bender - recommended by
Sky Sports reader
Tobias Keller.
The scout reports...
Lars and Sven Bender are considered as two of the most promising young central midfielders in Germany currently.
The twins have represented Germany at every level since their U17 debut and were vital to their country winning the European Under-19 Championship in Czech Republic last year.
At senior level both debuted at the age of 17 for the reserves in the third division, and at the same age they were both handed their first-team debuts by their club in Bundesliga 2.
And by the time they turned 19 they were both regularly starting in midfield for the club.
Lars Bender, the older twin, had won a more vital role for his club, the fact he was wearing the captain's armband on behalf of the then subbed Benjamin Lauth in a Bundesliga 2 fixture in October 2008 at the age of 19 made him the youngest ever player to wear that armband in the long history of 1860.
Recently, younger twin Sven had been able to see more first-team action than Lars due to injuries. Lars was tipped to be slightly more promising overall with his better box-to-box abilities through the years.
The absence of Lars generally had an effect an Sven's game as he was pushed higher up the field and although he is no longer regarded the less talented one of the duo, Sven remains more of a holding player.
Both are being contracted to their club until June 2011, however the club has admitted a release clause coming into effect after the 2009/2010 will force them to sell the duo already this summer.
The scout says...
The fact one can play a holding role whilst the other attacks is intriguing making them arguably an ideal midfield partnership.
A huge amount of clubs are monitoring the progress of the duo and their agent has mentioned that clubs the size of Liverpool and Manchester United have attempted to lure them abroad already when they were playing youth football.
The duo has been linked with a collaborative switch to Real Madrid to start out for Real Madrid's B team in the Segunda Division - but their most likely destination remains Bayer Leverkusen as it was reported at least one twin (Lars) already agreed personal terms with that club.
The Scout rating...
Lars Bender
Shooting: 8 out of 10
Passing: 8 out of 10
Tackling: 7 out of 10
Heading: 5 out of 10
Pace: 5 out of 10
Vision: 7 out of 10
Current ability: 8 out of 10
Potential ability: 10 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 58/80
Current value: £5million
Potential value: £22million
Sven Bender
Shooting: 5 out of 10
Passing: 9 out of 10
Tackling: 8 out of 10
Heading: 5 out of 10
Pace: 5 out of 10
Vision: 7 out of 10
Current ability: 8 out of 10
Potential ability: 10 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 57/80
Current value: £4million
Potential value: £20million
Your opinion...
You have read our opinion of the Bender twins - now we want your views. Have you seen Sven and Lars in action? Do you agree with our assessment? Do you think he will make it?
And if you have spotted anyone you think we should feature, then please get in touch. We will look to send out the Scout to follow up some of your leads.
