Who should replace Kodai Sano?
CM/CDMNEC Nijmegen · 2025/26 · ranked by tactical + market fitKodai Sano's profile ↗
If a club needs to replace Kodai Sano, the best-fitting central midfielders are Elliot Anderson, Ross Barkley, Félix Lemaréchal. Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) matches the role at 94/100 on tactical profile (81/100 overall). A cheaper option: Fredy at about €100k. Data as of July 2026.
Best replacements for Kodai Sano
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elliot Andersonsimilar↗ | Nottingham Forest | 24 | €68m | 94 | 81 |
| 2 | Ross Barkleysimilar↗ | Luton Town | 33 | €3.6m | 94 | 83 |
| 3 | Félix Lemaréchalsimilar↗ | Cercle Brugge | 23 | €6.5m | 92 | 84 |
| 4 | Rocco Robert Sheinsimilar↗ | Fredrikstad FK | 23 | €2.5m | 91 | 84 |
| 5 | Johan Manzambisimilar↗ | SC Freiburg | 21 | €54m | 91 | 83 |
| 6 | Arthur Attasimilar↗ | Udinese | 23 | €27m | 91 | 81 |
| 7 | Fredysimilar↗ | Bodrum FK | 36 | €100k | 91 | 82 |
| 8 | Rodrisimilar↗ | Manchester City | 30 | €50m | 91 | 81 |
| 9 | Filip Krastevsimilar↗ | PEC Zwolle | 25 | €2.9m | 91 | 85 |
| 10 | Tom Cairneysimilar↗ | Fulham | 35 | €500k | 91 | 80 |
| 11 | Tom Bischofsimilar↗ | TSG Hoffenheim | 21 | €39m | 90 | 81 |
| 12 | Malik Tillmansimilar↗ | PSV Eindhoven | 24 | €27m | 90 | 83 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match Kodai Sano
≈ 100% Kodai Sano · strong: Duels won, Touches · low reliability
Strengths: Duels won /90, Touches /90, Sofascore rating
≈ 100% Kodai Sano · strong: Successful dribbles, Shots · low reliability
Strengths: Successful dribbles /90, Shots /90, Duels won /90
≈ 100% Kodai Sano · strong: Successful dribbles, Possession won in att. third · low reliability
Strengths: Successful dribbles /90, Possession won in att. third /90, Key passes /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Kodai Sano?
By Doppel's tactical-fit score, Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) does the closest job to Kodai Sano, at 94/100 on profile. Ross Barkley and Félix Lemaréchal follow.
Is there a cheaper player who can replace Kodai Sano?
Yes — Fredy (Bodrum FK) plays a similar central midfielder role at roughly €100k, a 82/100 match.
How does Doppel find replacements for Kodai Sano?
Doppel learns Kodai Sano's role profile from his 2025/26 season and ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they do the same job, adjusted for league strength.
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