Young Russian striker Alexey Patrakov, a player for Lokomotiv Moscow, continues to attract attention in the Russian league, becoming one of the most prominent rising stars in Europe, according to the Spanish newspaper "Sport."

The player is only 20 years old and has quickly established his position thanks to his scoring abilities and versatility in offensive roles.

The newspaper mentioned that Patrakov grew up in the city of Orekhovo-Zuyevo and progressed through Lokomotiv until he reached the first team in 2024. He excelled in the youth team during the 2020/2021 season, scoring 9 goals and providing 12 assists, and at that time, he received the award for Best Player.

He played his first match with the first team against Krasnodar in March 2024, then caught attention in August by scoring one goal and assisting three against Orenburg. Last season, he ranked third on the Russian Premier League's top scorers list with 14 goals despite his young age.

In the current season, Patrakov leads the top scorers' chart with 10 goals and four assists after 14 matches. The newspaper "Sport" describes him as a well-rounded player skilled in shooting from outside the box, heading, teamwork, and dribbling. He is 1.17 meters tall.

Under the leadership of coach Mikhail Galaktionov, the player continues to develop, while his market value has risen to 23 million euros following the renewal of his contract until 2027, with a negotiated value estimated at around 20 million euros.

The newspaper explained that Barcelona's need to strengthen its attack as Lewandowski's contract nears its end makes Patrakov a viable option, with Girona also showing interest, and Monaco sending a representative to watch him in his latest match.