Bundesliga Stars of Tomorrow: Bayern Munich's Bavarian Hulk Franck Evina
Normally when the ball hits the back of the net for the home side at the Allianz Arena and the stadium announcer bellows the name “Franck” it is a certain Monsieur Ribery the Bayern Munich faithful are celebrating. Sooner rather than later, though, they may have to get used to another Franck stealing the headlines. Franck Evina, who has put pen to paper on a professional deal. Remember the name.
Bayern are renowned for producing some of the world's best footballing talent, but in recent years the production line has slowed and even chairman Uli Hoeneß has said that he wants to see more fruit of the record champions' labour.
Now, the likes of Lukas Mai have come into the spotlight and another name is now set to make his Bundesliga bow. Step forward, Evina. The Cameroon-born bulldozer of a forward has been with Bayern since he was seven and, after registering 26 goals and 15 assists in 48 appearances over two seasons with the Under-17s, is now making the most of his time playing alongside the likes of seasoned Bundesliga pros Kingsley Coman, Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller in pre-season.
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"Franck is physically huge, which is a real edge," said Hummels after witnessing Evina's head-turning efforts first-hand - four goals no less - in summer friendlies against BCF Wolfratshausen and FSV Erlangen-Bruck. "It's nice that guys like Franck can show what they can do here. Many of them, like Franck, can play an important role in the coming years."
With a fearsome repertoire to call his own, it is little wonder Evina, who fired Bayern to their first U-17 league title for a decade in May, has caught the eye.
Skillful, pacy and powerful, whether providing for his teammates with crosses from wide positions, drifting inside onto his favoured right foot to go for goal himself, or holding up play as a target man - the man nicknamed "the Bavarian Hulk" by local media in Munich looks to have it all.
And while the 17-year-old super talent will likely be the subject of an international tug-of-war – eligible as he is likely to be for Cameroon, his country of birth, and Germany - his club future is rather more certain. Bayern have a beast of a striker on their hands.
Alex Chaffer