Which I-League player should each ISL team target at the auction?
Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh will be wanted by most ISL teams in the auctionThe best Indian footballers from the I-league who did not participate in the inaugural edition of the Indian Super League are set to go under the hammer in the ISL auction for the second edition of the tournament which starts in October. Some of the biggest names in Indian football like Sunil Chhetri (India’s record goalscorer) and Robin Singh will be the most sought after players at the auction.Meanwhile, 8 other Indian players including I-League player of the season Jackichand Singh and Royal Wahingdoh’s star performer Seityasen Singh will also feature in the auction. Teams will be looking to strengthen their squads and landing marquee Indian players who have shone in India’s domestic league and are familiar with the Indian conditions will be an added bonus.We take a look at the players each club needs to target in the player auction. The I-League players who are up for grabs at the auction are:Forwards: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC), Robin Singh (Bengaluru FC)Midfieledrs: Eugeneson Lyngdoh (Bengaluru FC), Thoi Singh (Bengaluru FC), Arata Izumi (Pune FC), Jackichand Singh (Royal Wahingdoh), Seityasen Singh (Royal Wahingdoh)Defenders: Rino Anto (Bengaluru FC), Anas Edathodika (Pune FC)Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar)
#1 Atletico de Kolkata
Karanjit Singh
Age: 29
Club: Salgaocar
Domestic appearances: 54
Base price: 60 lakhs
International appearances: 16
Position: Goalkeeper
Karanjit Singh has the second highest base price in the ISL auction and is the only goalkeeper in the auction. The Salgaocar goalkeeper did not feature much in the 2015 season making only six appearances and was relegated as the understudy of Subrata Pal for the Goan side.
Any club would think twice before picking up a largely second-choice keeper and has such a high price tag. But he seems to be the perfect fit for the ISL Champions who saw two of their goalkeepers Subhasish Roy Chowdhury and Apoula Edel leave after the first season.
Atletico de Kolkata have brought in former Malaga keeper Juan Calatayud, and the Spaniard looks to be their mainstay for the upcoming season. But Karanjit can be a good backup for the Spanish keeper and has the experience behind him to do the job for the team when called upon.
Karanjit won the I-League title with Salgaocar in his debut season back in 2011 and also helped India win the SAFF Cup in the same year. He kept three clean sheets in the tournament and conceded just two goals in the tournament which shot him into the limelight.
Kolkata will be buying an established keeper in Karanjit who is entering his prime and has tasted success at both club and international level. It is a gamble worth taking for the Kolkata outfit in their quest to defend their title.