Ten players who may have earned moves to the Premier League after their displays in the Championship this season.
10. Andy King (Leicester City)
The former Chelsea youth midfielder is finally emerging as a top talent after dropping down to Championship football in 2006. The 24-year-old has shown a great eye for goal and his performances this season have got a number of Premier League clubs interested. Everton are monitoring his progress, and promotion hopefuls Watford and Crystal Palace are likely to move for him if they go up.
9. Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City)
This talented 19-year-old winger has arguably been Birmingham’s best player in a difficult couple of seasons in the Championship, showing great flair and ability on the flanks as well as an eye for goal. Fulham, West Brom and Norwich have all been linked with moves for him this summer, and he seems unlikely to stay in the lower leagues for much longer.
8. Matej Vydra (Watford)
The 21-year-old Czech forward has been voted as the Championship’s Player of the Year this season after his fine performances at Watford on loan from Serie A side Udinese. However, he probably won’t be with Watford for much longer even if they win the playoff final, as Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be keen on signing him next season. He could still sign off for Gianfranco Zola’s side with a match-winning display at Wembley.
7. Liam Bridcutt (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Another former Chelsea youth player making a name for himself in the Championship after years of loan moves around the lower leagues is Brighton’s Liam Bridcutt. The 24-year-old helped the Seagulls to 4th in the league, though they missed out on promotion via the playoff final. Bridcutt could now move on to the Premier League anyway, with West Brom and Norwich showing a strong interest in the midfielder, though he will certainly be expensive after his recent rise.
6. Will Hughes (Derby County)
This exceptionally gifted 18-year-old is one of the best young prospects in England, and has already been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as La Liga giants Barcelona, after drawing comparisons with the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. This creative midfielder may still feel he wants to continue his development in the Championship, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Derby received a flurry of bids for their prized asset this summer.
5. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Once of Manchester City as a youngster, Schmeichel Junior has done well after a few years of plying his trade in the Championship with Leeds and now Leicester City. With the Foxes missing out on the playoff final, the 26-year-old is now being widely tipped to return to the top flight, with Swansea City and newly-promoted Hull chasing the Danish shot-stopper.
4. Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford)
Another player who has made a name for himself on loan at Watford this season is Nathaniel Chalobah, whom parent club Chelsea are keen to tie down to a new deal after his performances have attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal. Watford will also hope to keep the solid defensive midfielder on a permanent deal if they gain promotion to the Premier League, but we could even see him turning out in a Chelsea shirt next season if he can break into their star-studded first team.
3. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers)
This talented Scottish striker first started to attract attention from Premier League clubs when he scored 40 goals in 45 games for League One side Huddersfield Town in 2011/12. However, he instead progressed up just one level to the Championship with an £8million move to Blackburn Rovers – the highest transfer fee ever for a player outside of the top flight. The 23-year-old has continued his free-scoring form in the Championship, with 27 league goals for Blackburn this season. He could now move for around £10million, and seems destined for a great career in the Premier League with the likes of Liverpool and West Ham considering making moves for him this summer.
2. Charlie Austin (Burnley)
Another of the Championship’s most prolific goal scorers in Burnley’s Charlie Austin, who has found the back of the net 25 times in the league this season. With Burnley only managing a mid-table finish, Austin seems likely to be snapped up by a bigger club this summer, with Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle supposedly interested in the 23-year-old goal machine. He has welcomed this Premier League interest, saying he is ready to make the step up to the next level.
1. Tom Ince (Blackpool)
This incredibly gifted goal-scoring winger started his career at Liverpool, and after some eye-catching performances with Blackpool he could return to his old club after becoming one of the most sought-after players in the lower leagues. Still only 21, Ince has 18 goals in the Championship this season from the flanks, and is already being talked about as an England call-up. Tottenham are also keen to bring him to the Premier League this summer, and his value has shot up to close to £20million.