The best up and coming talents in the English top tier.
The Premier League is a wash with quality players that are looking forward to the new season. A lot of clubs are currently doing business to try and improve their team for next season, some spending many millions on foreign talent. However, their are plenty of quality young players currently in the Premier League and they could make a difference to their respective clubs. Here are the top 10 teenagers currently playing in the Premier League.
Tom Thorpe- Manchester United
The young centre back is amongst the most exciting prospects for English football and has been touted as a possible England player of the future. Thorpe is versatile, being able to play in central defence as well as central midfield and is also a born leader. He was captain of United’s academy side when they won the FA Cup youth cup in 2011. Former United Sir Alex Ferguson had identified Thorpe as one for the future and will surely pass on his views to new manager David Moyes. Both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are reaching the end of their careers and have struggled with injuries in recent years. With the likelihood that Moyes will have to use the pair carefully next season, their maybe an opportunity for Thorpe to break into the United first team and show Moyes that he is able to replace United’s two defensive stalwarts. Thorpe is sure to identify the next 12 months as a crucial time in his career when he has to try and break into United’s senior squad.
Adnan Januzaj- Manchester United
Januzaj is Kosovo born but has Belgian nationality and is regarded as one of the best young prospects in European football. The winger has been shining for Manchester United’s youth tea and could make many appearances in United’s senior team this season. Sir Alex Ferguson regarded the winger highly and as with Thorpe, will surely pass on his opinion to new manager David Moyes. The Scot likes skilful wingers and could be prepared to give Januzaj a run in the senior team if the winger impresses him at pre-season training. One problem for Januzaj is that the Red Devils aren’t short of quality wide men, with Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa all able to be very effective in that position. However, a position could be about to open up in the United first team with, with Portuguese winger Nani set to leave the club. This could be Januzaj’s opening into the first team and the Belgian will hope to grab the opportunity with both hands. Januzaj also had a reputation as a dead ball specialist and has even been compared with David Beckham.
Harry Kane- Tottenham Hotspur
The young striker is another player who has been identified as a future star for both Tottenham and England. The striker has only played six times for Spurs, with the club preferring to let the player learn his trade whilst out on loan, mostly to Championship’s clubs. Kane has made most of his Tottenham appearances in the Europa League and scored his first Spurs goal away at Shamrock Rovers last season. Kane is most effective as a second striker despite his size. Being 6’3, many would see him as a perfect target man but he is actually better on the ball, being a good dribbler but also a calm and assured finisher. One possible problem for Kane is that he may not get the game time that he desires at Tottenham this season and may need to go out on loan again. He has already been successful in the Championship so now he may want to try his hand at playing in the Premier League , meaning a move to a newly promoted club could be on the cards. Both Crystal Palace and Hull are on the look out for a striker and could gamble and give Kane a chance to show his full potential.
Ross Barkley- Everton
Barkley is another player that has been linked with big things for awhile now and reports suggested that both Manchester United and Chelsea were interested in the attacking midfielder last summer. Barkley didn’t move to either Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge and instead stayed at Everton. He spent time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United last season and also impressed for Everton during the last few months of the season. His former manager David Moyes has urged caution when talking about Barkley and the midfielder has had a difficult time during his young career, having to come back from a triple leg fracture. However, now might the time that Barkley gets an opportunity to stamp his mark on the Everton first team and new boss Roberto Martinez could see Barkley as a possible replacement for Maurone Fellaini should the Belgian midfielder leave Goodison Park this summer. Barkley has also been linked with Manchester United again this summer, although this time it is his former manager Moyes who is trying to sign the midfielder.
Luke Shaw- Southampton
The left back has already been identified as a future England player despite only being 17. He has also been linked with big money moves to Manchester United and Chelsea, with both clubs realising the potential in Shaw. Reports have suggested that United could try and sign Shaw if their bid for Leighton Baines fails and could use Shaw as a long term replacement for Patrice Evra, who has been a huge part of United’s recent success. Meanwhile Chelsea see Shaw as a long term replacement for Ashley Cole and could look to bed the youngster in at Stamford Bridge so that he can learn from Cole. However, Southampton want to keep the left back on the south coast and rumours suggest that they are preparing to offer the defender a new long term contract to stay at St Mary’s. With all this potential, Shaw is certain to be player to look out for this season, whether he is at United or Chelsea or if he stays with current club Southampton.
Suso- Liverpool
Suso impressed many at Liverpool last season, making 20 appearances for the club despite only being 19. Despite the fact that he is yet to open his goal scoring account for Liverpool, many have seen enough in him to think that he will become a regular fixture of Brendan Rodgers side next season. Suso is one of many talented young Spanish players and could become one of Rodgers most important players in the future. The Welshman is known for giving young players a chance to impress so Suso is in a good place at Anfield. Reports have suggested that their are some clubs looking to sign the midfielder this summer following his impressive season with the Reds but luckily for Liverpool, he appears to want to stay at Anfield for the time being. However, if Suso continues to perform well for Liverpool, the Reds may face a fight to keep the young Spaniard in future seasons.
Nick Powell- Manchester United
Powell is regarded as an incredibly exciting prospect for both Manchester United and England. He signed from Crewe Alexandra last summer following an excellent season for the club which culminated in him scoring a wonder goal in the League Two play-off final against Cheltenham Town. Since his move from Crewe, Powell hasn’t played regularly for United’s senior team but has shown the potential that he possesses whenever he has stepped on the pitch at Old Trafford and scored a wonderful first goal for United in the 4-0 win against Wigan Athletic. Powell will hope to get more first team appearances for United this season and David Moyes will take a close look at the midfielder during pre-season training. Should Moyes decide that Powell won’t play much at Old Trafford this season, he may decide to loan the player out to further his development. Wigan are reportedly interested in signing Powell on loan as they prepare for life in Championship.
Raheem Sterling- Liverpool
Sterling is another talented player that is plying his trade at Liverpool at the moment. The winger has already been capped at senior international level by Roy Hodgson and could even take part in next summers World Cup if England manage to qualify for the competition. Sterling is certainly a player for the future and will continue to get better the more first team football that he plays. There was a possibility that Liverpool would lose Sterling to another club, with speculation mid way through last season that the winger wasn’t going to sign a contract extension to stay at Anfield. Reports had linked Sterling with clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea but in the end Sterling did sign a new contract with the Reds and committed his future to the club. This will no doubt please Brendan Rodgers, who will see Sterling as an important player going forward for Liverpool and could look to build a team around players like Sterling and Spanish midfielder Suso.
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain- Arsenal
Oxlade-Chamberlain had been earmarked as a future star from a very young age and became Southampton’s second youngest appearance maker in 2010 at the age of 16 years 199 days. Since then Chamberlain has moved to Arsenal and become a key part of the Gunners first team. He has also made is way into the England senior side, scoring 3 goals in his 12 appearances for his country. His third goal for England was a wonderful strike in a friendly against Brazil at the revamped Maracana, showing that he processes the skill and temperament for the biggest occasions. Chamberlain will continue to be a part of Arsene Wenger’s plans at Arsenal this season and the winger looks set to grow into a quality player that will frighten opposition defences with his pace and skill. Chamberlain signed a new long term contract with the Gunners in December and Arsene Wenger will surely use the winger as part of the spine of his next great side.
Romelu Lukaku- Chelsea
The striker is seen by many as the next Didier Drogba due to his size and power and that was illustrated on the last day of the Premier League season, when the Belgian scored a fantastic hat-trick against Champions Manchester United, helping West Brom come back from 5-2 down to draw 5-5. Lukaku had spent last season on loan at West Brom and was a success during his time at the Hawthorns, scoring 17 goals during the course of the season for the Baggies. The Belgian striker will now go back to Chelsea and reports suggest that Jose Mourinho is considering keeping Lukaku at the club for this season. Mourinho wants a strong physical presence up front and with Drogba no longer at Stamford Bridge, the Portuguese manager is considering giving Lukaku the chance to properly replace the Ivorian. Should Mourinho decide that Lukaku needs another season on loan then there are plenty of clubs who will be willing to sign the striker, with West Ham United thought to be interested in partnering the striker with new signing Andy Carroll.