40 of the world’s best youngsters, according to Italian publication Tuttosport.As part of a chance to vote for the ‘Golden Boy’, Italian publication Tuttosport have released their 40 top candidates for the best young player in world football at the moment. Eight Premier League players feature, as well as some other familiar names who continue to be linked with moves to big clubs as their reputations grow. Others are less familiar at the moment, but could be worth looking out for…
Richmond Boakye (Elche)
Ghanian youngster Richmond Boakye was snapped up by Juventus last summer, and although he is yet to make an appearance for the club, he has impressed in loan spells with Sassuolo and now Spanish side Elche. The 20-year-old striker already has 7 caps and 2 goals for his national side.
Bruma (Galatasaray)
Portuguese winger Bruma joined Galatasaray from Sporting Lisbon this summer, though he had been linked with several other big clubs beforehand. Still only 19, this exciting talent looks to have a bright future in the game.
Emre Can (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can impressed in a handful of appearances for former club Bayern Munich last season, and the treble winners were keen to put a buy-back clause in his contract as he left the club in the summer. The 19-year-old is currently a German Under-21 international, but is eligible to play for Turkey as well.
Sebastian Cristoforo (Sevilla)
Highly-rated Uruguayan youngster Sebastian Cristoforo is one to look out for this season after making a summer switch to La Liga side Sevilla. The 20-year-old midfielder had been a regular at his previous club Penarol and will hope to continue his remarkable rise this season.
Lucas Digne (PSG)
After coming through the ranks at Lille, Lucas Digne has been one of Ligue 1’s most impressive young players, and made a £12.8m move to champions PSG this summer. The 20-year-old is a highly impressive attack-minded left-back.
Julian Draxler (Schalke)
One of the more familiar names on this list, Schalke starlet Julian Draxler is without a doubt one of the most highly rated young players in the world at the moment. Several big clubs are keen to snap him up in what would likely be a big-money move, after the 20-year-old scored an impressive 13 goals from midfield last season.
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (Monaco)
One of many promising young Belgians out there at the moment, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco does not look out of place in Monaco’s star-studded team, scoring 3 goals in 10 appearances so far this season from midfield. The 20-year-old was one of the club’s star players as they won promotion from Ligue 1 last term.
Viktor Fischer (Ajax)
19-year-old Denmark winger Viktor Fischer is the latest exciting prospect to come out of Ajax’s famous youth system. Fischer scored 12 goals for the Dutch giants last season and continues to be a regular for the side this year as he continues his remarkable rise.
Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk)
20-year-old Brazilian Fred made the move from Internacional to Shakhtar Donetsk this summer as he looks to make a mark in European football. The skillful attacking midfielder has shown great promise so far, with four goals in ten appearances already this season.
Serge Gnabry (Arsenal)
One of the brightest prospects at Arsenal at the moment, German winger Serge Gnabry has been more involved in the first team this season due to injuries to Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 18-year-old scored his first goal for the club with a cool finish in a crucial 2-1 away win against Swansea.
Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
20-year-old Argentine Mauro Icardi has already moved around a lot in his young career, spending some time with Barcelona’s youth system, and joining Inter Milan from Sampdoria this season. The striker has two goals for Inter so far this season and recently won his first cap for Argentina.
Juan Iturbe (Hellas Verona)
Dubbed by some as the next Lionel Messi, Juan Iturbe is currently on loan in Serie A with Hellas Verona from Portuguese side Porto. The small and skillful attacker has many of Messi’s traits, and could be one to look out for in the next couple of years.
Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United)
A player who has made quite a breakthrough this season, Adnan Januzaj already looks like one of Manchester United’s most dangerous wingers, with some great skill, vision and an eye for goal shown in his early Old Trafford career. Several top clubs showed an interest in signing him as he stalled on a new contract, though he has now committed his future to the Red Devils.
Jese Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
A prolific scorer for the club’s youth team, Real Madrid youngster Jese Rodriguez continues to make strides towards the club’s star-studded first-team, and scored his first goal for the club this season. With playing time limited at the Bernabeu, the 20-year-old has attracted interest from other top teams.
Geoffrey Kondogbia (Monaco)
A stand-out player for Sevilla last season, 20-year-old French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia made a big-money move to Monaco this summer after attracting plenty of attention from big clubs around Europe and the Premier League.
Mateo Kovavic (Inter Milan)
The new Luka Modric? Mateo Kovacic has impressed immensely since starting his career with Dinamo Zagreb, and is now an influential part of Inter Milan’s team, showing great intelligence to play as a deep-lying playmaker. This gifted 19-year-old already has six caps for Croatia as well.
Diego Laxalt (Bologna)
Another talented youngster based at Inter Milan, Uruguayan midfielder Diego Laxalt is currently out on loan with Bologna, and looks a terrific prospect with two goals already this season.
Nicolas Lopez (Udinese)
Although he found playing opportunities limited at Roma last season, Nicolas Lopez still managed one goal in just six appearances, and was snapped up by Udinese this summer, where he will be hoping to continue his development after a promising record at youth level for Uruguay.
Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
After a superb season on loan for West Brom last season, Chelsea have now sent Romelu Lukaku to Everton for the 2013/14 season. Many were surprised this 20-year-old striker wasn’t made first choice at Stamford Bridge, and he continues to look like one of the best in the Premier League with five goals in just six appearances for the Toffees so far this season.
Adam Maher (PSV)
A skillful goal-scoring midfielder, Adam Maher impressed a great deal at former club AZ Alkmaar before being eyed up by several of Europe’s giants this summer. He eventually joined PSV and continues to look like one of Dutch football’s brightest prospects.
Lazar Markovic (Benfica)
19-year-old Serbian winger Lazar Markovic moved from Partizan Belgrade to Benfica this summer and looks set for big things after some eye-catching displays, and two goals already for his new club. Markovic also has 9 caps for Serbia and is relatively experienced for his age.
Marquinhos (PSG)
Still only 19, Marquinhos made a £27m move to PSG this summer after an exceptional first season in Europe with Roma last year. The Brazilian centre-back became one of the most solid defenders in Serie A and is now a key player for PSG as well.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Anderlecht)
A highly prolific striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic made the move to Anderlecht this summer after impressing with Partizan Belgrade last season. One of many bright prospects emerging in Serbian football at the moment, the 19-year-old is already a full international with three caps and one goal for his national side.
Matija Nastasic (Manchester City)
Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic enjoyed an excellent first season with the club last year after joining from Fiorentina. the 20-year-old is a highly intelligent and mature player, and looks one of the club’s most solid defenders at the moment.
M’Baye Niang (AC Milan)
Although French striker M’Baye Niang has found first-team opportunities somewhat limited at AC Milan, the 18-year-old remains one of the most highly regarded young talents in the game at the moment, having first caught the eye with Caen in the 2010/11 season.
Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea)
We haven’t seen much of Kenneth Omeruo at Chelsea yet, but the 20-year-old defender looks a good prospect and already has 14 caps for Nigeria. A versatile player, Omeruo is equally adept at right-back or centre-back and has done well away from the club on loan with ADO Den Haag.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
After emerging as one of the finest young talents in the country while at Southampton, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has continued to impress since moving to Arsenal. The 20-year-old winger has been out injured for much of this season, but has done well with limited opportunities to rack up goals and assists for the Gunners, as well as becoming a regular feature for England.
Brayan Perea (Lazio)
Colombian youngster Brayan Perea moved to Lazio this summer after catching the eye at Deportivo Cali. The 20-year-old striker is already off the mark for his new club and looks to have a great future in the game.
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Undoubtedly one of the best young players in the world, Juventus star Paul Pogba has been a revelation in Serie A after failing to make the grade at Manchester United. The 20-year-old midfielder combines great strength and skill to look the perfect all-round midfield player, and has a great collection of long-range screamers to his name already.
Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto)
A supremely talented attacking midfielder, Juan Fernando Quintero looks like the next big thing to emerge at Porto, with two goals and two assists already this season. The 20-year-old is another to earn comparisons with Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and it would be no surprise to see him make a big move in the near future.
Josip Radosevic (Napoli)
19-year-old defensive midfielder Josip Radosevic joined Napoli this summer and has settled in quickly at the club. The Croatian international looks a solid player in the middle of the park who could become a key part of Rafael Benitez’s side.
Rafinha (Celta Vigo)
The younger brother of Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara, Rafinha is currently on loan at Celta Vigo from Barcelona. The 20-year-old is, like his brother, a skillful and intelligent attacking midfielder, and has represented both Spain and Brazil at youth level.
Ante Rebic (Fiorentina)
20-year-old Croatian striker Ante Rebic joined Fiorentina this summer after an impressive tally of 11 goals for RNK Split last season. The tall forward scored on his debut for the national team and could be one to look out for in Serie A this season.
Yaya Sanogo (Arsenal)
Despite an injury-hit start to his career, Arsenal took a chance on promising French striker Yaya Sanogo this summer, signing the 20-year-old from Auxerre on a free transfer. A strong and skillful attacker, Sanogo could certainly develop into a top player under the guidance of Arsene Wenger.
Florian Thauvin (Marseille)
Former Lille starlet Florian Thauvin caught the eye of several top clubs last season as he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Bastia, and was eventually snapped up by Marseille in the summer. The 20-year-old is a talented attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, scoring 10 in all competitions last term.
Tiago Ilori (Liverpool)
A long-time target for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, Portuguese centre-back Tiago Ilori made the move from Sporting Lisbon to Liverpool this summer for around £7m, and is definitely one for the future at Anfield as he doesn’t seem set to become a first-team regular straight away.
Oliver Torres (Atletico Madrid)
A superb talent who has already been eyed up as a potential successor to Xavi at Barcelona, Atletico Madrid midfielder Oliver Torres looks set to become part of the first-team in Diego Simeone’s side this season, and looks like he has the world at his feet with the technique and ability he’s shown so far.
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
One of the best young defenders in the world, Raphael Varane made his first-team breakthrough for Real Madrid last season, and now looks like becoming a regular in the side. The 20-year-old has already produced some superb displays against no less than Lionel Messi, and shows tremendous intelligence and maturity for one so young.
Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord)
18-year-old Feyenoord midfielder Tonny Vilhena first broke into the first-team last season and now looks like becoming a key player for the Eredivisie side this term. The skillful teenager already has four goals to his name this year and looks set for big things in the game.
Vitinho (CSKA Moscow)
After impressing in his native Brazil with Botafogo, 20-year-old attacking midfielder Vitinho made the move to CSKA Moscow this summer on a five-year contract, and will certainly be one to look out for in the next few seasons.