Five young stars from this summer’s World Cup to keep an eye on next season.
Every major tournament often throws up some new faces to keep an eye on alongside the already established star that we know and love. This tournament has been no different, and we have found five of the brightest stars to watch out for when the domestic season kicks off again in August.
5. Kenneth Omeruo – Chelsea and Nigeria
The 20-year-old has found himself a regular starter for the Super Eagles, and has formed a part of an air tight defence that has so far kept two clean sheets in a tricky World Cup group. Having signed for Chelsea in 2012, he has since been loaned out to ADO Den Haag and Middlesbrough, where he played 14 games in the Championship last term.
Tall and rangy, he is level-headed and ambitious, but unlikely to break into Chelsea’s first team anytime soon. However, a loan move to another Premier League side in need of some energy at the back could be on the books this summer as he will surely have some interested parties on his trail.
4. Josip Drmic – Bayer Leverkusen and Switzerland
The young forward proved to be a revelation last season for an underwhelming Nuremberg side that slid down to the second flight. Arsenal were unfortunate to miss out on his signature, but Bayer Leverkusen were quick enough to bring him on board as soon as the previous season came to an end.
He has been unlucky to not find the back of the net at the World Cup yet, but will surely get his chance against an ailing Honduras in the final group game. But despite that, he will get a chance to show the world what he can do again in Leverkusen’s Champions League campaign, and with improved service he will surely hit the 20 goal mark in no time.
3. Nabil Bentaleb – Tottenham Hotspur and Algeria
The Spurs youngster burst onto the scene at White Heart Lane last season thanks to the faith of then manager Tim Sherwood, who needed to inject some fresh invention to his midfield. Without wanting to rush him, the Algerian star made a good account of himself and has firmly put his talents at the forefront of Mauricio Pochettino’s thoughts.
Having featured in both of Algeria’s games at the World Cup so far, he was a key member of the squad that crushed South Korea so comprehensively and will likely feature in the country’s final game against Russia that could see them pass the group stage for the first time in their history.
2. Memphis Depay – Netherlands and PSV Eindhoven
The 20-year-old winger is fast developing into one of the world’s most exciting players, and PSV will do well to keep a hold of him for much longer. Having played a key part of the club’s late surge towards the summit of the Eredivise he earned the first five of his eight caps at the end of the campaign.
Since featuring at the World Cup, he has bagged his first two goals in the nation’s three games so far and has caught the eye with his electric displays and is a genuine prospect to take over from the likes of Arjen Robben in the near future.
1. Raheem Sterling – England and Liverpool
Every Premier League fan is already well aware of how good the 19-year-old is. Having broken into Brendan Rodgers’ side upon joining the club he hasn’t looked like slowing down. His pace, surprising power and excellent decision making alludes to a big future in the game and now that the Reds have returned to the Champions League he will have a chance to test himself against the best of the best.
His early run and shot sent a shock down Italy’s spine in their first group game, and though he didn’t show the same threat against Uruguay there is a sense that any team with him in will look far more dangerous than a side without him.