The finest players in the English top tier aged 21 or younger.
With the 2014/15 Premier League season just around the corner CaughtOffside has decided to bring you the 20 best youngsters – aged 21 or younger – in the division to watch out for over the next 12 months.
20. Serge Gnabry, Arsenal
Was given a few chances by Arsene Wenger last term and that is only set to increase in the coming months with the German showing some glimpses of his potential.
19. Connor Wickham, Sunderland
Was largely considered to be an expensive flop at the Stadium of Light before Gus Poyet got the very best out of the striker towards the end of the last campaign and Wickham netted some important goals.
18. Liam Moore, Leicester City
One of the new crop of players coming up from the Championship with newly promoted Leicester and the defender is sure to play a big part for the Foxes as they try and avoid relegation.
17. Ben Davies, Tottenham Hotspur
With Spurs having trouble at left-back new manager Mauricio Pochettino was moved to sign this 21-year-old, who has been impressing at Swansea City for the past couple of seasons.
16. James Ward-Prowse, Southampton
One of the few youngsters actually left at St Mary’s following their summer exodus and could play an important part for a new look Saints side under Ronald Koeman.
15. Ravel Morrison, West Ham United
Undoubtedly a controversial figure the midfielder also possesses great talent and a club just needs to get the best out of the 21-year-old now in order to reap the rewards.
14. Jores Okore, Aston Villa
Saw his first year at Villa Park interrupted by injury and now 12 months on the Denmark international will be looking to establish himself under Paul Lambert once again.
13. Emre Can, Liverpool
A £10m purchase for the Reds this summer and a player who arrives from Bayer Leverkusen with a great reputation in Germany for his box-to-box capabilities.
12. Calum Chambers, Arsenal
Another product of the youth system on the south coast now and a right-back who has just completed a £16m transfer to the Emirates Stadium and is expected to have a great future ahead of him.
11. Kurt Zouma, Chelsea
Signed from Saint-Etienne in January for £12.5m, but then spent the rest of the campaign on-loan in Ligue 1 and will now be given his chance at Stamford Bridge following the sale of David Luiz.
10. Lazar Markovic, Liverpool
Another new signing at Anfield now and another starlet who arrives with a glowing reputation, with the 20-year-old setting Brendan Rodgers back £20m as a result.
9. Jon Flanagan, Liverpool
Proved last term that he could be relied upon as both a right-back and a left-back and Flanagan finally appears to be living up to the faith put in him by Rodgers.
8. Adnan Januzaj, Manchester United
Burst onto the scene in 2013/14 under David Moyes with a brace against the Black Cats, although progress has been slow since then and the 19-year-old will need to keep proving himself at Old Trafford.
7. John Stones, Everton
Was Moyes’ last signing at Goodison Park in January 2013, but it was Roberto Martinez that got the best out of Stones last season and as a result of his performances the 20-year-old was England’s first backup for the 2014 World Cup.
6. Matija Nastasic, Manchester City
Having endured a difficult previous 12 months due to injury it’s easy to forget about the Serbian’s presence at the Etihad Stadium, but the 21-year-old is a fine centre-back.
5. Ross Barkley, Everton
There has been great interest in this attacking midfielder after his fine displays for the Toffees in recent times and under the guidance of Martinez looks set to achieve great things.
4. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal
Is actually part of the prolific youth system at Southampton and looks set to become a top player for both club and country in the coming years.
3. Luke Shaw, Manchester United
After impressing at St Mary’s over the past two years United were eventually moved to make Shaw the most expensive teenager in British football history at £27m.
2. Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea
How much longer this Belgium international will be at Stamford Bridge remains to be seen, but after scoring 32 Premier League goals in the past two seasons the forward certainly has talent.
1. Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
The past 12 months have been something of a revealtion for Sterling, who under the guidance of Rodgers has focused his raw talent to become a real threat in attack for the Merseysiders.
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