The summer may well be time for transfer gossip, but once pre-season begins it’s also an opportunity for fans to see the vast array of young talent on the books at the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
So far this year we’ve seen a particularly exciting batch of young players making a real impression in pre-season friendly matches, and we’ve picked out eleven who we think could be ready to make a big impact at senior level this season.
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Of course, exciting young players come through all the time and many won’t make it, but for the moment we think this lot will be worth keeping an eye on in 2019/20…
Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
A 17-year-old with a big future, Mason Greenwood has two goals in pre-season so far, including a very well-taken winner against Inter Milan.
Having produced incredible figures at youth level, it looks like Greenwood is now ready to become a first-team regular as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shows faith in him with some encouraging quotes.
The Norwegian was recently quoted by the Manchester Evening News as saying: “Mason’s never been on my mind to send out on loan, he’s one we have to keep at our place, keep him and play him when we feel it’s good for him and at the moment he’s fine.
“He reminds me a little bit about the Giggsy story, you can’t really send him on loan and for me he’s ready to be in this squad.”
Surely a big hint he’s set for a first-team role in the season ahead? If so, keep an eye on him as he looks like he’s going to be a real joy to watch.
Joe Willock (Arsenal)
Having made some impact in the senior Arsenal side last season, Joe Willock showed what he’s capable of and should now get even more opportunities to shine.
The Gunners have lost attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer, and with the likes of Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan not exactly convincing, that should mean there’s a role there for Willock.
The 19-year-old comes from a footballing family and seems to be one of the most exciting talents currently coming out of the Arsenal academy.
Rhian Brewster (Liverpool)
After a difficult time with injuries, it looks like it could finally be Rhian Brewster’s time to shine at Liverpool.
Daniel Sturridge has just left the club on a free transfer, meaning this exciting teenage forward should now be bumped up the pecking order.
Brewster has made a good scoring start to pre-season, and one imagines he may get chances to fill in for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane up front, with all three having not had much of a rest this summer due to heavy involvement at international tournaments.
LFC fans love seeing a youngster coming through, and in Brewster they do look like having a major talent on their hands.
Bobby Duncan (Liverpool)
The cousin of Steven Gerrard, Bobby Duncan looks another huge prospect coming through at Liverpool.
Still only 18 years of age, the Reds forward is another youth player to make an impact on the first-team in pre-season so far, even if results haven’t exactly gone Jurgen Klopp’s side’s way so far.
It could be between Duncan and Brewster to make the step up into the senior Liverpool side, so it will no doubt be intriguing to watch the development of both players in the months ahead.
Oliver Skipp (Tottenham)
An 18-year-old midfielder who we look likely to see more of very soon, Oliver Skipp has shown plenty of promise in pre-season with Tottenham.
Skipp was actually a nominee for the most recent Golden Boy award, despite only playing ten times for the senior Spurs side in his career so far.
Still, it’s clear he’s something special as some fans have been impressed with trickery like this in the video below…
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
A player who could prove a fine summer signing, young Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli recently joined Arsenal and has already got off the mark for them in pre-season.
The 18-year-old scored an impressive chested goal against Colorado Rapids, and has generally shown great pace and ability on the ball in his appearances so far.
While some Gooners were perhaps not expecting Martinelli to make an immediate impact on the first-team, we think he could be one to watch as he surely puts himself in Unai Emery’s plans.
Tahith Chong (Manchester United)
A big prospect we’ve heard a lot about for some time now, but it looks like Tahith Chong is surely now nearing his big breakthrough at Old Trafford.
The 19-year-old Dutchman has long looked one of the most eye-catching talents at youth level in the Premier League, and he was handed some opportunities by Solskjaer last season.
Now, however, he’s really starting to look comfortable in MUFC’s senior side as he sees more action during pre-season friendly matches.
With Alexis Sanchez surely set to fall out of favour, this could mean an opportunity for someone like Chong to swoop in and gain a regular first-team place.
Mason Mount (Chelsea)
After a hugely impressive loan spell at Derby County last season, Mason Mount has already shown Chelsea’s new manager Frank Lampard what he can do.
The 20-year-old midfielder has since been rewarded with a new contract at Stamford Bridge, with Lampard surely set to use the youngster in his first-team in 2019/20.
For one thing, the Blues are currently under a transfer ban and must therefore promote from within if they are to expand on the options they already have.
Mount looks one of the best-placed to take advantage of that, and follow on from the success of the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek last season.
Max Aarons (Norwich City)
One of the outstanding young players in the Championship last season, 19-year-old right-back Max Aarons played a key role in helping Norwich City win promotion to the Premier League.
The defensive starlet has since been linked with a big move to Manchester United by Sky Sports, though this was before they signed Wan-Bissaka as they considered alternative options in case that deal didn’t work out.
If Norwich can hold on to Aarons, it could be the best thing for his development as he’ll surely get a regular role to show what he can do in the Premier League this season.
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
Another Arsenal youngster taking his chances in pre-season, Eddie Nketiah has looked on the verge of a first-team breakthrough for a while now, even if it hasn’t quite happened for him.
Still, the 20-year-old is doing his best to give Emery a selection headache with some prolific displays in pre-season so far, so we’re sure he can now enjoy more of a key role after the departure of Danny Welbeck.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette provide fierce competition for a place up front, but they can’t do it all on their own so we’re sure Nketiah and Martinelli will get their chances to make an impact.
Reece James (Chelsea)
Finally, another big talent who’s sure to see more playing time at Chelsea is 19-year-old right-back Reece James.
The teenager looked the real deal on loan at Wigan last season and now surely has the chance to work his way into Lampard’s first-team plans.
James may already be a superior option to someone like Davide Zappacosta, and even if he isn’t playing for CFC he has been linked with Crystal Palace by Sky Sports.
That piece claims Chelsea don’t want to lose the player, so that’s a decent sign that he’s probably going to be another wonderkid to watch this season.