10 exciting youngsters who could break through in the Premier League
An 18-year-old trying to gatecrash Liverpool’s front three, a striker who could end Arsenal’s goal woes and the midfielder hoping to outshine Aston Villa’s new signings… 10 exciting youngsters who could break through in the Premier League this season
- There are a number of hugely talented youngsters ready to burst onto the scene
- Pre-season has given a lot of them the chance to stake a claim for regular action
- Harvey Elliott, Folarin Balogun and Anthony Elanga are all ready to explode
- Sportsmail has selected 10 of the brightest prospects who could break through
The new Premier League season finally gets underway on Friday night and fans are as desperate as ever for new signings and those bright sparks to emerge from the academy.
A new campaign bring fresh opportunities with youngsters having the summer months to impress their managers and boost their chances of getting some first-team football.
Whether it be Harvey Elliott at Liverpool, Manchester United’s Anthony Elanga or Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun, there is a huge amount of young talent coming through in the top flight.
Here, Sportsmail has picked out 10 of the brightest prospects who could make a name for themselves and light up the Premier League this season.
Anthony Elanga (R) is one of the hottest prospects ahead of the new Premier League season
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
There has been a lot of buzz coming out of Anfield about Elliott’s progress under Jurgen Klopp this summer. So much so, he’s been tipped to start for the Reds at Norwich on Saturday night.
Elliott’s favoured position is cutting in from the right wing onto his left foot but Klopp has used him in more of a central midfield area in pre-season as he looks for more creativity through the middle of the pitch.
The 18-year-old caught the eye while out on loan at Blackburn in the Championship last season, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists.
Now the time has come for him to step up to the Premier League and offer Klopp some depth behind his usual front three and Diogo Jota.
Harvey Elliott has impressed Jurgen Klopp this summer and could play at Norwich on Saturday
Tino Anjorin (Chelsea)
It still remains a huge battle for Chelsea’s youngsters to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge.
That’s been shown by the departures of Marc Guehi, Lewis Bate, Tino Livramento and Fikayo Tomori this summer.
But Anjorin is still around and has shown plenty of promise in pre-season. He made a substitute appearance under Thomas Tuchel last season and was on the bench in the Champions League final.
There is plenty of competition for places in attacking midfield though and, despite impressing against Tottenham in a recent friendly, it’s still possible that Anjorin is loaned out or fails to get a chance this season.
Like many before him, Tino Anjorin will find it difficult to step up into Chelsea’s first-team plans
Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa)
Despite Aston Villa’s huge outlay on attacking players this summer, there is hope that Chukwuemeka could develop into a first-team player.
He was introduced to the first team towards the end of last season and there are really high hopes for the 17-year-old attacking midfielder at Villa Park.
With comparisons to Paul Pogba, Chukwuemeka has been told there’s no chance he will be loaned out this season and could fight new boys Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey for minutes.
Chukwuemeka’s development could be the ideal remedy Villa fans need after watching boyhood star Jack Grealish leave for Manchester City for £100million.
Despite Villa’s spending spree, there’s hope Carney Chukwuemeka can make a breakthrough
Anthony Elanga (Manchester United)
Elanga has lit up pre-season for Manchester United. He scored a fine goal against Queens Park Rangers and then dazzled against Brentford at Old Trafford.
He started up front as a lone striker with Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Mason Greenwood that night against the Bees but definitely did not look out of his depth.
The 19-year-old came short to link play, drifted around to find space and dragged Brentford’s defenders out of position and was always willing to make darting runs in behind with his pace.
There has been talk he could go on loan but Elanga looks ready to make an impact now. With Marcus Rashford recovering from surgery, Jadon Sancho late back from holiday and Anthony Martial working his way back from his knee injury, Elanga could be a threat off the bench in the first few weeks of the season.
With United missing a few options, Elanga could be a useful attacking option off the bench
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
There are high hopes that Olise can bring the attacking verve to excite Palace fans as Patrick Vieira’s new dawn begins.
The attacking midfielder, 19, was named the Championship’s young player of the season last campaign after netting 12 goals and providing nine assists.
The Eagles splashed out £8m on Olise as he became Vieira’s first signing. Now he needs to win a place in the first team as Palace fans hope life after Roy Hodgson runs seamlessly.
It’s hoped Olise can combine to form a deadly attacking trio alongside Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze behind a lone striker at Selhurst Park.
Michael Olise, 19, was the first signing for new Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira (right)
Folarin Balogun (Arsenal)
There were serious doubts over Balogun’s future at the Emirates but he finally ended all speculation he could leave by signing a new four-year contract in April.
It would have been a huge relief to Mikel Arteta because Balogun has proven himself to be a regular source of goals at youth level.
The Gunners do have plenty of attacking options but none of them have staked a claim to be the club’s regular No 9 in recent seasons.
Perhaps that explains why Arteta handed Balogun his first start for the club in Friday night’s season-opening defeat to Brentford. Balogun played an hour before being replaced by Bukayo Saka.
Balogun, who was born in New York, is still only 20-years-old but there is definitely a chance for him to make his mark on a goal-shy Arsenal team.
Folarin Balogun was handed his first Arsenal start in Friday night’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford
Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
It was claimed there was a huge battle to secure the Ecuadorean youngster this summer but Brighton managed to get a £4m deal across the line back in February.
The midfielder has impressed in a few outings for Brighton’s under-23s side but Graham Potter has warned against expecting too much too soon.
But with Yves Bissouma heavily linked with a move away in the coming weeks, there’s a chance Caicedo could get a chance earlier than he may think.
Manchester United and Chelsea were said to be interested in Caicedo. He’ll be hoping to show what the fuss is all about in the Premier League this season.
Brighton beat off interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea to sign Moises Caicedo
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester)
Brendan Rodgers has never been afraid to give young players a chance to shine and Dewsbury-Hall has been given the chance to shine this summer.
Returning to pre-season after an eye-catching spell at Luton in the Championship last season, the all-action midfielder has nudged himself firmly into the first-team plans.
He came off the bench in last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester City and impressed as the Foxes claimed their second piece of silverware at Wembley in a matter of months.
With another season of juggling a Champions League push with Europa League football, Dewsbury-Hall can expect to get some minutes for the Foxes.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall impressed off of the bench in Leicester’s Community Shield victory
Liam Delap (Manchester City)
Like Anjorin at Chelsea, there’s not a lot of hope for the youngsters coming through the ranks at Manchester City either.
Sergio Aguero’s exit on a free this summer has opened up a slot up front in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
But why look to the academy when you can afford in excess of £100million on each of Jack Grealish and Harry Kane?
Delap, the son of ex-Stoke player Rory, joined City from Derby in 2018 and netted 24 goals for the under-23s last season. He has had a few first-team chances but if Kane arrives then they will be limited again.
Despite Sergio Aguero’s exit, first-team chances at City still appear limited for Liam Delap
Dane Scarlett (Tottenham)
Kane’s exit from Tottenham could certainly work to the advantage of young Spurs striker Dane Scarlett.
The 17-year-old has built up a reputation for being a clinical finisher in the club’s youth system and made three appearances for the first team last season.
Jose Mourinho admitted he could be ‘phenomenal’ if his trajectory continues upwards and appearances may be more likely if Kane does depart for City.
Scarlett has played and scored for Spurs in pre-season and there’s also the inaugural Europa Conference League for him to make an impression in.
Jose Mourinho admitted Dane Scarlett could be ‘phenomenal’ and he’s impressed this summer
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