Ask most football fans what the best league in the world is and the general consensus tends to be that it’s England’s top flight. The Premier League is full of drama, it’s home to some of the world’s best players, a selection of the game’s most respected managers, and some rising young stars that could become household names in the future. In fact, emerging talents are being selected on a weekly basis, with managers placing full faith in these promising young professionals.
For supporters of Premier League clubs, there is arguably nothing more satisfying than seeing a promising player with limited experience go on to become a mainstay in a side and shine at world-famous venues like Old Trafford and Anfield. A milestone every academy player in England is striving to reach, a number of budding professionals are managing to do exactly that this season after representing some of the biggest clubs in the country and catching the eye of fans in the process.
While playing against junior players from other sides and acquiring loan moves to Football League clubs has its merits and helps shape the careers of many, learning on the job against some of the best players around is arguably more impactful. A number of rising young stars are doing exactly that today, with fans selecting them in their fantasy football squads, backing them for clean sheets and winning goals when it comes to Premier League betting, and tipping them to become world class stars in the near future. Let’s take a look at some of them below.
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Anthony Elanga – Nottingham Forest
Despite failing to secure a regular starting place at Manchester United, Anthony Elanga’s direct running and blistering pace was obvious on numerous occasions while turning out for the Red Devils. With chances seemingly limited at Old Trafford, a move to Nottingham Forest appealed to the speedster. Since his move to Steve Cooper’s side, Elanga has produced a string of impressive displays, with Premier League full-backs struggling to contain him now he is being given a consistent run at the highest level. He certainly isn’t the finished product yet, but Anthony Elanga is clearly capable of going on to have an excellent career in the biggest league around.
Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United
While the likes of Anthony Elanga failed to cement a first team spot at Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho possesses the ability to become a mainstay in the side in the near future. The 19-year-old winger has the world at his feet, with the Argentine talent producing a number of electrifying performances from the bench already this season. Whether or not Erik Ten Hag sees him as a starter yet remains to be seen, but given the issues surrounding Jadon Sancho and Antony, Garnacho could easily force his way in soon. Comfortable on the ball and possessing the confidence needed to stand out at one of the biggest clubs in football, Alejandro Garnacho has the potential to become a household name in the future.
Cole Palmer – Chelsea
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After departing Manchester City for a new challenge at Chelsea in the summer, big things are expected of Cole Palmer this season and beyond. While he hasn’t managed to secure a first-team place just yet, the signs are promising, particularly after the Manchester City youth product managed to score a vital penalty against Arsenal for the Blues recently. Forcing his way into Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side was never going to be easy for Palmer, but the talented wide man, who can also play through the middle, possesses clear ability on the ball that could see him becoming an integral part of Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea side in the future. Cole Palmer is certainly one to watch this season, that’s for sure.
Rico Lewis – Manchester City
A product of Manchester City’s esteemed academy system, Rico Lewis looks set to displace Kyle Walker in the coming years and become a key member of Pep Guardiola’s formidable force in the future. Although he tends to be rotated a lot given the Spanish manager’s preference to utilise his whole squad over the course of a season, the former Barcelona boss clearly rates the apparent heir to Kyle Walker’s right-back throne.
A former captain of the club’s Under-18 team, Lewis has the maturity to play at a first-team level, he is comfortable in possession in more advanced areas of the pitch, while his maturity makes him an ideal candidate for a first team spot at City soon. Pep Guardiola has even labelled him as ‘one of the best’ players he’s ever coached, saying: “I’ve been a manager for 14,15 years and I’m lucky to train one of the best players in the world in Barcelona. To find a player like him playing in the pockets, how he has to move as a holding midfielder, moving in the spaces, he is one of the best I’ve ever trained by far.”
Other rising young stars in the Premier League includes Destiny Udogie (Tottenham), Julio Enciso (Brighton), Amadou Onana (Everton), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Cameron Archer (Sheffield United), and Micky van de Ven (Tottenham).