Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s heir and ‘the next Frank Lampard’ – Top Premier League wonderkids to watch out for this season
Last season saw a host of talented superstars emerge from the ranks of their respective academies to become certified Premier League superstars.
Chelsea’s transfer embargo saw Frank Lampard turn to his young starlets to secure a Champions League spot, while Mason Greenwood gave Manchester United’s attack a much needed jolt.
And who could forget both Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka providing much needed hope to both Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively?
Bukayo Saka made 38 appearances for Arsenal in what was a breakthrough campaign for the wonderkid
Bedding young stars into a Premier League first team is often a precarious proposition for a manager, with the physical and mental demands often too much for young shoulders.
Yet, every once in a while, a star emerges to dazzle and dance their way into the manager’s reckoning and announce themselves as one to watch.
With the Premier League set to return after an extended season last time out, there are plenty of potential superstars who could make their first team bow.
In no particular order, here are 10 wonderkids to watch out for this season.
‘Mason Greenwood the best player Manchester United have produced since George Best’
Hannibal Mejbri (Manchester United)
The 17-year-old signed for Manchester United in 2019, rejecting offers from Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool in order to move to Old Trafford.
A creative player who likes to play as a number 10, Mejbri will potentially struggle to usurp the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba or new signing Donny van de Beek at this moment.
However, the technical abilities and eye for goal which the France Under-17 has already shown should see him progress rapidly.
Under-23 boss Neil Wood watched Mejbri stole the show against Salford Town on Wednesday night in the EFL Cup and looks set to become a permanent member, for the time being.
The attacking midfielder may struggle to get past the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba
Ademipo Odubeko (West Ham United)
Very few players reject Manchester United, especially in their teens, but this hot shot striker backs himself to be a star.
Odubeko joined the Hammers almost a year ago and his goalscoring record is still astounding; in his first month he got a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Southampton and also scored in the 8-2 victory over Swansea City in early November. Two more goals came in the 3-3 draw against Charlton in the FA Youth Cup.
United even tried playing him at centre-half at one point, but the Republic of Ireland youth international continued to score goals from the back.
Now a fully-fledged striker at West Ham, the 17-year-old scored twice in the 3-1 win against League Tow Southend United in the EFL Cup and will hope for more minutes given the Hammers have only senior striker in Sebastien Haller.
The Hammers are seriously lacking in the forward area
Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City)
Another young Irish starlet, goalkeeper Bazunu made headlines when he was included in Manchester City’s Champions League squad at the end of last season.
The 18-year-old from Dublin arrived in Manchester two years ago from the Shamrock Rovers academy having set the record as the youngest player in Rovers’ history.
As well as undertaking a degree in Sports Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, Bazunu spent time working under Pep Guardiola and the senior squad on the pre-season tour to Asia.
Bazunu looked up to Gianluigi Donnarumma and Edwin van der Sar as a youngster and is working on his distribution in order to emulate Ederson’s success between the sticks for City.
The Man City shotstopper could get his break in the cup competitions this season
Tino Anjorin (Chelsea)
The 18-year-old midfielder signed a bumper five-year contract in June to keep him at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable.
Having joined the academy as a six-year-old, it seems as though Anjorin looks set to continue his journey with Chelsea given how trusting Frank Lampard was with his youngsters last season.
An England Under-19 international, the midfielder can also choose to represent Nigeria thanks to his father. His first senior action came against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup, while Lampard also introduced him from the bench at home to Everton in March.
Standing at 6ft 1ins and with a real eye for goal, the similarities between Anjorin and his manager will only begin to increase as he nears first team action.
Anjorin already has valuable first team experience
Brandon Pierrick (Crystal Palace)
The 18-year-old is south London through and through having been born in Lambeth and then raised in Brixton.
Pierrick made his Premier League debut in January against Norwich City, a month after signing his first professional contract with the Eagles.
A ‘direct, quick and powerful’ player in his own words, Pierrick announced himself to manager Roy Hodgson in the 2019 pre-season when he scored a brace against AFC Wimbledon.
The Eagles have struggled to find a consistent goalscorer for years and with Alexander Sorloth and Christian Benteke still flattering to deceive, the youngster could get his chnce to shine soon.
Palace have a long and distinguished history of producing young London talent
Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
The 18-year-old defender made his full Premier League debut last season against Sheffield United and has impressed Carlo Ancelotti.
A £750,000 signing from Carlisle United, Branthwaite started life with the Toffee’s Under-23 side but has continued to make senior appearances.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said after his debut: ““Like the look of Everton’s 18 yr old centre back @Jarradbranthwa1 excellent again. He’s got size & presence, plus having a left footed centre back always adds a nice balance to a team.”
It took the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin three years to make his mark on the first team, so expect to see yet more progression over the next 12 months for Branthwaite.
Expect to see Branthwaite feature more prominently under Carlo Ancelotti this season
Malachi Fagan-Walcott (Tottenham Hotspur)
Making your debut during a Champions League loss to RB Leipzig is never ideal, yet Fagan-Walcott showed Jose Mourinho and Tottenham a glimpse of what he can offer this season.
The Tottenham fan represented his county in the 200m, but instead chose to use his speed on the pitch and came through the club’s youth ranks.
Having signed professional terms late last year, the England Under-17 international will hope to continue his steady progression under the Portuguese this season.
With Toby Alderweireld not getting any younger and a wild opening schedule, the 18-year-old could well break into the first team this season in the opening weeks.
Like Japhet Tanganga, Fagan-Walcott is hoping to break into the first team
Folarin Balogun (Arsenal)
An instinctive striker who can finish with either foot, Baolgun’s achievements at youth level for Arsenal are the stuff of legend.
After rejecting Tottenham to join the Gunners at 10, the New York-born starlet scored 28 goals in 28 games en route to winning the Under-18 Premier League title in 2019.
Arsenal may have to move fast to keep the 19-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract at the Emirates.
Bournemouth failed with a bid in January for the striker, who likened himself to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang due to his ability to play on the shoulder of defenders.
The Arsenal striker is one of the most prolific talents at his age
Will Smallbone (Southampton)
Described by manager Ralph Hasenhuttl as ‘the future of Southampton’, Smallbone impressed in his brief cameo appearances in the first team last year.
The central midfielder is already an Ireland international, having joined the Saints as an eight-year-old and stepped off the conveyor belt of talent.
He marked his first senior appearance for the club he supports with a goal in the FA Cup against Huddersfield and his low centre of gravity and confidence on the ball ensured he got regular squad call-ups.
The 20-year-old signed a four-year deal at St Mary’s in the summer and with club captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg moving on, expect to see the Irishman feature heavily this season.
The Saints academy has produced a plethora of great talent over the years
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion)
He actually signed for Brighton in January 2019, but work permit issues meant he did not play for the Seagulls until a year later.
Various loan spells followed in the interim, with the time away from the Premier League allowing him to develop into a natural No.10.
The 21-year-old is an exciting prospect likes to play between the lines before breaking forward to offer a direct goalscoring threat, something Brighton struggled with at times.
Considering he has already been capped by the Argentina senior side, it would seem strange for Graham Potter to not make the midfielder part of his staring XI.
The Argentine has already made a senior appearance for the national team
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