As we’ve seen over time, making predictions about what young players will achieve in the game can be fraught with danger.
For every Wayne Rooney, there’s a Francis Jeffers waiting to bring you down to earth, but the 10 young players featured on this list do look primed for excellent Premier League careers.
Could any of them make the breakthrough in 2021/22? They’ll certainly hope so, as will the teams they play for.
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
Having leapt to prominence as the youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League, a spell at Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers last term has prepared Harvey Elliott for his first full season at Liverpool.
A nimble left-footer playing primarily on the right-hand side, Elliott could be the ideal understudy for Mo Salah at Anfield, and Jürgen Klopp is known to be a big fan.
At 18, Elliott is barely old enough to be served in a bar and still couldn’t legally play online casino games in Canada and beyond, but he already has a UEFA Super Cup winner’s medal, a Championship Young Player of the Season nod, and has broken the record for most assists from a teenager in the second tier in a single campaign (11).
Liam Delap (Manchester City)
There is something of a vacancy at Manchester City in attack after Sergio Agüero’s departure, and you wonder if Pep Guardiola will be tempted to throw Liam Delap into the mix?
The 18-year-old had a stellar campaign for the club’s development side last term, blasting 24 goals at a rate better than a goal per game.
Having already made his Premier League debut and scoring in the EFL Cup, Delap is very much knocking on the door of the Manchester City first team – could this be his breakthrough year?
Anthony Elanga (Manchester United)
The 19-year-old has already caught the eye of Manchester United fans after scoring a stunning goal in a pre-season friendly against Brentford.
This was no flash in the pan either, as the Swede notched nine goals in 16 games last season for the Under-23s team.
Able to play out wide or through the middle, Elanga has already netted his first Premier League goal and can expect to follow in the path of fellow youth-teamers-turned-Old-Trafford-stars Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
Marcelo Flores (Arsenal)
Born in Canada and representing Mexico at the youth level, Marcelo Flores has now settled in England at Arsenal.
He has performed well for the Under-18s team at the Gunners, and Flores is so mature for his age that he was even called up to the provisional Canada squad for their Gold Cup campaign, despite not yet making his first-team debut at Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta is known for giving youth a chance, and so Flores could reap the rewards of that approach in 2021/22.
Harvey White (Tottenham Hotspur)
The hope is that a loan spell in lower-league football can work wonders for young talent.
Harvey White earned rave reviews for his 22-game spell at Portsmouth last term, and the hope is that he can kick on and challenge for a first-team place at Tottenham under Nuno Espírito Santo.
With 10 goal contributions for their Under-23s last term, alongside his stint on the South Coast, White is certainly heading in the right direction.
Louie Barry (Aston Villa)
Having become the first Englishman to join Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Louie Barry has been earmarked for success for some time.
Still only 18, he already has a winner’s medal from the Spanish ‘Juvenil’ division, plus a Youth Cup medal earned with Aston Villa last term. As if that wasn’t enough, he netted on his senior debut against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Averaging a goal a game for the Villa Under-23s, despite his fledgling years, Barry could yet figure for the first team this year, with Dean Smith fearless in his blooding of the club’s talented youngsters.
Jean Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
New Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has made it abundantly clear that he plans to play a more possession-orientated style in 2021/22.
This is bad news for the burly Christian Benteke, and may mean more game time for Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack instead.
The 24-year-old has scored goals for the likes of Mainz and Le Havre, but he wasn’t really given a chance to shine by Roy Hodgson – perhaps Palace’s new dawn could be to his benefit?
Conor Coventry (West Ham)
There are plenty of West Ham fans who think that Conor Coventry is good enough to play for the first team already, especially if Declan Rice moves to pastures new.
Coventry’s form in pre-season has been eye-catching, and with 15 caps for the Republic of Ireland at the Under-21 level, he already has some experience in big games.
Having signed a long-term deal at the club, and with a first-team debut in the EFL Cup to his name, Coventry looks set for an exciting career at the Hammers.
Nathan Broadhead (Everton)
At 23, success at Everton has been a long time coming for Nathan Broadhead.
The winger finally made his debut for Brighton’s first team last season, and this could prove the catalyst for a more concerted run in senior football.
He notched 11 goals for Everton Under-23s last term, mainly from the wide areas, and his eye for goal could come in handy at the Toffees as Rafa Benítez plots his first campaign in charge.
Sam Greenwood (Leeds United)
A young striker will always find it tough to usurp Patrick Bamford at Leeds United, but if you’re good enough, then Marcelo Bielsa will give you a chance – and Sam Greenwood certainly looks to have the ability to go far in the game.
Leeds won the development Division 2 last season with Greenwood finding the net 12 times – could he prove to be an able deputy for Bamford?
