New Delhi: Unearthing a quality academy product is a godsend for any club. Not only do they come across a top-class player without spending big bucks, but there is also a sense that the player will most certainly play for the badge and show more loyalty towards the club than someone they bring in from somewhere else. The Premier League is known for some of the best academies in the world and with that numerous talented youngsters are waiting patiently for their opportunity.
Both Manchester clubs and Chelsea, all have excellent academies that have produced world-class talents that are plying their trade all over the world. Manchester City’s academy is responsible for producing players like Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, and Jeramie Frimpong among others. Chelsea also have a wealth of academy talents with star graduate Reece James being the captain of the club.
Both Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise are rocking it up at Bayern Munich and the trio of Ruben Loftus Cheek, Fikayo Tomori, and Tammy Abraham are showcasing their skills in the Serie A. A quality academy graduate can help turn around the fortunes of a club. Manchester United’s winger problems were solved by the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho while Tottenham had the best English striker since Alan Shearer, Harry Kane, come out of their academy.
Sir Matt Busby once famously said, “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.” There are a few youngsters in the league who embody that saying and could shine in the Premier League if given the chance this season.
5) Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Ethan Nwaneri has impressed in the pre season for the Gunners. (Photo by David Hickey/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri is not a new name for eagle-eyed fans of the Premier League. The now 17-year-old made waves in September 2022 when his substitute appearance against Brentford made him the league’s youngest-ever player at 15 years and 181 days. Since then, he’s only made one more appearance for the first team but has continued his development with the club’s youth teams.
He’s a complete attacker who can play anywhere in attack but excels the most as a number 10 and is great with the ball at his feet. He had a terrific 2023/24 for the club’s U21 side, scoring 18 and assisting four in just 20 appearances while also making an appearance for the first team. He made the progression from the U18s to the U21s last season and seems set to move another level up and play for the first-team this season.
He’s currently impressing in the club’s pre-season tour of the US where he has made consecutive starts against Bournemouth and Manchester United, putting in a man-of-the-match worthy display against the latter and also played the final game against Liverpool. With Emile Smith Rowe on the verge of an exit from the club, there could be a spot for Nwaneri in the first-team.
4) Jayden Danns (Liverpool)
Jayden Danns could be in line for a start if Darwin Nunez’s faltering form continues. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Liverpool have a gifted young striker in Jayden Danns on their hands. The son of former Guyana International Neil Danns, he made his first-team debut last season playing 18 minutes across three appearances for the club, even making an appearance in the EFL Cup final victory over Chelsea. He earned these minutes following impressive performances for the club’s youth teams last season.
He’s a versatile attacker who can play either as a winger or a second striker but performs his best as a centre-forward. Playing for both the U18s and the U21s last season, the striker scored 19 and assisted 4 in 22 games throughout the season. It bodes well for the youngster that Arne Slot has joined the club to replace Jurgen Klopp, with the Dutchman known for developing youngsters.
With Darwin Nunez still being a misfiring forward for Liverpool and Diogo Jota being susceptible to injuries, Jayden Danns could be handed some vital opportunities to showcase his talents in the club’s first-team.
3) Tyrique George (Chelsea)
Tyrique George has the capability to replace Mudryk in Chelsea’s first-team. (Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
18-year-old Tyrique George is the latest product from Chelsea’s long list of academy talents who are looking to break into the first team. He joined the club back in 2014 as an eight-year-old and has already been named in the club’s first-team squad a couple of times. He was also included in the club’s pre-season tour of the USA and impressed in the club’s 2-2 draw with Wrexham in the friendly.
George is a skilful winger, who is great with the ball at his feet and offers a lot of pace from the left flank. He is capable of playing in a multitude of positions across midfield and attack but works best as a left winger. In 34 appearances for the club’s youth teams last season, he made 34 appearances and contributed to 14 goals and 10 assists. With new manager Enzo Maresca at the helm, George has a chance to impress the manager and stake his claim in the starting XI.
The club has plenty of wingers in the first team but neither of them seem undroppable from the team. Players like Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling could be under the threat of losing their place in the lineup if George is able to translate his youth team form to the first-team.
2) Toby Collyer (Manchester United)
Toby Collyer could be Manchester United’s answer to their defensive midfield problems. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United have another talented youngster in their ranks who is waiting to be unleashed in the league in the form of young Toby Collyer. After Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, Collyer seems to be the next in line to establish himself in United’s first-team. The 20-year-old defensive midfielder was on Erik Ten Hag’s substitute bench eight different times last season and could make his debut this season.
A midfield destroyer who plays as a traditional defensive midfielder, adept at breaking up attacks and keeping hold of the ball for however long as possible. Collyer is a part of Manchester United’s pre-season squad that is touring the US and is impressing everyone with his displays. He has already been handed the captain’s armband by Ten Hag once in pre-season, indicating his faith in the youngster.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro seems to be on his way out of the club this window and Collyer could be the perfect player to replace him in the middle of Manchester United’s midfield this season. A midfield pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer will be a nostalgic throwback to the days when academy products Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes would be starting for the club.
1) Oscar Bobb (Manchester City)
Oscar Bobb has been the club’s best player in the pre-season. (Photo by Eston Parker/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
There’s a Norwegian attacker at Manchester City who will be looking to carry on his brilliant form from last season and I’m not talking about Erling Haaland. City’s 21-year-old academy graduate, Oscar Bobb seems to be on the cusp of breaking into the club’s first-team. He made 14 appearances for the club in the Premier League last season but was only given less than 300 minutes and still managed to get a goal and an assist for the club.
He made 26 appearances with the first team last season but played less than 1000 minutes. His numbers for the youth teams are amazing with the attacker contributing 20 goals in 34 appearances in the 2021/22 season and 26 goals in 35 appearances in the 2022/23 season. He is with the club’s first team in the US on their pre-season tour and is impressing people with his performances.
While City aren’t having a great pre-season, Bobb has been their best player in the US. He either scored or assisted all three of City’s goals in their 4-3 defeat to Celtic. With Cole Palmer leaving City for Chelsea and showcasing to everyone what he’s capable of, they would want to avoid a similar situation with Bobb and offer him more chances this season.
There are quite a few academy graduates at clubs that will be keen on making their mark in the Premier League in the upcoming season. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
