PREMIER LADS YOURI TIELEMANS
This lot have long made their mark in England’s top flight – but you ain’t seen nothing yet
LEICESTER, 22 Belgium
Tielemans has been tipped to become football’s next big thing, dismissed, sealed two high- profile transfers, gone to a World Cup and resurrected his career... by the age of 22. The Belgian midfielder could probably be forgiven for wanting a bit of calm, but appears to have it at Leicester. The Foxes made his terrific loan spell from Monaco permanent last summer, and he’s now helping them back into the Champions League.
JOE GOMEZ
LIVERPOOL, 22 England
In an uninspiring generation of English centre- backs, former Charlton stopper Gomez has stood out from his peers as a genuine talent. He’s had to battle back from serious knee, ankle and leg injuries and force his way into one of the greatest Premier League teams in history, but achieved both with consummate ease. The 22- year- old should now be a shoo- in for Gareth Southgate’s England side at Euro 2020 this summer.
MATTEO GUENDOUZI
ARSENAL, 20 France
It’s hard to miss Arsenal’s midfield enforcer from his playing style alone, let alone the eye- catching curls that adorn his bonce. Former Lorient man Guendouzi marries top technical ability with a thirst for the scrap that his predecessors at the Emirates Stadium were often lambasted for lacking, not to mention supreme confidence. As he stated in The Players Tribune: “Next time France make the World Cup final, I’ll be there.”
RICHARLISON
EVERTON, 22 Brazil
Richarlison has grown from being an emotional and inconsistent prospect at Watford into a cold- blooded scorer for both club and country, in only a few years. The Samba forward is now Everton’s standout talent, having posted double figures for goals in each of the last two campaigns, but also possesses a tremendous work ethic. His late penalty for Brazil to wrap up the 2019 Copa America Final capped a remarkable rise.
MASON MOUNT
CHELSEA, 21 England
After shining on loan at Vitesse and Derby in the past two seasons, Mount was given the chance to excel at Stamford Bridge under his hero Frank Lampard. And as one of Chelsea’s main creative outlets this term – contributing to nine league goals by mid- February – the 21- year- old has risen to the challenge. It’s yet to be determined whether he will feature for England at Euro 2020, but Gareth Southgate is clearly a big fan.
AARON WAN- BISSAKA
MANCHESTER UNITED, 22 England
Wan- Bissaka is already faring better at Manchester United than the last Croydon- raised star prised from Crystal Palace’s academy – and seems set to stay at Old Trafford for much longer than Wilfried Zaha. The Red Devils were happy to fork out £ 50 million for the young full- back, whose ‘ spider’ nickname is a tribute to his leggy ball- winning and one- on- one harrying. If only his England competition wasn’t so frightening.
GABRIEL JESUS
MANCHESTER CITY, 22 Brazil
Substitute for club and starter for country sounds a bit incongruous, but it’s understandable when your rival at Manchester City is Sergio Aguero. Still, the former Palmeiras poacher averages nearly a goal every other game for Pep Guardiola’s men, and starred in Brazil’s Copa America victory last summer with a goal and an assist in the final... before a red card meltdown at the Maracana tarnished his evening. You can’t have it all.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
CHELSEA, 21 United States
Pulisic is already used to becoming a record- breaker: youngest foreign goalscorer in the Bundesliga, most expensive American player of all time, youngest USA captain… you get the idea. Talk of filling Eden Hazard’s boots was never going to make his debut season at Stamford Bridge easy, but a perfect hat- trick against Burnley in October showcased the electrifying talent that should make the string- puller feared for years.
TODD CANTWELL
NORWICH, 22 England
He might have been nicknamed the ‘ Justin Bieber of Norwich’ by snickering supporters, but the Canaries’ twinkle- toed young midfielder is much more than a fresh- faced showman. Cantwell has adapted to life in the top flight with relative ease, standing out in a struggling City team with swagger and style that bely his inexperience. If tabloid reports last month have merit, Jurgen Klopp is a not- so- secret admirer.
TAMMY ABRAHAM
CHELSEA, 22 England
A lot was made of Chelsea’s transfer ban handing Abraham his big chance at Stamford Bridge, but he surely would have got a shot this season regardless. The striker – a Blue since under- 8 level – fired Aston Villa to the top tier with 25 goals in a fine 2018- 19, following a similarly prolific stint on loan at Bristol City. Frank Lampard’s faith has not been misplaced, either: Tammy had netted 15 goals by mid- January.
HARVEY BARNES
LEICESTER, 22 England
While Jamie Vardy and James Maddison often take the lion’s share of plaudits at the King Power Stadium, Barnes’ influence under Brendan Rodgers has quietly grown. The local lad’s direct running and willingness to take on players is appreciated by Foxes followers – not least by his team- mates, who saw him play a part in 10 league goals by mid- February after a similarly productive loan at West Bromwich Albion in 2018- 19.