COULD ED, FRED & CO BE KEY?
CHRIS DUNLAVY PICKS TEN YOUNG GUNS ON THE RADAR OF EFL CLUBS
HARRY Wilson, Mason Mount, Harvey Barnes this season has gifted us a bumper crop of young loan stars from the Premier League.
Throw in the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo at West Brom and Fikayo Tomori at Derby and it’s hardly a surprise that EFL clubs are hungrily eyeing the youth ranks of England’s elite clubs.
So who should they target this month? Here are ten players who could all be available.
EDDIE NKETIAH Arsenal Striker Age: 19
Arsenal have showered first-team opportunities on their youngsters recently with the likes of Ashley Maitland-Niles and Matteo Guendouzi all seeing regular gametime.
So it seems bizarre that arguably the most exciting prospect of all has played just one minute of Premier League football this term.
Nketiah doesn’t just score goals. He plunders them. Four in two for England Under-18s. Nine in ten for the Under-19s. At club level, he has 38 goals in 50 games for the various age groups.
Last season, he emerged as an 85th-minute substitute during a Carabao Cup tie against Norwich, scored after 15 seconds to level the game at 1-1 and then hit the winner in extra-time.
Gunners boss Unai Emery has suggested a first-team chance is coming but West Brom are keen and may redouble their efforts with Dwight Gayle injured.
JOSH KNIGHT Leicester City Centre-back Age: 21
Many a Championship club will have been gutted to see Hamza Choudhury start for the Foxes recently.
The defensive midfielder - capped four times by England Under-21s is a tremendous talent who would walk into the majority of second-tier sides.
Still, he is hardly the only gem to be unearthed at the King Power, as Harvey Barnes has demonstrated with some shimmering displays on loan at West Brom.
Knight, a 21-year-old centre-back, is another player who has impressed for the club’s Under-23 side and his committed, blood-andthunder style of defending is tailor-made for the EFL.
Quick, technically sound and a threat from set-pieces, his contract expires in the summer so a loan move is imperative to convince Claude Puel - or somebody else - of his worth.
FREDDIE WOODMAN Newcastle Goalkeeper Age: 21
Not so long ago, Woodman was keeping Manchester City youngster Angus Gunn out of the England under-age sides.
But whilst his rival shone on loan at Norwich last year to earn a £13.5m move to Southampton in the summer, Woodman has been left to rot by a Newcastle side with no apparent plan for his development.
A mystifying move to play second fiddle at Aberdeen was followed in September by the rejection of SIX loan offers whilst talks over a contract extension dragged on. Meanwhile, the signing of Martin Dubravka relegated Woodman to fourth choice at St James’ Park.
Since then the keeper has been condemned to playing reserve team football to a few hundred people whilst waiting for the loan window to reopen.
Several EFL clubs are sure to be interested but a move to League One might be necessary to secure the first-team football Woodman needs.
SAM GALLAGHER Southampton Striker Age: 23
At 23, it’s fair to say that it’s game over for Gallagher at St Mary’s. The big striker hasn’t appeared in the Premier League for four years and, despite a contract stretching until 2021, is likely to fall further down the pecking order when new gaffer Ralph Hasenhuttl goes shopping in January.
A loan move is essential as he bids to recover fitness following a hamstring injury, but don’t rule out a permanent switch.
Stoke reportedly offered £7m in the summer, with Aston Villa and Sheffield United also making enquiries. According to fresh rumours, he is now wanted on loan by Blackburn, where he scored 12 goals in the 2016-17 season.
What do you get for the money? A mobile, 6ft 4ins target man who can lead a line in the Championship, as he proved by finishing last season as Birmingham’s top scorer. Think Jordan Hugill, only bigger.
CONOR MASTERSON Liverpool Defender Age: 20
Captain of every youth side for Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland, Masterson hit the headlines in 2012 when - aged just 13 - he was signed from Lucan United for £1m.
But anyone worried that ‘the million dollar kid’ would crumble under the pressure had reckoned without Masterson’s greatest quality: an unshakeable self-belief.
“How about being on the bench for a Champions League quarter-final?” Jurgen Klopp asked him ahead of the Anfield clash with Man City last season. “I’m ready, man,” was the retort.
With Joe Gomez and Joel Matip injured, Masterson is currently training with the first team and is unlikely to leave until at least one of them is fit.
But with both set to return by February, half a season of regular football is a logical next step for the 6ft 2ins centre-back.
SCOTT McTOMINAY Manchester United Midfielder Age: 22
A regular under Jose Mourinho last season, McTominay appeared to have made the breakthrough at Old Trafford.
Even then, however, many at the club argued that a ‘toughening up’ period in the lower leagues was required for a player with good technique and vision but very little meat on his 6ft 4ins physique.
Now Mourinho is gone and McTominay looks less likely to feature under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the time is ripe for a morale-boosting move.
SULLAY KAIKAI Crystal Palace Winger Age: 23
Roy Hodgson rejected loan bids from Brentford and Hull in the summer and named local boy Kaikai in his 25-man squad.
But with his route to first-team football blocked by Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend, the 23-yearold has yet to figure in the top flight this term.
It’s a shame, because Kaikai was on fire in pre-season, exhibiting a social-media baiting array of flicks and tricks. The only thing missing from his game is final product, and perhaps that is why he has spent six months stagnating instead of being unleashed on the Premier League.
After loan spells at Shrewsbury, Brentford and Charlton in recent seasons, it would appear in everyone’s interests to sanction a Championship switch in January.
ETHAN AMPADU Chelsea Centre-back/midfield Age: 18
Described last month as a “very important player” by Maurizio Sarri, Ampadu has nevertheless been earmarked for a loan in January.
There will be no shortage of takers for a stylish, absurdly mature defender who was man of the match on his debut as a 15-year-old for Exeter and already boasts six caps for Wales.
“He reminds me of Ray Wilkins or Joe Allen,” said an admiring Neil Warnock. “He just doesn’t lose the ball.”
Warnock has publicly declared an interest in taking Ampadu to Cardiff if - as expected - he is made available for loan in January.
Chelsea, though, would prefer to ease him in gently and are thought to favour a move to the Championship. Derby, currently home to Blues youngsters Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount, lead a sizeable chasing pack.
JOE WILLOCK Arsenal Midfielder Age: 19
Long touted as one of Arsenal’s brightest prospects, Willock has already played several first-team games and this season scored against FC Vorskla in the Europa League.
“I’ve been very impressed with this kid,” said Martin Keown, who was commentating on the game for BT Sport. “He’s outstanding, and if Unai Emery isn’t going to select him then he should be allowed to go and play elsewhere.”
A loan now seems imminent for a quick, tricky player who is prolific in front of goal and can play anywhere across the midfield.
The only question marks hang over his wiry frame, but that hasn’t deterred Sunderland from showing an interest. They are, however, likely to face competition from several Championship and overseas clubs.
CLAUDIO GOMES Manchester City Midfielder Age: 18
Viewed as the crown jewel in PSG’s academy when he was swiped from the French club on a free last January, Gomes is a ball-winning midfielder with energy to burn.
Nicknamed ‘N’Golo’ by teammates for his ferocious work-rate, the teenager was initially earmarked for a loan last summer but impressed Pep Guardiola so much that he was thrown straight into the first-team squad. “He’s been so, so good,” said the Spaniard.
Guardiola, though, also said Gomes “needs minutes” and he hasn’t had many of those; 120 in the EFL Trophy, four in the Carabao Cup and a single second in the Community Shield. Galatasaray – who have a partnership with City – are interested but something closer to home would be preferable.