Troy Deeney picks his six Prem wonderkids to watch this year from Palmer to Mainoo… plus one familiar name in the EFL
HERE are my six Premier League players that are under 23 to watch in 2024 — and one from the Championship with a familiar name.
Manchester United and Chelsea each supply two starlets – despite the Prem giants both enduring a mediocre first half of the season.
MICHAEL OLISE – Crystal Palace winger, 22
One of those I’m most excited by due to his explosiveness, tight control and ability to put the ball in the net.
Arsene Wenger hailed him as one of the best young talents at the moment — I think that says it all.
Olise’s been unfortunate with injuries so his game time has been limited this season but five goals and one assist in nine games is not bad going.
COLE PALMER – Chelsea striker, 21
Not only is this guy one of the best in England right now, but I will expand that and say one of the best on the planet. He is that good.
Punters said he made a mistake leaving his boyhood Manchester City in the summer in a shock £42.5million switch after winning it all at such a young age.
But the young man has proven to be worth every penny of his price tag, and does not look fazed in the slightest.
I am certain he is going to have another amazing year in a Chelsea shirt, with the Euros also on the horizon…
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LEVI COLWILL – Chelsea centre-back, 20
Strong, fast. Just two things separate this kid from the rest in his position. Chelsea and England are lucky to have such a talent on their hands.
Produced some top displays as Young Lions won the Under-21 Euros over summer and fitted in seamlessly back at Chelsea after Brighton loan.
Tipped to become one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs.
RASMUS HOJLUND – Man Utd striker, 20
He might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and he may be struggling to find the net in this poor United team right now, but he is definitely someone to watch this year.
The Dane has not got the Prem goals underneath him just yet – just the one in fact – but he causes defenders so many problems.
He is sharp, responsive and has good finishing skills when he gets the right delivery, something that has been lacking from his United teammates so far.
Before we know it, the whole world will be wanting to watch him – not just this year but for the foreseeable future.
HARVEY ELLIOTT – Liverpool midfielder, 20
This probably would not be a popular pick by most football fans but this guy just loves proving the haters wrong and has really developed under Jurgen Klopp.
He always puts in a strong performance when asked of him in both the Prem and in Europe – whether it is off the bench or starting from the off and he knows where the goal is.
He has captained the England U21s on several occasions and it will not be long before he gets that senior national team call-up he dreams of.
Given time, he will become an absolute asset to Liverpool, who already have so many exciting attackers in their ranks, none more so than Mohamed Salah.
KOBBIE MAINOO – Man Utd midfielder, 18
In what has been a dull season for United, this teenager is the bright spark, and I have been watching him with interest since pre-season.
Unfortunately, he was hit with injury – had he not, he may well have caught everyone’s attention sooner and nailed down a starting spot in Ten Hag’s side.
But he has bounced back and United fans have not stopped raving about the potential on show. Credit to him, he has stepped into some big shoes.
We may not be sure of United under Ten Hag, but we are sure of how much better Mainoo makes them when he is in the team.
JOBE BELLINGHAM – Sunderland midfielder, 18
While Jude Bellingham rips it up in Spain with Real Madrid, his younger brother Jobe is proving why people say they share many of the same traits on the pitch.
The physique. The ball control. The strength. The swagger.
Mostly appearing in an advanced midfield role since signing from Birmingham last summer, his coaches have said his greatest attribute is his eagerness to learn.
It is only a matter of time before Sunderland make a huge profit on the bargain £1.5m they paid for him when a big boy comes in and snaps him up.