It’s that time of year.
The Guardian have produced their list of the ‘Next Generation’.
Each year, they produce a list of the best talents at each Premier League club who are currently first-year scholars. That means they’re either 16 or 17-years-old.
Their track record is pretty decent. Check out the standout player from their 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 editions.
2018: Mason Greenwood (Man Utd)
2017: Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)
2016: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
2015: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
2014: Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)
So, who is next in line?
Let’s take a look at the class of 2020.
Charlie Patino
Club: Arsenal
Signed for Arsenal from Luton as an 11-year-old, the left-footed midfielder has drawn comparisons to Jack Wilshere.
Ben Chrisene
Club: Aston Villa
Chrisene only signed for Villa in the summer from Exeter, where he beat than Ampadau’s record to become Exeter’s youngest ever player in the senior team when he appeared against Coventry in the Carabao Cup at the age of 15 years, seven months and one day.
Markus Ifill
Club: Brighton
Signed from Swindon in January. The winger is comfortable on either flank.
Michael Mellon
Club: Burnley
The son is Micky. The striker signed from Manchester United and has already represented Scotland at under-17 level.
Charlie Webster
Club: Chelsea
Last year, Webster was named player of the tournament at the Kevin de Bruyne Cup, an international under-15 tournament held annually in Belgium. Already caught the attention of Borussia Dortmund.
Jadan Raymond
Club: Crystal Palace
The left-footed midfielder has represented Wales at youth level but also played for England in the Syrenka Cup last year.
Reece Welch
Club: Everton
The 6ft 4in defender signed a three-year deal on his 17th birthday at Everton. He’s also played for England at under-16 and under-17 level.
Stefan Parkes
Club: Fulham
The left-back has captained England under-15s and played for Fulham’s under-18s last season.
Charlie Allen
Club: Leeds United
The Northern Irishman played for Linfield’s first-team aged just 15 years and five months last season before being snapped up by Leeds. To say he’s versatile would be an understatement with Jim Magilton, his International elite performance director saying: "Charlie is one of those kids you can play anywhere and he'll probably still be the best player on the pitch. He can play right back, central midfield, on either wing, at No10 or at centre forward."
Kian Pennant
Club: Leicester City
The nephew of Jermaine. Pennant has been at Leicester since he was nine and has been capped for England under-17s.
James Balagizi
Club: Liverpool
Liverpool snapped up Balagizi from Manchester City when he was just 11. The recently turned 17-year-old played for Liverpool under-18s at the age of 15.
Luke Mbete-Tabu
Club: Manchester City
The 17-year-old is a left-footed centre-back, who has already played for the under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
Marc Jurado
Club: Manchester United
Jurado joined United in the summer from Barcelona for £1.5m. The defender will be looking to improve on Gerard Pique’s stint at Old Trafford.
Michael Ndiweni
Club: Newcastle United
Ndiweni is eligible for both England and Zimbabwe and can play in both midfield and defence.
Antwoine Hackford
Club: Sheffield United
The Sheffield-born striker has already trained with Chris Wilder’s side and featured in pre-season.
Goran Babic
Club: Southampton
The Serbian would apparently “kick his mother if she was playing”. Sounds like Babic loves a tackle.
Alfie Devine
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs signed Devine from Wigan for £300,000 this summer. Was released by Liverpool at the age of 11.
Rico Richards
Club: West Bromwich Albion
Joined West Brom at the age of seven and was named on the bench for the club’s FA Cup clash against Charlton last season.
Jamal Baptiste
Club: West Ham United
The defender became the second-youngest player to feature for the under-23 side when he played against Valencia B last season. Carlton Cole, who works at West Ham’s academy certainly rates him. “He’s training with the first team at the moment so I think he’s definitely a massive prospect. He’s going to be the next Anton Ferdinand hopefully or the next Rio.”
Kamran Kandola
Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
The defender joined the club as a 9-year-old and made an appearance for the under-18s last year.
