Season after season, the Premier League witnesses the rise of many talented players, especially of those individuals who have had to work hard to achieve game time at the top level of English football. Over the last couple of years, everyone has seen the likes of Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden burst onto the scene, players who were born to play for the top teams.
As a supporter of the beautiful game of football, one of the most exciting periods of the sport is to see a young footballer from his very first moment as a starter up until he makes a name for himself and is proving himself as the real deal. The individuals that are due to be mentioned may not be the most popular of players within the league, however, they will be well-known throughout the season.
With no further ado, here are the four talented youngsters to look out for in the Premier League…
Billy Gilmour – Norwich
Despite the number of quality players that have come through the Chelsea academy, such as Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James and Tammy Abraham, Billy Gilmour has been dubbed and regarded as the crown jewel, and the one with the most potential to fulfil as an individual. At the age 20, he has already made a few appearances under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, where he presented his abilities and potential, leading to a deserved call-up to the Scotland national team.
Now, at Norwich City on a season-long loan deal, Gilmour has the monumental opportunity to play in the Premier League on a regular basis as well as prove to his parent club and manager that he is ready to play within Chelsea's starting line-up. The Canaries will benefit from his range and type of passing, ball-carrying ability, positional awareness and importantly, his way of dictating the play.
Gilmour playing for Norwich in preseason
Bryan Gil - Tottenham Hotspur
Bryan Gil is one of the most promising youngsters to come through from Spain right now, an attacking midfielder who shows off his qualities on the left side of the pitch but is more than capable to play on the opposite flank too. With Heung-Min Son continuing to play on the left wing, the former Eibar and Sevilla player will either be backup for the left-side area or a potential starter on the right flank, where he can challenge Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn for a position in the team.
The Spaniard is deemed as an old school winger, being known for his pure dribbling ability on the ball and how he opens the opposition's defence up, rather than being an attacker that is reliant on his pace or operating effectively only in open space. For sure, he will need to work on his end product to remove the dependant burden on Son and Harry Kane, though, it should not take him a long time to do so, as he is the type of player that develops and improves himself on a regular basis.
Gil evading Brazilian defenders in the Olympics final
Harvey Elliott – Liverpool
Already a well-known player after a successful loan spell at Blackburn Rovers last season, Harvey Elliott is making a name for himself through his playmaking ability and how he influences the game on and off the ball. The 18-year-old stamped his marked in the Championship during the 2020/21 campaign, where he notched seven goals and 11 assists with a team that was incredibly inconsistent.
As a left-footed player, the teenager has the intelligence and awareness of the game to be utilised on either flank as well as an attacking midfielder, something that Jurgen Klopp will find very helpful when resting key individuals in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Not only that, but with Georgino Wijnaldum now at Paris Saint-Germain and both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita having a record with injury issues, it will allow Elliott to be given enough game time in the Premier League.
Elliott has impressed Jurgen Klopp during preseason
Crystal Palace are predicted to have an exciting season under new manager, Patrick Viera, who has brought into the club some promising additions such as Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise. Just like a number of players within the Chelsea academy over the last couple of years, Guehi is a top-rated youngster that is naturally talented but is unable to break into the Blues' senior squad.
Whether Viera is looking to play possession-based football or sit deep and break on the counter, Guehi has all the abilities and potential one would like from a complete centre-back. From his cool composure on the ball to his aggressive and excellent eager to win the ball back, he is the perfect type of player to step into the heart of defence and play alongside a centre-back like Andersen.
