We are all very aware of Jude Bellingham’s incredible rise, the Brummie megastar bossing La Liga on a weekly basis. Across Spain meanwhile, Barcelona’s Gavi continues to belie his tender years, putting in masterclass after masterclass.
Closer to home, 21-year-old Jeremy Doku is ripping into the English top-flight, a cert to trouble the top assists Premier League market come May. Then there’s Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, barely able to grow a proper beard, but a man among boys at the Bridge.
This fabulous quartet are not the only young prodigies of course reaching highs that make a mockery of their supposed inexperience. The following precocious teens will be on many a Premier League shopping list after their impressive displays so far this season.
Roony Bardghji (Copenhagen)
Roony by name, Rooney by nature.
Just 17 years of age and still to make his full international bow with Sweden, Bardghji caught Manchester United’s eye when scoring a late winner past them in the Champions League recently.
Domestically, the Kuwait-born attacking midfielder has been fast-tracked into the Copenhagen starting XI, justifying the belief placed in him by manager Jacob Neestrup by making well-timed runs and scoring regularly for the Lions.
Seven goals in 15 league outings to date is a notable return.
Samson Baidoo (Red Bull Salzburg)
The 6ft 1 defender received his first international call-up last month, coming on for Austria against Belgium and keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet in the closing stages.
For Red Bull his assured displays has seen his stock rapidly rise, the 19-year-old admired as much for his excellent distribution from the back as for his innate reading of danger.
For a club that has a proven track record in sourcing gems before moving them on for a profit, he is unquestionably their next big deal.
Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord)
The Gambian winger’s move to Newcastle in the summer prompted thousands of Geordies to rush to YouTube to check out his trickery and searing pace.
Excited by what they witnessed they must have been somewhat miffed when the club immediately loaned him to Feyenoord, deeming him one for the future.
In the Eredivisie, Minteh has led Dutch defenders a merry dance, completing 2.4 dribbles per 90.
Crucially, there is end product too, with four goal involvements from five starts.
Joao Neves (Benfica)
Benfica’s recent top-of-the-table clash with Sporting saw Premier League scouts flocking to the Estadio da Luz to further monitor one of the highest rated teens in world football.
Dominating the centre-circle throughout, Neves didn’t disappoint.
Fourteen duels won across the 90 demonstrated the Portuguese international’s combative attributes while on the ball his successful pass rate exceeded 90%. He even conjured up a late equaliser into the bargain.
It’s a fair punt in the sports betting that Neves is wearing Manchester United or Liverpool colours in the not-too-distant future.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Did we say at the top that Premier League clubs will be including these names on their summer shopping list?
According to numerous reports, Barcelona’s 16-year-old sensation already has a release clause that amounts to $1 billion, so good luck with that.
Presently, so much of this brilliant winger’s achievements are tied in with his age, becoming La Liga’s youngest player this century when he debuted for the Blaugrana last April. On making his bow with Spain, he additionally became his nation’s youngest ever goalscorer.
Aged just 15, he was training with the first-team, surrounded by superstars. Yet Yamal’s supernatural talents surpass hype of this nature. The kid is special and substantially so.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
