Lucas Bergvall, an 18-year-old Swede, secured a deal worth £8.5 million from Djurgården in February and officially transferred to Tottenham in the summer. Having been selected once for his country’s national team, Bergvall is a dynamic midfield player, fitting nicely into a No 8 position in the flexible Tottenham system led by Ange Postecoglou. He has shown his ability to deliver accurate passes to forward players after reclaiming ball possession in midfield. Bergvall has displayed promising performance during preseason, even providing an astute assist to fellow Swedish player Dejan Kulusevski in a recent match against Bayern Munich.
Manchester United’s Harry Amass, aged 17, has also shown potential for more frequent participation in the first team during the preseason. With the absence of seasoned left-back Luke Shaw, Amass featured in all of United’s summer friendly matches, indicating that he could be a suitable understudy in that position for Erik Ten Hag. He possesses a level of confidence and a style akin to Shaw’s. He performs particularly well when distributing the ball to his teammates using his prominent left foot. With Shaw out till after the international break, more opportunities for Amass to demonstrate his skills are likely.
Oscar Bobb, a recognisable name at 21, due to his appearances for Manchester City in the last season, is predicted to have a significant footing under Pep Guardiola’s management. The player from Norway played all friendly matches for the Premier League champions during the summer and had a standout performance in the recent Community Shield victory over United, their city rivals. Bobb’s strengths are predominantly on the right-wing, either cutting inside with his left foot or beating his man at the edge of the pitch; this skill was demonstrated at Wembley when he bypassed Lisandro Martínez with a fantastic first touch and turn, leading to an assist for Bernardo Silva.
17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, a promising talent from Arsenal, completes the list.
Initially recognised for his skills as a central midfielder at the Arsenal Academy, Myles Lewis-Skelly appears to be on the brink of securing a spot in Mikel Arteta’s primary team. The 17-year-old has recently showcased his talents as a left-back during the preseason, demonstrating an aptitude for stepping into a midfield role, where he can influence the game. Lewis-Skelly possesses well-rounded technical skills, has a knack for delivering accurate passes, and exhibits determination when in control of the ball. Additionally, he is a fierce defender, using his physical prowess to make effective tackles. As a Hale End alumnus, Lewis-Skelly can also fill the role of centre-half, if needed, making his versatility a strong asset appreciated by Arteta.
Turning our attention to Southampton, we have Tyler Dibling, an adaptable attacking player who has claimed the No 10 role as his optimal position. Dibling, the most recent starlet from Southampton’s esteemed academy, offers hope to the club, having struggled recently to develop a world-class player. The England under-18 international is a superb carrier of the ball, advancing the game upfield in mere moments. He mirrors the dynamic style of a young Jack Grealish, tackling opponents while sporting his socks and shin guards low, akin to the Manchester City favourite. In 2022, Dibling drew attention when he scored a hat-trick of identical goals against Newcastle’s under-23 team at St James’ Park. Dibling may even feature in a Premier League game at the same venue this weekend.
Over at Liverpool, we have Trey Nyoni, a 17-year-old midfielder who may be the next young player to make his mark in the first team. Nyoni’s performances during the preseason suggest he might maintain his spot in the team for the upcoming season. After a successful transition from Leicester to Liverpool last season, Nyoni performed marvelously for the under-21s before making his debut in an FA Cup match. In his brief senior appearances, Nyoni displayed calmness and maturity that far exceeded his years. Given Liverpool’s inability to sign Martín Zubimendi, a star midfield player from Real Sociedad, Nyoni may receive more opportunities to prove his worth under Arne Slot.
Not forgetting Chelsea’s starlet Marc Guiu, an 18-year-old who is set to make waves this season.
Continuing with his team despite the enlarged squad and possibly no prospect of a loan deal, Chelsea’s forward, Marc Guiu, is expected to make significant contributions. The prodigious 18-year-old transferred from Barcelona to London in July for an estimated €6 million (£5.1 million), following just three matches in Barcelona’s senior league the previous season. However, Guiu, despite his relatively low transfer fee compared to his colleagues, excelled in the preseason under the new head coach, Enzo Maresca. Guiu, who is an energetic forward not known for his physical prowess in the conventional No 9 role, could be critical for Maresca’s approach at Stamford Bridge due to his constant efforts and pressure.
Lewis Hall, 19, was a young Chelsea player but now has joined Newcastle after meeting specific conditions in his Tyneside loan spell last season. Hall had his initial professional appearance under Graham Potter in 2022, but he faced stiff competition for a regular position in the Newcastle lineup from Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Tino Livramento. However, Eddie Howe gave him more chances near the season’s end. He played all four preseason friendlies as the Newcastle left-back and is now likely to enter the Premier League as the first choice left-back for the club. Given the well-known shortage of left-backs in England, Hall might earn a senior call-up in the coming season.
Lastly, Yankuba Minteh (20), who is now with Brighton.
Newcastle’s iffy decision to let go of Yankuba Minteh during the summer has turned out to be a windfall for Brighton, who managed to snag him for a cool £33 million. Minteh’s transfer was compelled due to the financial regulation set by the Premier League. Brighton acted swiftly to secure the 20-year-old Gambian winger, a move that appears wise in retrospect. Minteh, on loan at Feyenoord the previous season, played spectacularly, scoring 10 goals and assisting six in less than 1,500 minutes of league play. This essentially averages to direct goal involvement in nearly every game. Best regarded as a teenager during his Dutch top-tier loan period, Minteh was lauded for completing 59 successful dribbles, the sixth highest in the division. As he turned 20 in July, excitement builds around his potential role under Brighton’s new manager, Fabian Hürzeler.
Mikey Moore from Tottenham, the youngest player this list, has garnered lively attention as one of England’s most promising footballers. The 17-year-old recently signed his first professional contract with Spurs, capping an exceptional summer that saw him impress at the European Under-17 Championship in Cyprus. After scoring twice in the opening game against France and netting goals against Portugal and Spain, Moore has shown remarkable talent. Upon his return for pre-season training with Tottenham, he was immediately integrated into Ange Postecoglou’s first-team. Moore quickly proved his value, scoring against Hearts in Spurs’s opening friendly and later assisting against Queens Park Rangers. Despite his youth, Moore possesses extraordinary dribbling skills, strong link-up play, and superb finishing abilities. He can play in various offensive positions, like on the wing, as No 9, No 10, or even slightly deeper as an eight. Notably, in May, he became the youngest ever Tottenham player to feature in the Premier League during the home defeat to Manchester City. Anticipation surrounds his potential further involvement in top-flight games this season, as reported by The Guardian.
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