Six rising stars of the European Under-21 Championship who may be on their way to the Premier League this summer.
This week, the European Under-21 Championship got underway in Slovakia as Lee Carsley’s England look to defend the title they won two years ago, and for fans who enjoy watching the best developing talent on the continent, it’s an event worth watching closely.
From established young stars to players whose name recognition is about to skyrocket, the U21 Euros are always a golden opportunity for a little bit of amateur scouting for supporters and a big chance for Premier League sides to see prospects in action in a high-stakes environment – and this year, there are quite a few youngsters involved who could well be on their way to the Premier League soon.
For fans of teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and many others, this tournament will represent a first glance at players who are supposedly high on their clubs’ summer shopping lists – so we’ve decided to highlight six players who could well be headed our way very soon to help make the tournament just that little bit more intriguing.
Ismaël Doukouré – wanted by Chelsea
A 21-year-old centre-back for France who often plays as a holding midfielder, Doukouré is already a regular starter in Ligue 1 and serves either as a dynamic defender who’s comfortable on the ball or as a economic covering player in the centre of the park whose positional sense and quality in one-on-one situations makes him a valuable shield for the back line.
Given that he plays for RC Strasbourg, who are at this point effectively Chelsea’s feeder club, his career path seems to be mapped out already, with L’Equipe recently reporting that negotiations – such as they are when the same people own both teams involved – are already underway. Versatile, classy and with well over 100 senior appearances under his belt already, it’s easy to see why the Blues are keen to ‘promote’ him.
Nick Woltemade – wanted by Everton, West Ham & Brighton
One of the quirks of the U21 Euros is that players who are eligible at the start of qualifying can continue to play right through to the finals regardless of age – which serves to explain why VfB Stuttgart’s Woltemade, who just made his first two appearances for the senior Germany side, is involved in Slovakia at the age of 23.
A tall, rangy forward who can operate as a number ten or as a striker, Woltemade has a deceptively good touch and technique for his size and a keen eye for goal, bagging 17 strikes in 33 games this past season. Everton and Brighton are reportedly keen and West Ham have been mentioned too, but there are also whispers that Bayern Munich might make a bid this summer. That’s a tough transfer battle to win, and one that only looks more likely after Woltemade scored a hat-trick in Germany’s 3-0 win over Slovenia.
Conrad Harder – wanted by Manchester United and Chelsea
The 20-year-old Denmark striker was mostly used as an impact sub over the course of his first season at Portuguese champions Sporting, but his strike rate wasn’t half bad – five goals and five assists despite starting just six matches, including some remarkably precise left-footed finishes from both in and outside the box.
Given that Manchester United and Chelsea are both in the striker market this summer, it’s unsurprising that they’ve both been linked with a bid for a powerfully-built centre-forward who plainly has a genuine goalscorer’s instincts. He’s perhaps more likely to move next summer rather than this year, but if he continues his form in front of goal in Slovakia then perhaps chequebooks will be opened earlier than expected.
Jorrel Hato – wanted by Arsenal
Ajax defender Hato has been linked with a move to Arsenal for a year now, with Fabrizio Romano recently reporting that a deal which could be worth over £40m is in the offing. It’s a hefty investment in a 19-year-old, but the Dutchman looks like the real deal.
Strong in the air and precise in one-on-one situations, not only is Hato a composed presence at the back who can play at left-back or in the middle but also an excellent passer who was responsible for six assists in the Eredivise last season. The kind of player that Mikel Arteta seems to love, and one apparently destined for the very top.
Thierno Barry – wanted by Everton
The 22-year-old France forward only moved from Basel to Villarreal last year, but he made an instant impression in La Liga, scoring 11 goals. A classical centre-forward, he’s strong in the air and superb at getting a beat on his marker, with excellent movement and the strength to muscle defenders out of the way and put himself in quality goalscoring positions.
He certainly looks like he’d be a perfect fit for any team looking for more direct routes to goal, it’s perhaps unsurprising that David Moyes – who seems to have sent quite a few scouts to Slovakia – has him on Everton’s shortlist. Le Parisien report that a bid worth over €30m (£25.5m) has already been made.
Nathaniel Brown – wanted by Manchester City, Arsenal and West Ham
There are plenty of full-backs who are brilliant going forward but a little loose at the back, and plenty who can make every tackle but who don’t offer much in the final third. Then there are those few special players like Brown, a 21-year-old German who can do everything down the left flank without skipping a beat.
The Eintracht Frankfurt man – who is also qualified for the United States and is reportedly considering a switch after the U21 Euros – was one of the most effective tacklers in Europe last season, both in terms of volume and success rate, all while scoring three goals and providing six assists in the Bundesliga alone. Stories from back in April suggest that at least three Premier League teams have sent scouts to watch him in action. Manchester City’s signing of Rayan Aït-Nouri and Arenal’s interest in Hato suggest that perhaps West Ham have the edge here…
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