Everywhere you turn, there is a new talent whose coaches are comparing them to the all-time greats. A “new Messi”, a new “Cristiano Ronaldo”, a new “Zlatan Ibrahimovic”, a new “John Terry”, a new “Wayne Rooney” exists in many clubs around the world.
Overlyzer takes a look at English football to predict which of these new generation players could go on to make a big move in the coming year either within their clubs, overseas, or within England.
This article is prepared using the most accurate bookmaker ratings from several sportsbooks who have carefully analyzed these players’ performances over time.
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool, 18 years old)
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott is already a star, having officially been promoted to the Reds’ first team at the start of the season. So much is his talent that he started three of Liverpool’s first four Premier League games this season.
The 18-year-old would have become an established starter if not for the unfortunate injury he suffered just a month into the season which kept him out of the squad for five months. He has since returned to the side, however, and is slowly regaining his manager’s confidence.
If Elliott stays injury free, we predict a much bigger role at Liverpool for the young midfielder and a first England call-up in 2023.
Levi Colwill (Chelsea, 18 years old)
Levi Colwill is a Chelsea academy product who is currently being touted as the next John Terry by all who follow English football. The Cobham graduate is another in a fine line of talents which the London club have churned out in recent years.
Now on loan at Huddersfield Town in the Championship, Colwill is putting in performances that have given Tuchel a team selection headache ahead of the 2022/23 season. The club, currently facing a crisis which may see them unable to sign players next season, coupled with their aging defence who could all be gone by the summer, will surely be happy to have the England U-19s captain to call upon in the near future.
Colwill has been reported to always review his past games with a video analyst in order to be better for the next one, a testament to his immense mentality as far as the game is concerned.
Whatever happens with Chelsea after his Huddersfield Town loan is up, Colwill is likely going to play in a much bigger side next season with many clubs in the Premier League and the Championship’s top sides already preparing to go after the centre back.
Liam Delap (Manchester City, 19 years old)
The son of Premier League legend Rory Delap, Liam Delap, has shown Manchester City that their academy can produce the number 9 which the first team so desperately needs.
Despite suffering a few injuries this season, Delap has already proven himself beyond doubt as a striker who is ready for the big moves. In the 2020/21 youth Premier League, he scored 24 goals in 20 games to break the all-time season scoring record for the tournament.
He has also scored for City after being called up by Pep Guardiola.
With the Premier League champions’ striker search looking like a huge financial deal, Delap could prove a cheaper option or a good backup for whoever City manage to land next summer, with Gabriel Jesus set for an exit from the Etihad.
Ethan Laird (Manchester United, 20 years old)
The Manchester United academy graduate has been one of English football’s most promising talents for a while, since he broke into the scene as a 16-year-old at the club.
He has already made two senior appearances for the club before moving on to get more first team experience on loan at Milton Keynes Dons and Swansea.
He is now with AFC Bournemouth and even though he is yet to make up to five appearances for The Cherries since joining them in January, his profile is still very much the type to move up to a more prominent club and become an important part of their squad.
Manchester United also have a right-back problem and Laird could be a good alternative. Regardless, Laird is sure to move on to bigger things come next season, especially with Bundesliga clubs paying more attention to the 20-year-old.
Shola Shoretire (Manchester United, 18 years old)
Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain were after the attacking midfielder before he signed his first professional contract with Manchester United. That alone is a huge testament to his talents on the pitch.
Shoretire is Manchester United’s youngest European competition player, which is quite the feat, considering how many talents the Red Devils produce on average. He is already a United star in the making, and only a new manager will hinder his progression to the main squad of the Red Devils come next season.
He is also being keenly watched by clubs all across Europe, especially in Germany, which makes a move up for Shoretire very much expected next season.
Charlie Patino (Arsenal, 18 years old)
Charlie Patino is on the same track as Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe at Arsenal, and that’s saying enough. His lean figure betrays his actual footballing talent, which surprises watchers every time he has been seen in action.
A strong, technical and pacy box-to-box midfielder with qualities resembling that of Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong, he has been touted as the next to make the jump to Arsenal’s senior squad by everyone, including Martin Ødegaard, who officially joined the Gunners in the summer.
For Patino, it’s a matter of “when” not “if”, and next season looks to be the when as links with Barcelona and the Spanish national team – who he is also eligible to play for – continue to emerge for Patino.
Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa, 18 years old)
Born in Austria to Nigerian parents who moved to England to help both their sons’ professional careers, Carney Chukwuemeka is one of Aston Villa’s gems.
Touted as England’s best 16-year-old back in 2020 by Aston Villa’s CEO Christian Purslow, the young midfielder is now making good on those claims.
He is currently being watched by several clubs but with Aston Villa about to spend their third season in a row back in the Premier League since their return, Chukwuemeka could be given a more prominent role next season at Villa Park in order to keep him at the club.
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa, 20 years old)
Jacob Ramsey burst into the scene for Aston Villa under Steven Gerrard and has since earned a prominent role in the Villains starting lineup.
The pacy and powerful attacking midfielder has combined to great effect with loan signing Philippe Coutinho to help Villa continue their top half charge this season.
He already has offers from Liverpool who want him at Anfield in the summer. However, he looks like staying with Aston Villa to continue his development and is next in line for an England call-up.
