PREMIER LEAGUE fans will know all about the likes of Mason Greenwood, Reece James and Gabriel Martinelli.
But when it comes to talented youngsters, we’re often in the dark about who to watch across the rest of Europe.
This lot make SunSport’s best XI of Under-21s to watch, but who else makes the top 50 amongst Europe-based players?
As we enter a new year, a new decade, we wanted to take a look at the 50 best hot prospects on the continent to keep an eye on.
Check out the most-exciting youngsters in Europe, in alphabetical order, according to Uefa…
YACINE ADLI
Age: 19
Nationality: French
Club: Bordeaux
Position: CDM
THE former Paris Saint-Germain star made the right decision moving to Bordeaux a year ago – as he is now under the management of holding midfield legend Paulo Sousa.
BLENDI BAFTIU
Age: 21
Nationality: Kosovan
Club: Ballkani
Position: CAM
THE top scorer in the Kosovan league with ten goals in just 17 games from midfield, Baftiu is expected to make a move to one of the Big Five leagues in the coming months.
ALESSANDRO BASTONI
Age: 20
Nationality: Italian
Club: Inter Milan
Position: CB
THE 12-cap Italy Under-21s international thrived during a season-long loan at Parma in 2018-19 and has broken into Inter Milan’s first-team this season as a result, wearing the No95… as you do.
Alessandro Bastoni has a bright future with the Italy national sideCredit: Getty
Myron Boadu was once on the radar of Arsenal, but the Dutch star turned them downCredit: Getty
MYRON BOADU
Age: 18
Nationality: Dutch
Club: AZ Alkmaar
Position: ST
THE Dutch striker once turned down Arsenal and is now tearing up the Eredivisie and Europa League with goal after goal after goal. He has 18 in 29 games this term for club and country.
DOMAGOJ BRADARIC
Age: 20
Nationality: Croatian
Club: Lille
Position: LB
AN attack-minded player, Bradaric is the epitome of the modern full-back – and has the skills to justify his move from Hajduk Split to Ligue 1 in the summer.
EDUARDO CAMAVINGA
Age: 17
Nationality: French
Club: Rennes
Position: CDM
AFTER breaking into the Rennes starting XI late last season, the quick, powerful midfielder has become a first-team regular this season, still aged only 17.
RAYAN CHERKI
Age: 16
Nationality: French
Club: Lyon
Position: CAM
SOME reports in France are calling the 16-year-old the “best talent since Kylian Mbappe”. High praise indeed…
Rayan Cherki is being tipped as one of the hottest prospects in the worldCredit: Getty
JONATHAN DAVID
Age: 19
Nationality: Canadian
Club: Gent
Position: CAM
THE attacking midfielder has already scored 11 goals in just 12 games for Canada and is finding the net just as regularly in Belgium, scoring twice in the Europa League this term, too.
ZURIKO DAVITASHVILI
Age: 18
Nationality: Georgian
Club: Rubin Kazan
Position: CAM
THE son of Georgia legend Suliko, Zuriko moved from his home country to the Russian top-flight in the summer and has instantly looked the part.
DODO
Age: 21
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Shakhtar Donetsk
Position: RB
A REGULAR in the Ukrainian top flight and Champions League group stage, Dodo has got heaps of potential.
ODSONNE EDOUARD
Age: 21
Nationality: French
Club: Celtic
Position: ST
FANS in Scotland know just what France Under-21s star Edouard is about… using speed, strength and athleticism to score bundles of goals.
Odsonne Edouard has been in sensational form for Celtic in recent monthsCredit: PA:Press Association
DIMITRIS EMMANOUILIDIS
Age: 19
Nationality: Greek
Club: Panathinaikos
Position: RW
CURRENTLY on loan at Panionios, Emmanouilidis has been scoring for fun in Greece – including against Olympiakos, his parent club’s fierce rivals.
FABIO SILVA
Age: 17
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Porto
Position: ST
THE forward became Porto’s youngest-ever league player at the start of this season, before becoming their youngest scorer two months later. The son of ex-Portugal international Jorge.
ANSU FATI
Age: 17
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Barcelona
Position: RW
ONE of the more-well-known stars on the list, Fati exploded onto the scene with Barcelona this season, becoming the Champions League’s youngest-ever scorer aged 17 years and 40 days.
Incredibly, Fati needed permission from his parents to make his debut against Real Betis, as it meant staying up late on a school night.
Ansu Fati has burst onto the scene with Barcelona this termCredit: AFP
FLORENTINO LUIS
Age: 20
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Benfica
Position: CM
NICKNAMED “The Octopus” in Portugal as he is all over the midfield. The midfielder is being tipped with a move to a Big Five league in the coming months for his N’Golo Kante-esque energy.
BRYAN GIL
Age: 18
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Sevilla
Position: LW
BECAME the first Spaniard born after January 1, 2000 to score in the Europa League in November on the back of becoming Sevilla’s youngest scorer in La Liga at the end of 2018-19.
MASON GREENWOOD
Age: 18
Nationality: English
Club: Manchester United
Position: ST
DESCRIBED as a “natural finisher” and “two-footed” by United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Greenwood has a bright future for club and country.
Mason Greenwood looks to be one of England’s best finishers in a generationCredit: PA:Press Association
Reece James has quickly become Chelsea’s No1 right-back under LampardCredit: Reuters
REECE JAMES
Age: 20
Nationality: English
Club: Chelsea
Position: RB
MADE waves in the Championship last season at Wigan and has instantly become Frank Lampard’s No1 right-back at Chelsea this season, shunting veteran Cesar Azpilicueta to the left flank.
BOUBACAR KAMARA
Age: 20
Nationality: French
Club: Marseille
Position: CB
ON the short side for a centre-back, Kamara makes up for it with his intelligence and quickness.
LEE KANG-IN
Age: 18
Nationality: South Korean
Club: Valencia
Position: CAM
SCORED on his first La Liga start and became the youngest South Korean in Champions League history in an already-action packed 2019-20 season.
MICHAL KARBOWNIK
Age: 18
Nationality: Polish
Club: Legia Warsaw
Position: LB/CM
CAPABLE on the left of defence and in the heart of midfield – much like David Alaba – the Polish star has quickly appeared on a host of top clubs’ scouting lists.
Sekou Koita, right, is set to have a huge six months at Salzburg after Haaland’s exitCredit: Getty
VADIM KARPOV
Age: 17
Nationality: Russian
Club: CSKA Moscow
Position: CB
THE youngest defender in Russian top-flight history at just 17 years and 70 days, Karpov is quickly making a name for himself.
SEKOU KOITA
Age: 20
Nationality: Malian
Club: Red Bull Salzburg
Position: ST
WILL find minutes easier to come by now Erling Haaland has joined Borussia Dortmund. Koita scored six goals in his first seven games in Austria and deserves a real crack at the first-team.
JULES KOUNDE
Age: 21
Nationality: French
Club: Sevilla
Position: CB
HOT form for Bordeaux saw Sevilla take a chance on the young Frenchman – and he’s already justified the La Liga giants’ faith, becoming a first-team regular.
Dejan Kulusevski signed for Juventus from Atalanta earlier this weekCredit: Getty
DEJAN KULUSEVSKI
Age: 19
Nationality: Swedish
Club: Juventus
Position: CM/RW
MAN UTD had been eager to sign the Swedish teenager from Atalanta, but the versatile midfielder star instead joined Juventus in a £30million. Has been loaned back to Atalanta for the remainder of the season.
DIEGO LAINEZ
Age: 19
Nationality: Mexican
Club: Real Betis
Position: LW
CLAIMED to be the most expensive European signing from a Mexican club after moving to Spain last January. A solid passer and dangerous in attack.
NOA LANG
Age: 20
Nationality: Dutch
Club: Ajax
Position: LW
QUICK and boasting impressive footwork, Lang has a bright future and even scored a hat-trick on his first Eredivisie start last month, the first player to do so in 60 years.
BOGDAN LEDNEV
Age: 21
Nationality: Ukrainian
Club: Dynamo Kiev
Position: CAM
A CREATIVE playmaker with a sweet left-foot, you’re sure to hear about Lednev soon, if you haven’t already, for his free-kicks alone.
DENNIS MAN
Age: 21
Nationality: Romanian
Club: Steaua Bucharest
Position: RW
SET to move to one of Europe’s Big Five leagues, the versatile attacker has been a revelation at FCSB.
Gabriel Martinelli has enjoyed a flying start to life at ArsenalCredit: Reuters
GABRIEL MARTINELLI
Age: 18
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Arsenal
Position: FW
ABLE to play all across the front-three, the Brazilian became the first Arsenal star to score four goals in his first four starts since Ian Wright. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp even called him a “talent of the century”.
NIKOLA MORO
Age: 21
Nationality: Croatian
Club: Dinamo Zagreb
Position: CDM
THE powerful midfielder bounced back from a serious knee injury to immediately find his feet – set for a huge future in the international set-up.
RAFAEL LEAO
Age: 20
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: AC Milan
Position: ST
THE “Portuguese Mbappe” is being rating as “better than Cristiano Ronaldo” by coaches at former club Sporting. Joined Milan from Lille in the summer.
Troy Parrott has a bright future for Spurs and the Republic of IrelandCredit: PA:Empics Sport
TROY PARROTT
Age: 17
Nationality: Irish
Club: Tottenham
Position: ST
HIS rapid ascent has been stalled only by Harry Kane, Spurs’ obvious No1 striker. But Parrott has made his Republic of Ireland debut and first Premier League start this season.
STRAHINJA PAVLOVIC
Age: 18
Nationality: Serbian
Club: Partizan Belgrade
Position: CB
TIPPED with a big-money move to Monaco this month, Pavlovic has been a rock in the heart of the Partizan defence lately.
PANAGIOTIS RETSOS
Age: 21
Nationality: Greek
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: CB
WIPED out by injury last season, Retsos has quickly found his feet in the Bundesliga this season, while also playing in the Champions League.
Bukayo Saka has been in red-hot form for the Gunners this termCredit: Reuters
BUKAYO SAKA
Age: 18
Nationality: English
Club: Arsenal
Position: LW
ARSENAL’S youngest European scorer since Aaron Ramsey in 2008, Saka has been a star in a disappointing season for the Gunners this season. Also forced to fill in at left-back due to injuries, performing admirably.
OIHAN SANCET
Age: 19
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Athletic Bilbao
Position: CM
ALREADY an Under-21s international with Spain, Sancet’s classy style has turned heads in La Liga and beyond.
ARNOR SIGURDSSON
Age: 20
Nationality: Icelandic
Club: CSKA Moscow
Position: CAM
SCORED his first goal for Iceland in October and is also the youngest star from his country to feature in the Champions League.
Boubakary Soumare has been thriving in the Lille midfield this seasonCredit: Getty
BOUBAKARY SOUMARE
Age: 20
Nationality: French
Club: Lille
Position: CM
ON the radar of Man Utd as a potential Paul Pogba replacement amidst his hot form at Lille.
CALVIN STENGS
Age: 21
Nationality: Dutch
Club: AZ Alkmaar
Position: RW
THE “next Arjen Robben”, according to remarks in Holland, the youngster has already made his international debut thanks to his hot form at AZ.
MAGOMED-SHAPI SULEYMANOV
Age: 20
Nationality: Russian
Club: Krasnodar
Position: RW
SCORING for fun in Russia’s Under-21s side, the Krasnodar star is a first-team regular for his club.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been a key cog in the Salzburg machine this termCredit: Getty
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI
Age: 19
Nationality: Hungarian
Club: Red Bull Salzburg
Position: CDM
ANOTHER to have drawn comparisons to Pogba, Szoboszlai had an impressive Champions League campaign at the Austrian side and is being linked with a Prem switch in 2020.
TOMAS TAVARES
Age: 18
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Benfica
Position: RB
BEING compared to Belgium and PSG star Thomas Meunier, Tavares was another youngster to make a name for himself in the Champions League this season.
TETE
Age: 19
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Shakhtar Donetsk
Position: RW
A TERRIFYING talent on the right-wing, Tete has been given the nickname “Hurricane” in Brazil for his power.
Tete is called the ‘Hurricane’ in Brazil thanks to his destructive abilityCredit: Getty
TOMAS ESTEVES
Age: 17
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Porto
Position: RB
PORTO managed to stave off interest from Spanish and English champions Barcelona and Man City after helping his side win the Uefa Youth League last summer, but a big move is surely on the cards for Tomas.
FRANCISCO TRINCAO
Age: 20
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Braga
Position: LW
BOASTING great skill and balance, Trincao looks to have just what it takes to become a wing superstar of the future.
MAARTEN VANDEVOORDT
Age: 17
Nationality: Belgian
Club: Genk
Position: GK
THE only goalkeeper on the list, Vandevoordt actually grew up on the same street as ex-Liverpool stopper Simon Mignolet. Became the youngest-ever Champions League goalkeeper against Napoli this season.
ZINHO VANHEUSDEN
Age: 20
Nationality: Belgian
Club: Standard Liege
Position: CB
HAS thrived since moving back to Belgium after a spell at Inter Milan, the Belgian was actually named after 90s Brazilian star, Zinho.
YARI VERSCHAEREN
Age: 18
Nationality: Belgian
Club: Anderlecht
Position: CAM
THEN aged 17, Verschaeren become the youngest scorer in Euro Under-21s finals history against Italy. He’s now been capped – and scored – at the senior level amidst a fine season at Anderlecht.
DUSAN VLAHOVIC
Age: 19
Nationality: Serbian
Club: Fiorentina
Position: ST
SIGNED his first professional deal aged just 15 at Partizan Belgrade, the “new Zlatan Ibrahimovic” is thriving in Italy at Fiorentina, scoring five times in 15 games this season.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
