The best club teams in the world have plenty of money to spend in order to load their roster with the best overall talent available but even so, there is an obvious need to develop young stars from within and groom players to eventually be a part of their first team rosters. A number of teams have already been rewarded with excellent young talents that are ready to play at the highest level but there is always the lingering threat of another club stealing them away. Here is a look at the five best Under-21 summer transfer prospects.
Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
Kane’s 21 goals last season was among the most in the Premier League and when you consider the lack of elite talent around him, it is that much more impressive that the 21-year-old phenom was able to produce at such a high level. As a team, Tottenham only produced 58 goals, so it’s quite impressive that Kane had 36 percent of the offense. Without him, this team is easily at least five spots lower in the standings.
There are plenty of young talents that get talked about a lot but ultimately fail to consistently produce at the highest level but Kane established himself as an absolute star last season. The soccer world will be watching to see if he can duplicate his production next season and there is little doubt that a big payday is coming soon for the young stud.
Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
Liverpool is expected to give its young star one more opportunity to prove that he can produce at an elite level in the Premier League. He’ll be entering a big season this year, even though he’s just 20 years old. Seven goals and seven assists in 35 Premier League games isn’t that bad but the Reds are banking on improved production from Sterling.
The Reds had 52 goals on the season, which doesn’t seem that bad, but when you consider that the top three teams in the EPL each had at least 71, it’s clear that the Reds need more offense and more from Sterling. Even so, the general perception is that he’s not the problem and that he’s in fact being dragged down by the surroundings. However, his value could still rise from the projected 70.5 million euros he is projected to be worth at this point if he can produce at a high level next season.
Jose Gimenez, Atletico Madrid
The Uruguayan fullback is an extraordinary player that has already earned himself a fulltime role with the first team at Atletico Madrid. His defensive ability has been talked about around Spain and across Europe and at 20 years old, he is already entering into the prime of his career. Gimenez is an excellent value if Atletico makes him available and it won’t be a surprise when several teams make substantial offers for his services as they try to steal him away from the La Liga club.
Nabil Fekir, Lyon
The 21-year-old Fekir is already a star for Lyon in Ligue 1 where his smooth ball skills, creative passing and excellent shot make him a complete striker. Fekir scored 13 goals with nine assists in 34 Ligue 1 games last season and one of the chief reasons why Lyon finished third in goals scored (72). He has the potential to raise his production level even higher with another year of experience next season.
Mateo Kovacic, Inter Milan
One of the more underrated young players that could become a victim of the summer transfer market is the 21-year-old Croatian midfielder Kovacic. There is no doubt about his elite skill set but Kovacic has frustrated his coaches and management with his lack of consistency and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they sell him. That would force another team to try and get him to produce to his potential every single game the way they expect he should be able to do even though this uber-talented player has not.
