The Premier League is currently experiencing a lull, with players either away on international duty or putting their feet up in preparation for the final stages of the season, but planning for the future is always on the agenda.
For many clubs that means looking at the summer transfer window, when top-quality players from around the world can be bought and sold. But the Premier League ’s biggest clubs also have access to a sizable selection of players via other means.
Academies put a lot of time and effort into trying to prepare young players for the step up to the first team, while the loan system is always widely used to develop players. By now the top flight’s Big Six will have a good idea about those who are capable of moving into the first team next season.
Here Mirror Football selects two players from each of the division’s traditional powerhouses who you just might see come the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
Manchester City
Academy – Romeo Lavia
City have plenty of exciting players ready to become the next Phil Foden, with Liam Delap, James McAtee and Kayky perhaps the three with the most excitement around them. But while Pep Guardiola’s side is packed full of attacking options, which may slow down their breakthroughs, it has a specific need for what Lavia offers.
Although The Telegraph recently reported that no firm decision has been made on Fernandinho’s future, the Brazilian holding midfielder is now 36 years old. He needs an heir – and that’s where Lavia comes in.
Guardiola first watched Lavia as a 14-year-old at a tournament hosted by Kevin De Bruyne in the Belgian city of Dongen and he was later signed from Anderlecht in the summer of 2020. The 18-year-old defensively-minded midfielder made his City debut against Wycombe in September and looks poised to be eased into the team throughout next season.
Loanee – Julian Alvarez
The summer transfer window could see a certain Erling Haaland touch down at City, with the club understood to be leading the race for the Borussia Dortmund star, but there is another young striker set to join already.
Alvarez signed for City in a £14million deal in January and was immediately loaned back to River Plate so he could finish the season with the Argentine club. The 22-year-old striker has an impressive record of 41 goals and 25 assists in 103 appearances for River and will arrive at City brimming with confidence as a result.
Liverpool
Academy – Kaide Gordon
Gordon has already shown Jurgen Klopp what he can do having scored in the club’s FA Cup third-round win over Shrewsbury in January – one of four appearances for the senior side this season. The only way appears to be up for the 17-year-old winger, who has earned plenty of plaudits at Liverpool already.
There is plenty of competition for places at Liverpool, but Klopp has shown previously that he is particularly generous when it comes to giving minutes to youngsters. Gordon looks like the best bet to follow in Harvey Elliott’s footsteps and kick on next season.
Loanee – Neco Williams
Williams is already fairly well established as a Liverpool first-team player, having made 33 appearances for Klopp’s side. But his impressive form since joining Fulham on loan in January should be enough for a further promotion next term.
The 20-year-old full-back has perhaps been unfortunate to come through at a team which already has Trent Alexander-Arnold, but he has shown just what he can offer by contributing two goals and two assists in nine Championship appearances for Fulham so far. With 17 caps for Wales under his belt already, he is more than ready for regular first-team minutes at Liverpool.
Chelsea
Academy – Lewis Hall
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Chelsea ’s academy is famed for its quality and with a cloud hanging over the club due to sanctions against Roman Abramovich, they might have to rely more heavily on youngsters next season. Hall is just one of those who could stand to benefit from the confusion around the sale.
The 17-year-old made his Chelsea debut in the 5-1 win over Chesterfield in January. He started that match at Stamford Bridge, becoming the Blues’ ninth-youngest player and their youngest ever in the FA Cup before winning the man of the match award in a brilliant display.
"He is a nice guy and very calm,” Thomas Tuchel said afterwards. "The quality he showed [in training] was very calm, and he was very good in our possession games and the little games he trained in. It was a huge opportunity at Stamford Bridge. He took his chance and was hugely involved in some of the goals, so I'm happy for him." That all bodes well for his future at Chelsea, especially if Tuchel remains as the manager.
Loanee – Armando Broja
Another hotly contested category, with Conor Gallagher another loanee set to return and challenge for a place in the squad next season. But Broja has a point of difference simply because he plays in a position Chelsea could do with strengthening.
Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner’s inconsistency in front of goal could work in the Albania international’s favour. The 20-year-old striker has nine goals in 30 appearances for Southampton this season and could easily step into the Chelsea line-up next season.
Arsenal
Academy – Marcelo Flores
Flores holds an interesting status, as a full Mexico international before he’s even played a senior match for Arsenal. That fact reflects the excitement about the 18-year-old midfielder in Mexico, who could even call him up for the 2022 World Cup.
Flores is still mainly playing for the Gunners’ under-18s side, but it looks like a matter of time before he steps up further. Although players like Charlie Patino are ahead of him at the moment, Flores appears a good bet for bigger things in north London. He certainly has big ambitions, as he revealed to Goal in December 2020. “I am enjoying all the moments that I am living. I want to become a club legend."
Loanee – William Saliba
Saliba has never played a match for Arsenal’s first team, but you wouldn’t know it from the hype around him. The 20-year-old joined the Gunners from Saint-Etienne for a fee in the region of £27m back in July 2019, yet he has spent the past three years playing in his native France for Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille.
It’s fair to say that he is turning heads in Ligue 1 and recently received his first call-up to the senior France squad. Arsenal have clearly signed a player with huge potential – it remains to be seen whether he fulfils it in north London or elsewhere, following the exchange of a sizable transfer fee.
Manchester United
Academy – Hannibal Mejbri
Hannibal has 11 caps for Tunisia, but just one senior appearance for Manchester United. That is likely to change next season. United paid Monaco £4.5m to sign Hannibal in August 2019, showing just how much they rate him.
The midfielder is a full-fledged member of the first-team squad and should be benefiting from training with Ralf Rangnick’s group this season. His development has been clear at international level, where he played a key role in Tunisia’s run to the 2021 Arab Cup final. With United’s midfield set to undergo an overhaul in the summer, Hannibal could be poised for a step up.
Loanee – James Garner
Another United midfielder who could benefit from the changes coming in the summer is Garner, who has been excellent on loan at Nottingham Forest this season. The 21-year-old has two goals and five assists in Forest’s last 10 matches in all competitions and impressed in the club’s recent narrow 1-0 defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
As Roy Keane said on ITV ’s coverage of the match, Garner is “very good technically and he likes to dictate the play”. Juan Mata is also a fan, telling the club website in 2020: “I really like him; the way he plays on the ball, his cleverness, his way of looking forward, looking for a pass and also his attitude off the ball.” After three straight loan spells in the Championship, Garner is ready for United’s first team.
Tottenham
Academy – Dane Scarlett
Scarlett is only 17 years old, but it feels as though he’s been around the Spurs first team for some time. That experience is clearly paying off, with Antonio Conte effusive in his praise of the young forward after the recent 3-1 win over West Ham.
“I'm seeing a lot of improvement today in Scarlett honestly if I have to tell you,” Conte said in his post-match press conference. “Seeing that this guy is improving a lot, he's only 17-years-old but I can tell you that he is a really important prospect for Tottenham. He has to be patient and work behind these very important players and continue to work in this way because about Scarlett, I can tell you that I see a brilliant future for him.”
Loanee – Pape Sarr
Tottenham beat several clubs to the signing of Sarr in August 2021, paying Metz around £14.6m for his signature. The 19-year-old midfielder was immediately loaned back to the French side, where he is yet to really kick on.
Sarr has registered just one goal and one assist in 24 Ligue 1 appearances this season and, according to L’Equipe, has left Metz manager Frederic Antonetti demanding more. It remains to be seen whether he can deliver more at Spurs next season. But the Senegal international’s chances of doing just that might be boosted by the fact he was signed by Spurs director of football Fabio Paratici, who now has skin in his development.
