Ten Premier League youngsters hoping to break through next season

Towards the end of the 2014/15 season, the likes of Everton’s Brendan Galloway, West Ham’s Reece Burke and most notably Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek got their first taste of Premier League football.

Next season we’re sure to see many more talented youngsters make their debuts. Here are ten to look out for in 2015/16.

Duncan Watmore – Sunderland

Signed from Altrincham in 2013, Watmore spent the second half of the 2013/14 season on loan at Hibernian, scoring once in nine appearances. Last season, he starred for Sunderland in the U-21 Premier League, picking up the competition’s player of the year award.

An old-fashioned winger, Watmore also impressed for England’s U-20 side in the Toulon Tournament earlier this summer and was rewarded by being designated the ‘Revelation of the Tournament’.

Gedion Zelalem – Arsenal

Since joining Arsenal in 2013, Zelalem has impressed greatly for the club’s junior side’s. The USA U-20 star has played for Arsenal in both the F.A Cup and the Champions League but has yet to make his Premier League debut.

Likened to former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas for his incredible vision, Zelalem is tipped for a bright future at the Emirates and at 18, the German born midfielder is reckoned to be on the cusp of a first team breakthrough.

Dele Alli – Totenham Hotspur

After impressing for MK Dons in League 1, the 19-year-old was snapped up by Spurs for a reported fee of £5 million mid-way through last season, before being loaned back to stadium MK until the end of the campaign.

The England U-19 midfielder has made a name for himself as a goalscoring midfielder, scoring 16 goals for MK Dons last season and will be hoping Mauriccio Pochettino gives him the opportunity to show more of his goalscoring prowess in the Premier League next season.

Jason Denayer – Manchester City

The Belgian youngster was voted the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year on the back of a loan spell at Celtic last season where he chipped in with six goals.

The 19-year-old centre back has also been capped three times by his country and has faced inevitable comparisons to Manchester City and Belgium teammate and captain Vincent Kompany. Denayer is expected to become a first team regular at the Etihad in 2015/16.

Bertrand Traore – Chelsea

While on loan at Vitesse Aarnhem last season, Traore scored 14 times and assisted five. Jose Mourinho is known to rate the Burkina Faso international highly, and after recently receiving a work permit, the 19-year-old attacker is set to join Chelsea’s pre-season campaign, where he will have the chance to make further claims to be included in Mourinho’s first team squad for next season.

Failing that, Traore is likely to be sent out on loan again, perhaps this time within the Premier League.

Sheyi Ojo – Liverpool

Ojo was signed by Liverpool at the age of 14 from MK Dons, where he was already training with the first team. In the prestigious ‘Future Cup’ last year, the England U-18 international was the joint top scorer alongside fellow Liverpool winger Harry Wilson. He spent the second half of last season on loan in the Championship with Wigan Athletic, making 11 appearances.

Not dissimilar in playing style to current first teamers Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe, Ojo is expected to play a part for Brendan Rodgers side next season.

Kelechi Iheanacho – Manchester City

After impressing for City’s Elite Development Squad, Nigerian youth international Iheanacho has been called up to the first team squad ahead of next season.

The 18-year-old was named most promising player of the year in 2013 by the Confederation of African Football after starring for Nigeria at the U17 World Cup. A powerful striker, Iheanacho is tipped for a very bright future.

Harry Wilson – Liverpool

Despite already being a full international for Wales, Harry Wilson has yet to play in the Premier League for Liverpool. He became the youngest ever player to feature for the Senior Wales side when he made his debut at the age of 16 after impressing manager Chris Coleman with his displays for both the Wales U-17 side and Liverpool U-18s.

The tricky winger signed for Liverpool as a nine-year-old and, now 18, he will be desperate to break into Brendan Rodgers reckoning ahead of next season.

Reece Oxford – West Ham

Yet to feature for West Ham’s first team, Oxford is already a reported target for scouts at Manchester United and Arsenal. The 16-year-old centre-back has been likened to former hammer Rio Ferdinand and is currently the captain of the England U-17 side.

He was included on the bench for a number of games last season, but will be hoping to go one better under new boss Slaven Bilic and make his debut for the club.

Brandon Barker – Manchester City

Born in Manchester, Barker has been at Manchester City since the age of eight. The 18-year-old winger impressed last season as Patrick Vieira’s side reached the quarter finals of the UEFA youth league.

With just one year remaining on his current deal, he has recently been linked with a move to Aston Villa but Barker is understood to be keen on realising his ambition of playing for the Manchester City first team.