When you consider that David De Gea, Isco and Marco Verratti were among the stars of the European Under-21 Championship two years ago, it’s safe to assume the Premier League scouts will be out in force at this year’s tournament.
Here’s who we reckon they’ll be looking at when the tournament gets under way in the Czech Republic tomorrow.
1. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg -Â Denmark
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 19
A central midfielder with all the passing ability in the world with skills and vision to match. He spent most of last season on loan at Augsburg, helping them qualify for the Europa league.
Who might want him?
Tottenham
Any chance?
Not likely. Bayern really rate him – they extended his contract back in January and it looks like they want him back in Munich learning from the likes of Xabi Alonso. Depending on who Bayern sign, though, he could be available for another loan.
2. Lasse Vigen Christensen – Denmark
Club: Fulham
Age: 20
Christensen has a bit of everything and displayed much of it in the Championship last season. He’s a dynamic midfielder with an eye for goal – he won Fulham’s goal of the season competition last year with a strike that included a nutmeg AND a chip (see above).
Who might want him?
Aston Villa
Any chance?
Christensen has brushed off talk of a move to Villa saying he’s settled at Fulham – but the chance to play in the Premier League might be too good to turn down.
3. Leonardo Bittencourt – Germany
Club: Hannover
Age: 21
Comfortable on either flank with pace to burn, Bittencourt has made himself a key man both for the under-21s and his club Hannover. He’s the son of a Brazilian footballer but chose to represent Germany, the country of his birth, instead.
Who might want him?
Liverpool
Any chance?
Bittencourt could be an ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling and it would be a definite step up for the winger. Liverpool will soon have money to spend, so could be a goer.
4. Domenico Berardi – Italy
Club: Juventus
Age: 20
Domenico Berardi is one of the biggest young talents in world football – a striker and genuine goalscorer with the ability to play on the flanks and be as creative as he is deadly. He banged in 15 goals while on loan at Sassuolo last season.
Who might want him?
Manchester United
Any chance?
If Juventus still don’t feel there’s a place for him in their team, Berardi might feel it’s time to move on. Perhaps United could pinch him off them like Juve did with Paul Pogba…
5. William Carvalho – Portugal
Club: Sporting Lisbon
Age: 23
Hardly the most well kept secret in European football, not least because he was one of Portugal’s better performers at the World Cup last summer. The defensive midfielder is constantly being linked with a move to the Premier League and said himself recently he’d like to play in England.
Who might want him?
Arsenal
Any chance?
It would be a bit of a surprise if Carvalho wasn’t a Premier League player by the start of next season and Arsenal are (aren’t they always?) crying out for a player of his skill set. It might come down to a straight fight between them and Manchester United.
6. John Guidetti – Sweden
Club: Manchester City
Age: 23
Guidetti’s Manchester City contract runs out this month and he will not be getting another one. The Premier League has not seen the real Guidetti yet – he didn’t score during a loan period at Stoke – but he’s a striker of great talent if anyone can get the best out of him.
Who might want him?
Everton
Any chance?
From Lyon to Inter Milan to Trabzonspor to Norwich, it’s hard to find a club that hasn’t been linked with Guidetti. Everton seem like a good fit, but it seems likely Guidetti will try his luck overseas – possibly at Feyenoord, where he had a successful loan spell a few years back.
Source: SNAPPA
