Several players in the Championship could be the subject of Premier League interest this summer like England Under-21 duo Djed Spence and Keane Lewis-Potter.
After helping Nottingham Forest clinch promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years, Middlesbrough loanee Spence seems to be Tottenham Hotspur bound.
Antonio Conte wants to bring the attack-minded right-back to north London and Spurs are close to sealing a £15m move for the 21-year-old, according to the Telegraph.
Hull City winger Lewis-Potter, who has scored 25 goals in the Championship across the last two seasons, looks to be heading for Brentford.
The fellow 21-year-old, who came through the Tigers’ academy, looks to be closing in on a £20m move to the Bees.
With Lewis-Potter and Spence set to make the jump up to the Premier League next season, top-flight clubs continue to poach some of the finest talents from the second tier of English football.
In recent years the likes of Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have all been snapped up by Premier League clubs and impressed in the big time.
Here HITC Sport takes a look at ten other Championship players that deserve Premier League moves this summer.
Championship players that deserve Premier League moves
Ben Brereton Diaz
Blackburn’s prized asset faces an uncertain future at Ewood Park with just a year remaining on his contract.
The Chilean international scored 22 goals in 37 matches last season and his goalscoring prowess would bolster several Premier League sides forward options.
With 12 months remaining on his contract, Rovers will be aware that this summer represents the best opportunity for getting a hefty price tag for the 23-year-old.
Isaiah Jones
It’s testament to Jones that Middlesbrough are willing to part ways with Spence. The 23-year-old has the pace and desire to bomb forward like Spence, and it seems just a matter of time before he follows his former teammate up to the Premier League.
But with Chris Wilder set to lose Spence this summer, the former Sheffield United manager won’t want to lose two of the league’s best right-backs in quick succession.
Jones impressed in Boro’s run to the FA Cup quarter-finals which saw them beat Manchester United and Tottenham before falling to Chelsea.
From 42 Championship matches last season, Jones scored one goal and provided nine assists.
Robert Dickie
The former Oxford United man had another solid season at Loftus Road with Queens Park Rangers.
The ball-playing centre-back looks ready to step up to the Premier League after two seasons in the Championship.
With two years left to run on his contract with the Hoops, the west London side may have to rebuff some enquiries this summer and hope Dickie feels a third season in the second tier will aid his development.
Dickie finished last season with a rating of 7.08, averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 3.7 clearances per game, as well as winning 3.8 aerial duels, as per WhoScored.
John Swift
The former Reading ace has joined West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer, but his numbers more than warranted a Premier League move.
The former Chelsea youngster will be hoping to spearhead Steve Bruce’s promotion charge with the Baggies.
In his last season with the Royals, the 27-year-old, who has been capped at England Under-21 level, scored 11 goals and laid on 13 assists in the Championship last season.
Only Fulham’s Harry Wilson (19) registered more assists than Swift in the Championship.
Sander Berge
Sheffield United signed the Norway international for a club-record fee from Genk in January 2020.
In his two-and-a-half years at Bramhall Lane, Berge has made 66 appearances, scoring eight goals and supplying six assists.
The Scandinavian has struggled with injuries during his time with the Blades, but when he is fit and firing he’d be a classy addition for several Premier League sides, and at the age of 24 his best years remain ahead of him.
Sorba Thomas
Following Carlos Corberan’s shock resignation from last season’s play-off finalists Huddersfield Town, some of the Terriers’ star names could well seek a summer move.
Former non-league star Thomas, who has had a meteoric rise up the footballing pyramid, could follow Corberan out the exit door.
Only Swift and Wilson provided more assists in the Championship than the four-time Wales international (12).
The creative winger averaged 2.1 key passes last season and the former West Ham United youngster could have the Premier League in his sights after enjoying a breakthrough year.
Lewis O’Brien
Like Thomas, O’Brien will be another Huddersfield player that Premier League clubs are likely monitoring and keeping a close eye on.
The all-action midfielder was pivotal in helping the Yorkshire outfit reach the play-off final against Forest.
The 23-year-old made 46 Championship appearances last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists, and the academy product’s performances are more than deserving of a Premier League switch.
O’Brien averaged 2.1 tackles and 2.1 dribbles per game last season, highlighting his high-octane box-to-box midfield qualities.
Chris Willock
The former Arsenal youngster produced the best season of his career with QPR last season and if he continues the impressive form he showcased last season, it might not be too long before he’s playing the Premier League alongside his brother Joe (Newcastle).
The 24-year-old scored seven goals and provided 11 assists last season, and while Rangers have the option of extending his contract by a further year to 2024, top-flight clubs will have likely been alerted to his influential form.
Viktor Gyokeres
The Swede enjoyed a dazzling season with Coventry City, netting 17 Championship goals and chipping in with five assists.
The Sky Blues only signed the seven-time Sweden international on a permanent deal from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, but his form at the Coventry Building Society Arena could have grabbed the attention of some Premier League clubs.
The 24-year-old’s contract with Coventry expires in 2024 and Premier League clubs may be monitoring whether the striker can kick on even further in 2022-23 before making a move.
Joel Piroe
Like Brereton Diaz, only Solanke and Mitrovic scored more goals in the Championship than Piroe (22) last season.
The Netherlands Under-20 international only arrived at Swansea City from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven last summer, but after a thoroughly impressive debut campaign in England, the 22-year-old may feel he’s already capable of making the jump up to the Premier League.
With 24 goals and six assists from 47 appearances in all competitions for a side that finished 15th in the Championship last season, the Dutchman could prove to be shrewd signing for sides who finished in the bottom half of the Premier League last season.
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