Oliver Skipp, Marc Guehi and Harvey Elliott all returned to the Premier League last summer with their reputations greatly enhanced after successful spells loan spells away from the big league.
But which of these farmed-out few will be following in their footsteps in 2021/22? West Ham’s new Michael Carrick, perhaps? Arsenal’s £27 million forgotten man maybe?
Or perhaps a Wolves winger with 10 assists to his name since last August?
William Saliba – Arsenal
The Frenchman’s agent admitted this week that Saliba’s future is still very much up in the air. Surely, after an excellent campaign at a Marseille on the verge of sealing Champions League qualification, it’s time for Arteta to do what so many Arsenal fans are begging him to do and fast-track the £27 million, one-time Tottenham Hotspur target into the first-team picture.
The London giants need all the depth they can get. Especially if, as expected, they secure a return to Europe this season.
Folarin Balogun – Arsenal
As things stand, Arsenal will not have a single senior centre-forward on their books by July 1st. That if you don’t count Balogun, of course. Arteta is a fan. And the New York-born England U21 international could be catapulted up the pecking order by the departures of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.
Balogun has been far from prolific at Middlesbrough but did provide an inspired backheel assist in February’s 4-1 thrashing of Derby County.
Cameron Archer and Keinan Davis – Aston Villa
With Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings struggling to form a potent partnership under Steven Gerrard, pre-season could offer a golden opportunity for a pair of exciting young strikers to prove that they deserve a chance.
Archer is certainly the more stylish of the two. A natural-born poacher, he’s scored 20 goals in 31 games at senior and youth level this term.
But Davis’ presence, power and magnetic link-play could prove highly effective in getting the best out of the likes of Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey and, should he stay at Villa Park, Philippe Coutinho.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin – Everton
For the first time since joining Everton in a £25 million deal from Mainz three years ago, Gbamin is playing regular first-team football, albeit on Moscow rather than Merseyside. After being dogged by injuries, the Ivory Coast international is finally back to full fitness. He’s even played the full 90 minutes in CSKA’s last eight Russian Premier League games.
Gbamin’s ball-carrying ability and tenacious, tough-tackling style could make him the perfect partner for Abdoulaye Doucoure when – or if – he returns to Goodison Park.
Cody Drameh – Leeds United
Marcelo Bielsa was not happy to learn that Drameh would be leaving on loan in January. Bielsa rates the rampaging right-back very highly indeed but the former Fulham starlet obviously felt a run of regular starts at Cardiff City would do his development no harm.
Nominated for Cardiff’s Player of the Year award after just three months in South Wales, Drameh’s decision looks to have been justified. Luke Ayling cannot afford to let his standards drop with the swashbuckling 20-year-old on the scene.
Elliot Anderson – Newcastle United
Has there been a better footballer in League Two since the turn of the year? Whitley Bay-born Anderson has long been tipped to big things on Tyneside. A sensational spell at Bristol Rovers could be his launchpad to biggest and better things.
He’s scored or assisted nine goals for a promotion-chasing Gas side with their foot firmly pressed on the accelerator and was even compared to none other than Diego Maradona by Rovers boss – and former Magpies midfielder Joey Barton (Chronicle).
Eddie Howe can boast a budget most top-flight managers can only dream of at Newcastle. But his excellent track record with regards to giving youth a chance stands 19-year-old Anderson in very good stead.
Conor Coventry – West Ham United
Coventry indicated recently that he’s ready to challenge for a place under David Moyes.
The cultured midfielder may soon have to prove that his bite is as strong as his bark.
And, if he can replicate his exceptional showing in West Ham’s 2021 pre-season tour, then maybe Moyes will not need to enter the transfer market for a Mark Noble replacement.
Coventry, thriving at MK Dons after a difficult spell at Peterborough, has been likened to fellow Hammers graduate Michael Carrick for his poise in possession and superb passing range.
Morgan Gibbs-White – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Another player who caught the eye in pre-season, Wolves certainly caused a stir in the Black Country when they announced that Gibbs-White was joining Sheffield United for the season.
And, considering Wolves have scored 33 goals in 33 top-flight games since, Bruno Lage may be counting down the days until his return.
The enigmatic, unpredictable England U21 international has 11 goals and eight assists at the Championship outfit.
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Ryan Giles – Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Wolves-owned winger delivers more accurately and more efficiently than Postman Pat hyped up by six-pack of Red Bull.
Giles has laid on ten assists during spells at Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers this term. And, with Fernando Marcal on his way, he could soon challenge Rayan Ait-Nouri for a left-wing back role.
According to The Athletic, Wolves are ‘delighted’ with his progress.
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