Young players to watch in the Premier League this season

Uruguay's Lucas Torreira, left, is challenged by Portugal's Bernardo Silva during the round of 16 match between Uruguay and Portugal at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, Saturday, June 30, 2018. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

There is always one breakout player in every Premier League season. Last year, Mohamed Salah dominated for Liverpool en route to a Golden Boot award and helping the Reds reach the Champions League final.

This season presents a clean slate for every Premier League player and a fresh opportunity for several youngsters.

Here are seven players under the age of 23 to watch during the 2018-19 Premier League campaign.

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Lucas Torreira – Arsenal

Arguably one of the best holding midfielders in Serie A last season with Sampdoria, Torreira should provide Arsenal plenty of grit in that position.

This has been one of the Gunners’ well-known weaknesses for more than a decade, but even at 22 years of age, Torreira has the capability of becoming a lynchpin.

One of Torreira’s specialties is recovering possession, then passing through tight areas under pressure. That is why he became a starter for Uruguay at the World Cup, despite only making his national team debut last March.

Torreira should provide those same traits for Arsenal this season, which should make him a fan favourite at the Emirates.

Phil Foden – Manchester City

Most fans will know Foden for his exploits for England at the Under-17 World Cup last summer when he won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

It’s unlikely that Foden will be a regular starter for Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola has stated that the young Englishman is a first-team player, which is a huge testament to Foden’s growth over the past few months.

The 18-year-old’s tendency to collect the ball, drive forward and pick out a killer pass has drawn rave reviews in the English media. All of those attributes were on full display against Chelsea in last weekend’s Community Shield, as Foden assisted Sergio Aguero for the opener.

With Champions League and two cup competitions to balance for Man City, Foden should earn more minutes this season and take another step in his development.

James Madisson – Leicester City

When Madisson tore up the Championship with Norwich City last season, the general consensus was that it’d be only a matter of time until a Premier League side snapped him up.

Leicester City signed the 21-year-old for a reported fee of £20 million ($33.5 million) after Madisson recorded 14 goals and eight assists in 44 appearances for Norwich. The potential is there, now it’s up to the midfielder to build on that breakthrough campaign.

Madisson is a dynamic No. 10 who has exceptional vision, and an eye for goal, and he has terrific deliveries from set pieces. In a counter-attacking system like Leicester City’s, the youngster is a prime breakthrough candidate.

Ruben Vinagre – Wolverhampton Wanderers

There are a number of impressive youngsters in the Wolverhampton Wanderers squad such as Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Adama Traore.

However, it’s Ruben Vinagre, a lesser-known 19-year-old left fullback, who deserves some recognition.

Vinagre was on loan at Wolves from AS Monaco last season, although he split playing time with the first team and the under-23 side. The young full-back announced himself this summer with Portugal’s under-19s, though.

At the prestigious Toulon Tournament, Vinagre started all four matches for Portugal and was a consistent menace on the left wing. He was equally lethal as he helped the Portuguese lift the Euro U-19 title in July.

Vinagre is a typical modern fullback. He loves to bomb forward, execute overlapping runs and operate as another playmaker. However, he’s an equally adept defender and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. That could serve him well in the English game.

The teenager still struggles with his ball retention and decision-making, but he has plenty of time to perfect those traits.

Ryan Sessegnon – Fulham

Another player who perfected his craft in the Championship, Sessegnon has been a revelation for Fulham since his debut as a 16-year-old.

Now 18, Sessegnon has become a key player for the newly promoted side. He bagged a team-high 15 goals and eight assists last season, helping The Cottagers return to the Premier League for the first time since 2014.

The Englishman has been compared to Gareth Bale due to the fact he can play across the left flank as a winger or fullback, like Bale when he first broke through with Southampton. Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic even said Sessegnon is “a mix of Marcelo and Gareth Bale.”

If there’s any young player who’ll be appointment viewing in the Premier League this season, it’s Sessegnon.

Max Meyer – Crystal Palace

When Meyer’s agent, Roger Wittman, was negotiating a new contract with German team Schalke last season, he told the club’s sporting director, Christian Heidel, that his client is “world class” and “would be first-choice selection at any of Europe’s top clubs.”

Meyer was supposed to be a hot commodity this summer after his Schalke contract expired. Instead, Crystal Palace jumped in and signed the 22-year-old. High wage demands were the reported deterrent for many clubs before he joined Palace.

However, Palace may have pulled off the coup of the summer in the Premier League. Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco deployed Meyer as the deepest-lying midfielder in his 3-5-2 system and he excelled in that role. He can also play higher up the pitch or out wide.

Meyer reads the game very well and his anticipation is solid for a player of his age. A partnership with Luka Milivojevic could be a treat to watch this season.

Richarlison – Everton

When Marco Silva was sacked by Watford, Richarlison was the one player who suffered the most after the decision.

The young Brazilian hit the ground running in England, recording all five goals and four assists from the 2017-18 campaign with Silva as manager. However, Richarlison finished the season on a four-month dry spell.

Everton is taking a risk by signing Richarlison for £35 million. But keep in mind that the Brazilian is still 21 years old and was excellent under Silva. He should play regularly, too.

Don’t forget that younger players experience peaks and dips in form. It’s up to Silva to ensure his big-money signing becomes a consistent contributor from the left flank.

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