The Championship might not get the kind of spotlight and coverage like its elder brother does on a day to day basis, but it remains a hotbed and a stepping stone for a host of players to graduate from. The second tier of English football is the sixth most valuable league in the world – after Europe’s top five – and that in itself should give you an idea of just how competitive and rigorous the teams are.
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And as is the case with most football clubs around the world, the Championship is host to a variety of young footballers making their mark in the sport – and hoping that their performances catch the eye of clubs in the top tiers of football all across Europe.
Even the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich send scouts to monitor plenty of youngsters. With seemingly the biggest of clubs interested in the league, let’s have a look at some of the brightest young footballers currently impressing in the Championship:
#5 Ryan Sessegnon
Across the Straight of Dover, a young teenage striker is making his name and shouting it aloud from Mont Agel, the world is paying attention. Every week his shout gets clearer and his value goes up.
On this side of the straight, there’s another doing the same thing. 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon might not be a name plenty of football fans are too chipped about but there’s a war brewing behind the curtains of the Premier League with every top team trying ever so heard of getting to the front of the line in trying to sign the Fulham youngster up.
Sessegnon is a left-back yet to complete school but already seems like the kind of talent capable of making it to the best of teams across Europe. He’s quick, he’s got a great physical build and he has the kind of confidence that makes his innate talent feel even deadlier than usual. One to keep an eye on, this kid.
#4 Jack Grealish
Seemingly thrown out of the team thanks to a series of public misconduct charges, young Jack Grealish is back to his best and showing the world just how good he is when all but football is blanked out.
The Aston Villa man has been his thrilling, pacy, tricky best this season. And given he’s just 21, there’s the world waiting for him should he keep up his good form. With three goals and five assists for the Villans this season, he’s only at the beginning of where he could be.
Grealish is a winger predominantly on the left-hand side of the field who loves to cut in and shoot or release his left-back into space with a lovely through-ball. He’s got the vision and the pace to become an astute forward, all he needs is consistency and he’s up there with the best in the Championship.
#3 Will Hughes
Perpetual Liverpool target, Will Hughes, gets better and better with every passing year and should Derby fail to get promoted to the Premier League for the 2017/2018 season, it’s highly likely that they’ll lose arguably their most valuable player – and above all, someone who bleeds for them.
Hughes is a central midfielder strong in the air and quick on his feet. He’s got a deep passing range and is an imposing figure often seen communicating and moving the team's midfield and forward line into appropriate positions.
The 21-year-old Englishman will not come cheap, however. Rated at €8 million, he could go for at least two and half times that value especially given the likes of Liverpool have competition in Tottenham and Arsenal.
#2 Ayoze Perez
Spanish youngster Ayoze Perez first came under the spotlight when Newcastle were in the Premier League last season. He’s quick, he a poachy striker and has the kind of mental strength to push past walls of defenders to score goals.
Perez was a wanted man. Barcelona and Real Madrid were legitimately in the market to sign him up but the lack of first-team game time motivated him to look elsewhere. Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle were interested and he chose the latter for the same reason he ditched the two Spanish giants.
Still with Rafael Benitez’s team this season, Perez has shown just how good he is with consistent performances in all competitions. With nine goals and six assists in all competitions, the former Tenerife striker is en route to making it to a truly established Premier League – or major European – club.
#1 Aleksandar Mitrovic
Behind all the problems and the bruises, Aleksandar Mitrovic is an incredible young talent who could make it most big teams should he stay on his current path. The Serbian international is a big target in the box, fast on the break and smart with his passes.
Combine all those qualities with a cool and composed head and you will essentially describe a host of top class performers in world football. Newcastle had the chance to offload him in the summer owing to his liabilities but are glad they didn’t give how vital he’s been for them in their chase for promotion.
Mitrovic has scored six goals and has three assists in all competitions. It’s often what he does best in the box that goes unnoticed – making space, making passes and opening up defences. He’s currently valued at €10 million and could go for easily three times the value should clubs come in for him in the summer.
