Rising stars: Top 15 U-21 footballers in the 2013/14 season

In the modern era, players are good enough to even make their debuts when they are teenagers. And many of them are extremely exciting prospects. While they not only bring pace and energy into the game, their off-the-field attitude management and making sure that they don't get carried away, are attributes that have made a few of the young brigade very mature footballers.We look at the top 15 U-21 footballers who have performed beyond expectations this season, not necessarily taking their potential growth into account.

#15 Adnan Januzaj - Manchester United

When everything simply seemed to go wrong under David Moyes, there were only a few positives. One of them is the rise of Adnan Januzaj.

After starting the season from the unknown, it was being debated by December as to which country he would play for since he was eligible to play for 5 countries. Finally, he recently announced that he would play for Belgium and he could end up playing the World Cup.

The skinny teenager inspired the Red Devils to victory against Sunderland in the Premier League, while he has provided 8 assists during the course of the season.

#14 Max Meyer - Schalke 04

Not many 18-year-olds score 10 goals in their debut season for a team playing in the Champions league and also make the provisional squad for Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Max Meyer has been nothing but exceptional this season, along with his teammate Julian Draxler. When was the last time you saw an 18-year old play more than 2000 minutes in a season? Meyer has played more minutes than anyone of his age, and of course scored more goals too.

So, with Schalke producing the best talents of late, Max Meyer could bring Schalke back into the reckoning for a stronger Bundesliga finish next season.

#13 Gerard Deulofeu - Everton - on loan from Barcelona

The 20-year-old Spaniard hasn’t been given too many starts by Roberto Martinez, but when he does play, he shows his worth.

After being loaned out to a very successful Everton side this season, Deulofeu has been one of the most successful dribblers in the Premier League, and the goal against Arsenal showed both his technical ability and composure.

One expects to see Deulofeu to blossom into a brilliant talent, be it at the Camp Nou or elsewhere.

#12 Mateo Kovacic - Inter Milan

While Inter’s season has been sub-standard, the revolution inspired by new manager Walter Mazzari and owner Erick Thohir has seen Mateo Kovacic rise to fame in the Serie A. The central midfielder has been impressive in his displays, and at just a tender age of 20, he seems to be one of the few talents that have emerged at the San Siro recently.

This breakthrough season could become even better if he does play for Croatia in the World Cup, where he has a very good chance. Though he hasn’t scored a goal for Inter this season, his box-to-box runs along with his impressive range of passing have alerted a few clubs who are willing to shell out a decent amount of money in return for his services.

#11 Kurt Zouma - AS Saint Etienne - on loan from Chelsea

Zouma is another one of those cunning buys from Chelsea, where they snap up talent before anyone else makes a move. He has made his presence felt - literally. The towering centre back has a typical African style of play, using his strength to a very good effect.

With centre backs being the rarest but most wanted talents to be searched at the U-21 level, Chelsea’s money could well become a bargain if he does improve at the rate at which he is, when he plays for them in the future.

The French U-21 captain has helped the Ligue 1 team into the top 5 of the league this season, but he has also picked up 3 red cards, a problem that he will have to overcome.

#10 Lucas Ocampos - AS Monaco

Lucas Acampos is one of the players who have had to raise their game in order to match the playing levels of the marquee summer signings this season, and has done a very good job.

The wily Argentinian has produced quite a number of good performances this season. His ball control and dribbling, accompanied with a much better fitness level has seen him become one of Monaco’s most dependent players for goals.

With Monaco qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season, Ocampos could live up to the reputation he earned with River Plate by making a name for himself.

#9 Hakan Calhanoglu - Hamburger SV

The stunning long range missile against Dortmund was just the beginning, Hakan Calhanoglu has risen to be one of the most in-demand youngsters in the market. While Hamburg fight relegation, Calhanoglu’s impressive goal return has seen him being tipped to move to sides like Leverkusen, the Manchester Clubs, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea.

He hasn’t yet committed his future to Germany or Turkey, but his club career has taken off in the positive direction. Captain Rafael van der Vaart has not lived up to expectations this season, and that has helped the 19-year-old rise to the role of the go-to man.

A promising future along with a handsome price tag looks to be the agenda come next season.

#8 Marquinhos - Paris St. Germain

Many were surprised when PSG bought the then 18-year old centre back, Marquinhos, for a huge €31 million in the summer. With an eye on ageing defenders like Alex and Maxwell entering the twilight stage of their careers, coach Laurent Blanc signed up the Roma man with an eye on the future.

This season, however, he hasn’t started as many games as he would have liked, but as they say, you need to give foreign imports a season to settle down. Although he hasn’t made the Brazilian World Cup squad, he is just 19, and he has quite a career in store.

He is also one of those rare centre-backs who have the ability to score goals, and with the captain Thiago Silva present alongside him at centre back, the two Brazilians should create a very promising chemistry in the coming seasons.

#7 Ross Barkley - Everton

Another Evertonian who has flourished under Roberto Martinez, Ross Barkley made a name for himself in the first couple of months itself, with his fine dribbling skills and probably the coolest head among all the players in the box.

While many other dribblers look to get past defenders with the ball, Barkley prefers to beat them in the 50-50 battle – something that has made him a special talent to reckon with. Barkley also received call ups for the England national side, and has been tipped to make the trip to Brazil.

While Manchester United keep the rumour mills busy about Barkley, the Englishman looks well set for a successful career at Everton.

#6 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Arsenal

Having missed almost the whole of the first half of the season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been a key figure in Arsenal’s troubled months after the turn of the year. When the likes of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Lukas Podolski, Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott were injured, the Ox showed that he could not just fill in but also play against the best.

He was arguably the best player for Arsenal against Bayern Munich in the second leg, and gave them that spark that is the reason why the Gunners managed to finish fourth in the Premier League. One should imagine that Chamberlain will wear the England jersey as they line up against Italy, at Manaus in the World Cup.

#5 Domenico Berardi - US Sassuolo

Sitting in the top 5 scorers of the Serie A this season, Dominico Berardi has showcased his talent in a team absolutely short of support that sits 16th (at the time of writing) in the Serie A table. Destined to fight relegation till the last day of the season, Berardi has been a sole bright spot in a tunnel of darkness for Sassuolo.

After being tipped for an Italian call-up mid-season, indifferent form has seen the 19-year-old slip off the radar in the past few months. But on the contrary, he should seal a move to a top club at the end of the season. Premier League clubs as well as Serie A clubs have been on high alert, but one problem for Berardi is his ability to lose temper, and persistent diving, which has not gone down well with many critics.

However, the future remains bright for this new-age right winger.

#4 Luke Shaw - Southampton

All of 19 years, Luke Shaw capped off a wonderful season with a place in the PFA team of the year – which is no mean achievement. At the start of the season, Southampton had already been tipped as the team to watch out for, with the likes of the English quartet in Rickie Lambert, captain Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Luke Shaw – and boy, haven’t they been exceptional.

While three of them could end up on the plane to Brazil (Rodriguez picked up a serious injury against Man City), Luke Shaw has been the most consistent performer along with Lallana this season. After achieving their record points total in a Premiership season, Southampton have made it clear that none of their high-valued assets are for sale-despite rumours suggesting that he has already signed for Manchester United.

Rated at a whopping £30 million, the 19-year-old could be a man to spend money on - especially because good left backs these days come at a premium.

#3 Raheem Sterling - Liverpool

Before the 2013-14 Premier League season started, Raheem Sterling was being questioned in court, and his form had dipped terribly after showing a few glimpses of his talent the previous season. While many things have changed during this season, both on and off the field, there was only person to thank, and that is his manager Brendan Rodgers.

Sterling wasn’t a part of the main XI that was preferred by Rodgers until December when the talent was really converted into performance. Ever since the game against Norwich, where Sterling’s outstanding performance was overshadowed by Luis Suarez’s 4 goals, he has never looked back.

The World Cup hopeful has adapted to whatever the manager has asked him to play – be it on the right wing, left wing, or at the top of a midfield diamond. With Theo Walcott sidelined, Sterling should be a part of the 23-man squad, if not the starting XI. Sterling has also formed a deadly partnership with Suarez and Sturridge, in a menacing front 3, that should trouble European teams come next season.

#2 Romelu Lukaku - Everton - on loan from Chelsea

When Jose Mourinho decided to loan Romelu Lukaku for a second successive season, experts felt it was right, after seeing his performance against Bayern Munich in the European Super Cup. However, it looks like it could have been Lukaku who would have solved Chelsea’s major problem - getting their centre-forwards to score goals.

With 14 goals this season (at the time of writing), he has scored more than Samuel Eto’o (12), Fernando Torres (8) and Demba Ba (8). While Everton have been flourishing under Roberto Martinez this season, Lukaku has been their focal point, and has also provided a career high 9 assists this season.

Even at the tender age of 20, the power and muscle he has brought to Everton has been a major hit. He has improved his hold-up play tremendously this season. The future still looks unclear though, with Mourinho looking for the marquee striker signing, which could make Lukaku think about a permanent move elsewhere.

#1 Julian Draxler - Schalke 04

When Real Madrid faced Schalke in the Champions League round of 16 this season, all eyes were on Germany’s latest sensation, Julian Draxler. After rumours linked him to Arsenal in the January transfer window, Draxler stayed put, stating that he would lead Schalke into a competitive environment within 5 years.

With Schalke producing the best of the youngest, like Max Meyer and Draxler, it should provide the handsome German with a reason to stay. While he has just scored 5 goals this season, he has provided 10 assists, and has looked a calm figure when he is near the box.

Schalke's inconsistent form coupled with injuries to attacking partner Klaas Jan Huntelaar hasn't worked out that well for Draxler. But with Champions League football a certainty come next season, it could be Draxler's real performance year. Also, with a career in Sports Management also being pursued, Draxler has his hands full.