Which youngster will be making a big name for themselves this season?
As Alan Hansen was so defiantly proved wrong in the 1990s, teams can certainly win the league with kids and the Premier League has always been a hotbed for young, raw talent.
Therefore fanatix is taking a look at the 10 players aged 21 or under who could be playing a huge role for their club in 2013/14 season.
Andreas Cornelius, 20 – Cardiff City
The £7.7m Cardiff paid FC Copenhagen for the young striker is a club record for the Blue Birds, as they prepare for life in the English top tier.
Most fans in England could be forgiven for not having heard of the Dane but 18 goals in 34 matches in the Superligaen suggests Cornelius will be making a name for himself soon enough.
Coutinho, 21 – Liverpool
In an era at Anfield when the club have spent large sums on average players – Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing spring to mind – Coutinho was a real bargain.
The Brazilian cost £8.8m from Inter Milan back in January but in just 13 Premier League matches for the Reds has scored three goals and set-up a further seven – expect more of the same this season.
Gerard Deulofeu, 19 – Everton
A loan signing from Barcelona this season, meaning that if the La Liga champions don’t want to let the winger go permanently there must be something talented about the youngster.
Deulofeu has only made two senior appearances for Barca to date, although has shone in the B team and among a small squad at the Toffees the Spaniard should get plenty of chances to show off his skills.
Phil Jones, 21 – Manchester United
Jones is a quiet player who just gets on with the job in hand, but with mature and versatile performances from the defender people could be forgiven for thinking the Englishman is older than he is.
With constant fitness concerns over Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, Jones could well get a regular run in the team this year and is already being touted as a future United and England captain.
Romelu Lukaku, 20 – Chelsea
This is set to be the season that Lukaku – a £19.4m signing from Anderlecht two years ago – finally breaks into the Blues side.
The signs are good for the Belgian, with returning manager Jose Mourinho a big fan and 17 Premier league goals whilst on-loan at West Bromwich Albion last season showing the striker has an eye for goal.
Mateja Nastasic, 20 – Manchester City
The young Serb was a £13.4m transfer from Fiorentina 12 months ago in a deal that saw Stevan Savic go the other way.
Despite being just 20-years-old Nastasic regularly kept the more experienced Joleon Lescott out of the Cty side and made 30 appearances for the 2012 Premier League champions.
Luke Shaw, 18 – Southampton
A full-back that has been touted by some of England’s best sides, Shaw kept his feet firmly on the ground and signed a five-year professional contract with the Saints when the defender turned 18.
The left-back had made just one senior appearances for Southampton upon the side’s return to the Premier League in 2012, but impressed so much that he went onto play 25 league matches.
Marco Van Ginkel, 20 – Chelsea
A new £8.3m signing at Stamford Bridge, the Blues had to fight for the signature of Van Ginkel with the Dutchman having three impressive seasons with Vitesse Arnhem previously.
Despite being still so young, the midfielder already has nearly 100 top flight games in the Netherlands under the starlet’s belt as well as a senior cap for the Dutch national team.
Jack Wilshere, 21 – Arsenal
The England midfielder seems to have broken into the Gunners first team so long ago it’s easy to forget Wilshere is still only 21.
Despite missing the entire 2011/12 season through injury the Englishman has made 82 senior appearances in all competitions in the last three years and is one of few in the national side to possess genuine world-class ability.
Wilfried Zaha, 20 – Manchester United
The former Crystal Palace forward joined United six months ago for £10.3m. but has yet to make a senior appearance for the Red Devils.
However, under new manager David Moyes 2013/14 could well be the season when Zaha truly shines, having already impressed in pre-season despite competition from the likes of Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck and Antonio Valencia.
