Top 10 youngsters available in transfer market this summer

These young guns are currently on the radar of some big European sides who are eyeing a summer transfer for them.

We’re at the business end of the 2020-21 season but the rumour mill is already rife about several youngsters for the upcoming summer transfer market. Many talented young footballers are being linked with moves elsewhere. Here are the top 10 who will be available in the upcoming transfer market.

Note: Only players aged 23 and under have been considered. 

10. Boubakary Soumare (Lille)

Lille are currently leading the Ligue 1 title race after a memorable campaign, but Boubakary Soumare’s contributions haven’t been commended on enough.

The defensive midfielder has been their anchor in midfield and the key to progressing the ball from deep areas. 

Top sides like Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked to the 22-year old before. But, in more recent times, Leicester City have stepped up their interest. The Foxes hope to sign Soumare for a cut-price fee with his contract set to expire next summer. 

9. Felix Passlack (Borussia Dortmund)

Dortmund have a stellar reputation when it comes to nurturing talented youngsters. However, there have been a few who fell through the cracks and Passlack, unfortunately, is one of them.

His stellar breakthrough season of 2016/17 led many to hail the German as the next big thing in the right-back spot. But, half a decade later, the player faces an uncertain future. This is thanks to a combination of injuries and loss of form.

Passlack has made just 10 appearances this season and is likely to be heading through Signal Iduna Park’s exit door. He could be a valuable addition to any side with European ambitions. His strengths are his superb technique, precocious dribbling ability and keen eye for goal. 

8. Ibrahima Konate (RB Leipzig)

Liverpool are expected to make reinforcements in the summer after a disappointing campaign. One player who’s been persistently linked with them in recent days is Ibrahima Konate.

The 21-year old is reportedly unhappy at RB Leipzig, having not completed 90 minutes since the start of December. Then, a knee injury curtailed his playing time in the following month. Head coach Julian Naglesmann doesn’t seem to have Konate in his plans and has opted to bench the player on a number of occasions.

7. Houssem Aouar (Lyon)

Lyon are firmly in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League. But, confirming a spot might still not be enough for them to cling on to one of their leading stars, Houssem Aouar.

A product of Lyon’s youth academy, the 22-year old has played a key role in the club’s recent renaissance. It hasn’t gone unnoticed with some leading European sides, particularly Arsenal and Juventus.

Aouar still has two years left on his contract. However, he looks ready to play at the highest level and compete for trophies. That alone is enough for him to jump ship in the summer. 

6. Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes)

Camavinga was one of the most sought-after players last year, but eventually opted to stay at Rennes. But, this summer will test his ambitions again.

Real Madrid were supposedly leading the race to sign him. But now, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Liverpool are also reported to have developed an interest in the star.

A central midfielder by trade, Camavinga has already made 75 appearances for Les Rennais in all competitions. He made his debut in 2018 and just turned 18 last year! That’s a testament to his immense potential. Keep an eye out for this saga. 

5. Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur)

The young defender extended his contract with Spurs earlier this season, which keeps him at the club until 2025. But, given his lack of first-team opportunities, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over his future in North London.

Jose Mourinho rates Tanganga highly. Yet, he's given him only three league appearances since his return from a lengthy injury spell at the end of last year.

The 22-year old is a talented player who’s shown a lot of promise in his burgeoning career, but needs more game-time to build on it. Scottish giants Celtic have been keen to offer the same in the past and may revive their interests again in the summer. 

4. Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)

Talk of Maitland-Niles leaving Arsenal has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, as the 23-year old’s struggles have continued through his loan spell with West Brom.

Coming through the ranks at the club, the versatile player has already been deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates. The right-back, who can also operate in a central midfield role as well as on the wings, has garnered interest from Manchester United, Leicester City, Southampton, and Wolverhampton. 

3. Oscar Mingueza (Barcelona)

Given his meteoric rise with Barcelona’s first-team since breaking through in September, it’s startling that Mingueza hasn’t been offered a contract extension by the Catalans yet. But, the 21-year old has sparked interest from some leading European sides.

Ronald Koeman, who gave the Spaniard his senior debut, has made no secret of his admiration for the youngster. He’s accrued 28 appearances under his belt already this season and quickly established himself as a key figure in the setup.

2. Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

With over 240 appearances for AC Milan, it’s easy to forget that Gianluigi Donnarumma is still only 22-years-old. He's widely considered by many to be among Italy’s brightest prospects. 

However, the shot-stopper’s career is at a crossroads. His contract with the Rossoneri is set to expire in the summer and two new offers have reportedly been rejected by the star.

With a market price of €60m, he’s currently the fifth-most valuable goalkeeper in the world. But, Donnarumma’s precocious talents are well-known. He can expect a fleet of top clubs to line up at his door should he indeed decide to move on. 

1. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)

Haaland has been the name on everyone’s lips since his breakthrough in Europe at the start of the 2019/20 season. Having fired another 33 goals in the current one, he continues to reign supreme amongst his striking counterparts on the continent.

Now, he's on course to become the latest young prospect to be prized away from the Westfalenstadion. Der BVB are likely to miss out on Champions League football and Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola is already in talks with a number of top European clubs.

The 20-year old is widely touted as the player to dominate the post-Messi-Ronaldo era and win the Ballon d'Or too. So, it’d be interesting to see how his transfer saga plays out in the summer.

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