Foreword: Premier League clubs are nurturing talented youngsters, from Phil Foden at Manchester City to Smith Rowe at Arsenal, who are starting to show their strength on a bigger stage.
At present, English football is arguably at its highest level ever. From the success of the national team in the competitions in recent years, to the extremely competitive Premier League, the influx of talent is a key reason for all the positives to link.
The Three Lions have the youngest average age squad at Euro 2020, with mature young stars like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham, and Southgate offers them the highest level of stage performance opportunities.
But all the praise comes down to the club's academy, which is producing one "generation of players" one by one.
This issue of the Daily Star takes stock of the youth gems of five Premier League clubs.
- Liverpool
Curtis Jones is another young midfielder who emerged last season
When it comes to the stars they produce, Liverpool are a bit low-key. The jewel in their academy crown is undoubtedly 23-year-old Alexander Arnold, who spent time at the club between 2004 and 2016 before making it to the first team and cementing his position as the preferred right-back.
There is no doubt that he is now one of the greatest players in the world, completely changing the role of right-back and becoming the main organizer of the Reds.
Meanwhile, curtis Jones, 20, has been a bright spot in Liverpool's midfield since becoming a regular first-team starter last season, having made a cumulative 53 appearances for the club.
Full-back Neko Williams is another potential academy graduate but faces the challenge of competing for the same position as Alexander-Arnold.
- Manchester United
Marcus Rashford and Greenwood are two of United's greatest academy products in recent years
Unfortunately, any youngster who makes it into Manchester United will face the achievements of their predecessors in the Class of '92, hanging over their heads like an invisible sword, but that hasn't stopped their stars from emerging and sweeping the Premier League.
These include Marcus Rashford, whose 2016 debut is still fresh in the memory, while the likes of Scott McTominay and Dean Henderson have also become Rising Stars in the Premier League.
Most impressive, however, is 20-year-old Mason Greenwood, whose attacking desire in front of goal makes him one of the most feared young attackers in Europe.
Several of the current academy players, such as Elanga, James Garner and defender Tedon Mengi, now want to follow in their footsteps and become the next star of the Theatre of Dreams.
— Arsenal
Smith Rowe's consistently outstanding performances put him on Arsenal's number 10 shirt
Since Hector Bellerin joined the first team in 2013, Arsenal's academy has experienced a period of slump, but has now recovered. Saka, 20, and Smith Rowe, 21, who is now an England international and has scored three goals for the Three Lions, are the top of the list, while Smith Rowe marvels at his technique.
Other recent graduates such as Niles, Nketiah, Willock and Nelson, although some have gone their separate ways, still play an important role in their respective teams.
- Manchester City
Foden is already one of the most formidable attacking midfielders in the Premier League
The 21-year-old, before he set foot in Guardiola's first team, had already achieved what rivaled Iniesta's.
Guardiola claims the midfielder is the "most talented player" he has ever seen (after Messi), but his football IQ and technical delicacy have grown exponentially since his teenage years.
Foden is already a key player for club and national team, but certainly not the last manchester City Academy to make a mark in the Premier League, with highly regarded youth players such as Liam Drap and Cole Palmer already making appearances in the first team.
Former Dortmund ace Jaydon Sancho, although he was 15 years old when he joined the club from Watford, cannot be forgotten as a former Manchester City Academy star.
– Chelsea
Mount and Hudson Hudson-Odoi won the Champions League with Chelsea last season
Chelsea's Cobham is one of the world's gathering places for young football talent. The current Blues squad is home to a number of young stars who have emerged from the competitive academy, including England midfielders Mason Mount, Richie James, Trevor Chaloba and Hudson Huds
Even more surprising is the incredible number of young players Chelsea have also been sending to other clubs, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori travelling to Italy and quickly becoming the best in Serie A.
Perhaps only a never-ending line of players like Chelsea can sell a rookie like 21-year-old Gei this summer and believe another person will soon replace him. 【Daily Star】
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