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The opening day of the 2018 World Cup coincided with the announcement of a Pan-American tournament in 2026. With the 2022 World Cup also looming fast, football fans across the world are already looking at a number of emerging talents, all of whom could light up the planet with their skills. What has yet to be decided, however, is whether the players in question should stay where they are or aim for the stars at club level to become England’s next hero.
Within that category are several players from the English Football League Championship. While the Premier League will always take the bulk of the credit for producing international superstars, the 46-game Championship will always have a unique type of toughness. The midweek toils and the prospect of facing brutish veterans with nothing to lose make men out of boys, and the 2017/18 season was no exception to that.
Ryan Sessegnon
Already linked with an impressive number of clubs, Sessegnon has thus far managed to stay grounded at Fulham. Despite having great resources, which have been further augmented by success in the 2018 Championship playoffs, the club will still need to make every effort to keep him this summer. It seems to be just a matter of time before another club gets his signature, with Manchester United particularly in need of fresh blood in the wide areas.
A first senior cap is inevitable and will come sooner than expected if there is to be persistence with a wingback system. The fact that England are 20/1 to finish bottom of Group G is a reflection of faith in the current England setup, which could be good news for marauding wide-man Sessegnon in the long run. Nonetheless, some are of the belief that it might be for the best for him to stay at Premier League newcomers Fulham until the right offer is made.
James Maddison
Maddison is another player who has recently taken a step up in class and thrived in it. The 21-year-old Norwich player has been attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in England, and with Norwich failing to bounce straight back after relegation in 2016, the Canaries will almost certainly lose him to a Premier League club this summer.
Recent reports suggested that Everton were leading the queue for his signature but Leicester have since moved further forwards. Comfortable on the ball and improving by the game on his delivery, Maddison is bound for the England squad. However, he will need to choose his next club wisely. A stable club – like Everton – but not one where he would be surplus to requirements would be a wise destination, compared to a Manchester or London giant.
Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins is one player who has already made one significant move recently with his move from Exeter City to Brentford. Yet, while Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford continue to dominate the scene, with many years ahead of them, Watkins’ future is a comparatively difficult one to predict.
Going to Brentford was a wise decision and, with his goals keeping the west London club in playoff contention until the latter days of 2017/18, Watkins has shown the ability to cope with pressure at a relatively young age. Bournemouth have reportedly shown serious interest in Watkins, and while another season in the Championship could be the making of him, moving to an established Premier League club with a young and forward-thinking manager could only boost his prospects with greater haste.
Written by Ketan Patel
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