When you use a different method to the PFA for selecting young players because 23 is actually pretty ancient and 21 is a far more reasonable age to limit selections by, you quickly realise that there really aren’t all that many players 21 or younger playing in the Premier League.
Which then makes you question whether the PFA may actually have it right, but no because we’re right and they’re not. Here we are then, these are the top ten Premier League players who were 21 or younger at the start of the season. Slim. Pickings.
10) Nathan Collins
Signed for £22m from Burnley in the summer, Collins may well be able to wave at his former club on his way down to the Championship.
He’s not been great, but he’s also not been bad, which is enough to see off Armel Bella-Kotchap, who’s possibly been a bit better at his best, but worse at his worst. Again, it’s not a high bar.
9) Wilfried Gnonto
There’s clearly something not entirely obvious to the outside observer that’s not quite right with Wilfried Gnonto. He often looks like Leeds’ most dangerous player, has featured in all of Italy’s 10 games since his debut last summer and has been linked with significantly bigger clubs as a result of his performances. And yet, he’s started just 12 Premier League games for a side battling relegation.
The 19-year-old forced his way into the team under Jesse Marsch but has since lost his starting spot under Javi Gracia, though that may change after the 5-1 shellacking by Crystal Palace.
8) Romeo Lavia
The 19-year-old moved to Southampton from Manchester City for £11m in the summer, was the subject of a £50m bid from Chelsea in the very same summer after his goal and domination of them before the transfer window closed, and has perhaps impressed Pep Guardiola sufficiently to buy him back for £40m.
Chelsea remain interested, while Arsenal and Manchester United are also said to have cast admiring glances Lavia’s way.
7) Amadou Onana
Supposedly on Mikel Arteta’s three-man wishlist to partner Thomas Partey in central midfield at Arsenal, Onana has shown in glimpses the attributes which could make him the perfect box-to-box Premier League midfielder.
He reads the game well, is big, quick, arrives in the box at the right time and has the ability to glide past opposition players in possession or pass the ball through the lines.
That said, he needs to do all of those things more consistently to beat Declan Rice or Moises Caicedo in the race to…
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