Elliott, Amad and 25 NXGN wonderkids who could earn Premier League starts in 2021-22

While most of the players on this list are waiting for their big break ahead of the new campaign, the same cannot really be said for Amad.

The winger, who Manchester United could end up paying as much as £37 million ($48m) for if certain clauses are met, has already become something of a recognisable name among Premier League fans, thanks mostly to the fee that was involved in his arrival from Atalanta.

His debut goal against AC Milan only added to the hype around the 19-year-old, but he went onto make just three Premier League appearances in his first five months at Old Trafford.

The arrival of Jadon Sancho looks set to further limit his opportunities, but if Amad really is as good as his transfer fee suggests he is, then United will surely be able to find a role for the Cote d'Ivoire international.

As Arsenal's rebuild continues in north London, Mikel Arteta is likely to continue looking to the club's academy for potential gems in a bid to supplement the glut of new faces he is bringing in from elsewhere.

The most likely teenager to make the step up this season is Miguel Azeez, who made his first-team debut last season in the Europa League.

A defensive midfielder who studies Sergio Busquets, Azeez has also earned something of a reputation for scoring spectacular goals at youth level.

The 18-year-old will start the new season with the Under-23s, but more impressive performances could see him earn a promotion to the senior ranks before the campaign is over.

Back in January, Kwadwo Baah was the hottest property in England's lower leagues, with the Rochdale forward having the likes of Manchester City, Juventus and Bayern Munich fighting over his signature.

City eventually won the race for the forward, agreeing a deal in January that would see Baah move to the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, only for a medical issue to cause the transfer to fall through.

Newly-promoted Watford acted quickly to swoop in and sign the England youth international, who does not turn 19 until January, and Baah has featured in pre-season for the Hornets as they prepare for their return to the top-flight.

Though most comfortable playing off the left, he has been deployed across the forward line during his short career to date. He also has 44 first-team appearances under his belt from his time at Rochdale, making him one of the more experienced teenagers in the Premier League.

Chelsea had high hopes for Lewis Bate as the midfielder made his way through their famed academy system, but during a summer that has seen a host of talented youngsters depart Stamford Bridge, the 18-year-old has opted to seek pastures new.

Bate has landed at Leeds, who were impressed by his superb short and long-range passing ability, as well as the high-energy way in which he moves around the field.

Despite his diminutive stature, Bate also emerged as a real leader during his time at Chelsea, and Marcelo Bielsa will hope to see those traits translate over when the teenager gets his opportunity at Elland Road too.

Bate will start the new season learning Bielsa's way of playing at U23 level, but has already been earmarked as a potential back-up for Kalvin Phillips as the campaign wears on.

Leeds earned Category One status for their academy in the summer of 2020, and that has allowed them to both add players to their youth system from elsewhere while testing those they have developed themselves at a higher level.

One player who has stepped up to the plate spectacularly is Charlie Cresswell, who captained Leeds' U23s to promotion last season, earning himself a place among the nominees for Premier League 2 Player of the Season in the process.

An imposing centre-back who is as good in possession as he is out of it, the 18-year-old is the son of ex-Leeds striker Richard Cresswell and is already being tipped as being an England player of the future.

Cresswell made the first-team bench on a handful of occasions in 2020-21, and looks set to earn his first crack at senior football at some stage in the coming campaign.

One of the most exciting talents in English football heading into the new season, Carney Chukwuemeka is primed for a true breakout campaign at some stage in the next year or two after consistently impressing at youth level for club and country.

Despite being linked with a host of elite clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, the 17-year-old opted to sign a professional deal at Villa Park.

It is a decision that seems to be paying off, as after starring in Aston Villa's run to winning the FA Youth Cup, Chukwuemeka has already made his first-team debut and is set to be a fixture in the senior squad this season.

A classy midfielder who has been likened to both Paul Pogba and Dele Alli, the teenager saw his attacking output skyrocket after being utilised as a No.10 during the second half of last season, and that could therefore be the position he makes his own in the coming years.

Manchester City's search for a Sergio Aguero replacement has gone on all summer, but if they cannot get a new No.9 in at the Etihad Stadium, then that could offer Liam Delap the chance to show what he can do.

Last season's Premier League 2 Player of the Season after scoring 24 goals in 20 games for the eventual champions, Delap has already marked his first-team debut with a goal after netting against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup back in September.

That remains just one of three senior appearances for the 18-year-old, who is the son of ex-Stoke City midfielder Rory Delap and has been likened to Erling Haaland in some quarters.

A host of Championship clubs are said to be interested in taking Delap on loan if City are willing to let him leave, though if a new striker does not arrive at Eastlands, then they may be inclined to keep the prolific teenager.

After scoring 11 goals and laying on five assists in 16 games for Everton's U18s as a 15 and 16-year-old in 2019-20, many expected Lewis Dobbin to kick on last season, only for a serious knee injury to cut his campaign short in January.

Now back fit, he is clearly keen to make up for lost time, having scored three hat-tricks during pre-season friendlies for the Toffees' U23s side.

Those performances saw him appear for their first team in their final warm-up match of the summer against Manchester United, with the England youth international having clearly caught Rafa Benitez's eye.

Capable of playing anywhere along the forward line, expect the 18-year-old to appear in a number of matchday squads at Goodison Park if his form in front of goal continues.

More than at any other time of the year, pre-season offers the opportunity for young players to get themselves in front of the first-team manager and show why they are worth keeping around in the senior squad for the long-term.

Sam Edozie certainly took that opportunity in the summer of 2021, with the ex-Millwall winger scoring in each of Manchester City's three friendly matches while a host of more recognisable names were still on holiday.

That saw him earn a place in the starting XI for the Community Shield, and though that is likely to be a one-off for now as the mainstays of Pep Guardiola's squad return to the fold, Edozie has certainly made enough of an impression to ensure he has a chance of earning further minutes over the course of the campaign.

Another to have impressed in pre-season is Anthony Elanga, with the Manchester United forward having caught the eye of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with his confidence and ability in front of goal.

The Sweden youth international, who was named United's Young Player of the Year in 2020, already has a Premier League goal to his name after netting against Wolves on the final day of last season, and could now be set for further opportunities in the first team.

Comfortable playing on the wing or as a central striker, 19-year-old Elanga could very well fill the void left by Marcus Rashford in the squad as the England star recovers from shoulder surgery.

Hype around Harvey Elliott has been building ever since he became the youngest player in Premier League history as a 16-year-old back in May 2019 while playing for Fulham.

After some flashes during his first season at Liverpool, that excitement reached new levels last season as he shone on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, registering seven goals and 11 assists for the Ewood Park outfit.

Now back at Anfield, Elliott has been one of the stars of the Reds' pre-season despite the winger playing in a more unfamiliar role as one of Jurgen Klopp's two No.8s.

With Gini Wijnaldum gone, there is certainly a space that needs filling in Liverpool's squad, and the 18-year-old may well prove to be the man to do it in 2021-22.

When it was announced in August 2020 that Leeds were buying Joe Gelhardt for a fee that could rise to £2.5m ($3.5m), many onlookers felt that the Elland Road outfit were getting themselves an absolute bargain.

Already a veteran of over 20 first-team games at Wigan Athletic, striker Gelhardt was regarded as one of the brightest prospects outside the Premier League before moving to Leeds, and his first season in West Yorkshire confirmed his potential.

The 19-year-old, who has been likened to Wayne Rooney in the past, scored 11 goals in 16 games for Leeds U23s during their promotion-winning campaign while appearing in multiple matchday squads for Marcelo Bielsa's first team.

His senior debut for the Whites has not yet materialised, but certainly seems to be on the horizon as Leeds enter into their second season back in the top-flight.

It is unlikely that Kaide Gordon will break into the Liverpool first-team picture this season, but the 16-year-old could have done little more to catch Jurgen Klopp's eye during pre-season.

The forward, who joined the Reds from Derby County in a deal worth around £1m ($1.4m) in January, has wowed supporters with his displays over the summer, leaving many calling for him to get a chance in the senior squad during 2021-22.

In reality, Gordon will drop back down into the club's U23s, though do not be surprised if he makes the odd appearance in the domestic cups, which in turn could force him into the reckoning for Premier League minutes during the second half of the campaign.

Despite only having turned 19 in January, Sam Greenwood has already had a fairly eventful career, with Leeds United the third club he has represented since 2018.

The former Sunderland and Arsenal forward certainly made an impact during his first season at Elland Road in 2020-21, as he was shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Season prize after providing 12 goals to Leeds U23s' promotion effort.

Among those goals were a series of sublime free-kicks, with Greenwood having earned something of a reputation among Leeds supporters for his superb dead-ball ability.

His form allowed him to make his debut for Marcelo Bielsa's first team in the FA Cup in January, and he find himself in contention to make his Premier League bow in the early weeks of the new campaign.

Back in the summer of 2020, Romeo Lavia had the great and good of the Premier League chasing him, as Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool all tried to convince the Anderlecht midfielder to join them.

Lavia chose City, and after an eye-catching first season at the club, it seems that the English champions have got themselves one of the best young midfielders in the world.

The 17-year-old was instrumental in City winning both the U18s and U23s league titles in 2020-21, with many believing that the Belgium youth international has all the tools to make it at the highest level.

Pep Guardiola is reportedly a fan, and though 2021-22 may come too soon for Lavia to break into the first-team picture, it will surely not be long before he becomes a household name.

Back in May, Tino Livramento joined a list of Chelsea stars such as Mason Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour in being named the Blues' Academy Player of the Year.

But unlike those who came before him, Chelsea will not be able to utilise Livramento's talent themselves, after the full-back made it clear that he wished to leave Stamford Bridge this summer in a bid to fast-track his path to first-team football.

Southampton were only too happy to pay £5m ($7m) for the 18-year-old, who in turn provided an assist just minutes into his Saints debut during pre-season.

Able to play at either full-back or on the right-hand side of midfield, Livramento is already being tipped to follow in the footsteps of Tariq Lamptey in leaving Chelsea before almost instantly becoming a Premier League star.

Hannibal Mejbri was just 16 when Manchester United agreed to pay Monaco an initial £4.7m ($5.6m) to sign the midfielder back in 2019, with the deal the kind that can be too much for a teenage player to handle.

Hannibal, though, does not seem to be struggling under the weight of expectation, with the now-18-year-old closing in on becoming a regular part of the United first-team picture.

Formerly a target of Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal, Hannibal is already a full Tunisia international and made his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2020-21 campaign.

United could end up paying as much as £9m ($11m) if certain targets are met by the youngster, but if his confident performances at youth level translate into the professional game, then he will be worth every penny.

Andrew Omobamidele had played just one minute of senior football before being handed his first Norwich City start against Preston North End in April, but you would not have known it from watching the centre-back in action.

He picked up the Man of the Match award for his performance in the 1-1 draw, and was rewarded with a place in Daniel Farke's starting XI for each of the following seven matches as the Canaries secured promotion from the Championship.

That run saw the 19-year-old earn his first call-up to the senior Ireland squad, and after playing every minute of Norwich's five pre-season games, Omobamidele now looks in pole position to start against Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign.

A daunting prospect, perhaps, but the teenager has risen to every challenge in his short career thus far, so doing so again would not come as a shock.

Yet another of Manchester City's talented youngsters, Cole Palmer is true homegrown starlet having been born and raised in nearby Wythenshawe.

The playmaking midfielder enjoyed an exceptional season at U23s level in 2020-21, scoring 13 goals and providing six assists in just 16 Premier League 2 games as City romped to the title.

Those performances earned Palmer a new long-term contract, a permanent place among Pep Guardiola's senior squad and a starting berth in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.

Having also made first-team appearances in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup last season, a Premier League debut now seems a formality for the England youth international.

Aston Villa are crying out for a homegrown hero to root for following the departure of Jack Grealish, and if pre-season performances are anything to go on, then they might just have found one in Jaden Philogene-Bidace.

The winger could, if things had gone differently, been following Grealish out of the Villa Park door this summer, as a host of top European clubs - including Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Ajax - tried to tempt him away as he entered the final months of his contract.

In the end, Villa convinced Philogene-Bidace to stay, and the 19-year-old now looks set to go to the next level having made his Premier League debut back in May.

A right-footer who prefers to cut inside from the left, he has also represented England at youth level, and scored a hat-trick on his only appearance for the international U19s side to date.

As Crystal Palace enter a new era following the departure of manager Roy Hodgson and a number of senior players, Eagles fans are keen to get a look at some of the impressive youngsters the club has been developing in its academy in recent years.

The leader of the current crop is winger Jesuran Rak-Sakyi, who enjoyed a stellar 2020-21 campaign with the club's U18s, scoring eight goals and laying on a further eight assists in just 16 league games.

That form has seen him earn minutes with the first-team over the course of pre-season, and many believe the 18-year-old has all the attributes required to force his way into Patrick Vieira's plans sooner rather than later.

Lewis Richardson has been on the radar of Burnley supporters ever since he marked his debut for the Clarets' U18s side with five goals against Crewe Alexandra, despite only being 15.

The forward has shown that was no luck either, and recorded 11 direct goal contributions in 21 games at U23s level last season while also making two Premier League appearances for Sean Dyche's side.

With Dyche favouring a 4-4-2 formation, Richardson's best chance of earning more minutes will likely come as a central striker, and though there are players ahead of the 18-year-old in the queue right now, do not rule him out of forcing his way up the pecking order in the coming months.

Already the youngest player to ever represent Tottenham in the Premier League, Dane Scarlett is now being touted by some fans as Spurs' long-term replacement for Harry Kane.

That is a long way off yet, but the 17-year-old has certainly showed he has some of the tools required to step into the England captain's shoes, having scored 25 goals in 24 appearances for Tottenham's various youth teams in 2020-21.

He has carried that goalscoring form into pre-season with the first-team squad, and there is a real chance that a player Jose Mourinho described as being "phenomenal" could work his way into Nuno Espirito Santo's thinking.

Manchester United's Young Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season, Shola Shoretire is already being hyped as 'the next Mason Greenwood' among Red Devils supporters following his academy exploits.

The Newcastle-born forward had 15 direct goal involvements in 21 U23s matches last season, and made three first-team appearances towards the end of the campaign.

Those included a substitute's appearance against Real Sociedad that saw Shoretire become the youngest player to ever represent United in European competition, and he is expected to be a permanent figure in the club's senior squad going forward.

United are certainly not short of young attacking talent right now, but the 17-year-old has the ability to hold his own at the highest level.

Dubbed 'the new Alphonso Davies', Thierry Small has emerged as one of the most coveted young left-backs in the world, with a host of top clubs in England and across Europe said to be tracking the 17-year-old's progress.

Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have all been mooted as potential suitors for the Everton youngster, who has been involved with a contract stand-off with the Toffees in recent months.

Having become the Merseysiders'; youngest-ever player when debuting in the FA Cup back in January, there were high hopes that Small would earn further minutes in the coming campaign, but whether he does will largely depend on whether he remains at Goodison Park past the end of the transfer window.