Monday 27 July 2015 14:26, UK
Our Sky Sports Fantasy Football scout picks out five young players to take the Premier League by storm this season.
Harry Kane emerged as the revelation of last season despite starting the campaign as a periphery figure at Tottenham and priced up at just £6.7m, going on to rack up 203 points, the third most in the league.
The 21-year-old is now valued as one of the game's most expensive players at £9.3m, so who can replicate his heroics?
Our Sky Sports Fantasy Football scout offers his five candidates:
Rolando Aarons - £5m
Newcastle fans have been made to wait to see their brightest prospect make the breakthrough, with injuries all-but wiping out his 2014/15 campaign. But having sacrificed his summer holiday to crank up fitness work, the 19-year-old winger has enjoyed an impressive pre-season. With Jonas Gutierrez gone after securing the Magpies’ safety last season, Aarons can now make his mark off the left flank. Judging from his impressive double against the Portland Timbers, when he also provided an assist, the future looks brighter for Newcastle, who have added a targetman in Aleksandar Mitrovic (7.3m) and a playmaker in Georginio Wijnaldum (£7m) to their ranks this summer.
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Jordon Ibe - £5.8m
Another winger with big boots to fill, Liverpool fans will be hoping Ibe can prove a like-for-like replacement for Raheem Sterling. The 19-year-old will face stiffer competition for a starting berth, with Roberto Firmino brought in to boost the Reds’ attack, but Brendan Rodgers has a healthy record of giving youngsters a chance. Ibe made 12 Premier League appearances last season after impressing on loan at Derby, netting five times from his 21 outings.
James Wilson - £6.4m
Wilson’s opportunities are likely to be even more reliant on other factors, predominantly Louis van Gaal’s decision not to add to his attacking options. With Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie departing, Wilson has been significantly bumped up the pecking order, while Javier Herndandez, whose Old Trafford future is also in doubt, is set to miss the start of the season through injury. Also, at 19 and with Premier League experience and goals to his name already, Wilson looks sure to have a bright future, and his potential may well need to be realised sooner rather than later if Wayne Rooney is struck down by injury.
Jack Butland - £4.9m
He's now 22 but Butland is still very much a young talent in terms of goalkeepers, with the likes of Tim Howard still going strong at 36. England U21 stopper Butland looks set to inherit the No 1 jersey following the departure of Asmir Begovic to Chelsea with veteran Shay Given his main competition. As Sky Sports Fantasy Football veterans will be aware, selecting a goalkeeper is largely based on picking a defensive unit to deliver, which is good news for those tempted by Butland given the Potters boasted the sixth-best defensive record last season.
Patrick Bamford - £6.7m
The 21-year-old striker will have the chance to prove his worth at Premier League level this season after producing prolifically in the Sky Bet Football League. Crystal Palace won the race to secure Bamford's services on loan after Jose Mourinho deemed him surplus to requirements at Chelsea, despite him impressing in previous spells away from Stamford Bridge. Bamford netted 17 times for Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship last season after also scoring freely during stints at MK Dons and Derby, showing all the signs to suggest he will be a hit at Selhurst Park. The Eagles are certainly in need of a leading marksman, with Glenn Murray their top goalscorer last season with only seven goals. Bamford will be aided by the support of plenty of pace down the flanks, while Yohan Cabaye’s creativity should also enhance his opportunities.
