Wednesday 23 January 2019 14:27, UK
Which Sky Bet Championship players are ready to step up to the Premier League? George Elek from the 'Not The Top 20 Podcast' picks out five names...
Speaking on Sky Sports' Transfer Talk podcast, Elek provided his insight on five players he believes could make their mark in the top tier of English football.
From the 'Championship Messi' to a potential Jamie Vardy in the making, scroll down to see which players are being tipped for big things in the future...
"He was released by Millwall two years ago and I am pretty sure they will regret it. He plays in a similar position to Bradley Dack, just off the striker in the No 10 role, and he's got unbelievable ability.
"Marc Bircham, who has worked with him at QPR, said that he goes past players easier than Raheem Sterling did when he was at the club. His work rate is also very good and not normally one that you would associate with a flair player - he's not afraid to get stuck in.
"The ball also has a tendency to stick to his feet and he is creating opportunities for his team-mates - at 20 he is a raw talent and is undoubtedly a player that will be playing in the Premier League in the next year or so."
"A lot of what Hull have done in the last couple of months has been down to him. He has scored 10 goals in his last nine games and has scored 28 goals in the last season-and-a-half.
"He made the step up from non-league when Hull signed him from Hereford in 2013 - so it's a little bit of a Jamie Vardy story. He's 22, comfortable playing on the right side of midfield as well as the No 10 role and someone that looks to have a real exciting future.
"You cannot overstate the impact that he has had at Hull - without him they would be nowhere near the play-off positions."
"He is such an interesting one. He's such a good goalscorer, but it's not necessarily his finishing ability that is the reason behind that, it's his ability to find space in the box.
"Tammy Abraham at Aston Villa is similar - always getting chances, always getting on the end of crosses and the frustrating misses from last season are starting to go in.
"Sixteen goals so far this season, just one behind Abraham who is currently the top scorer, but I would worry about him if he was at a Premier League team that failed to create many chances - he needs the creative players working behind him."
"He's a creative player, there are comparisons with him being the 'Championship Messi'. He's a brilliant dribbler of the ball, very industrious, he works hard as well.
"Daniel Farke has been getting very concerned about the treatment he is getting from opposition teams because they just have to foul him to stop him. He's one of six or seven players from this Norwich team that could easily be targeted by the Premier League.
"Buendia has that touch of star quality, the ability to score goals as well - he's already played top-flight football for Getafe in La Liga. At 22 years old he's having a season now that proves he's ready to step up.
"Norwich will be desperate to keep hold of him in January. If they don't get promoted to the Premier League I have no doubt he will be playing there for someone else."
"He's had a brilliant season, and was the best player in League One last season. He's a player that is very comfortable playing in that No 10 position and has already scored 10 goals this season after scoring 18 in the league last time around. He's 25 - so if he wants to play at the top level he really needs to move on now.
"I think the key thing for Dack is that he will improve in a team that is more possession focused and that plays more on the front foot. The difference in the Premier League these days is that you probably get more time on the ball in the opposition's half - it's less frantic.
"The pace of the game is very quick indeed. But if he was to go to a team like West Ham and, in games not against the top four, look to play on the front foot, he picks up positions just outside the area so well, his finishing ability is superb, outside and inside the area. He is someone that has the technical capabilities.
"I think the way that he has come on from his time at Gillingham to Blackburn - at Gillingham his record goal haul was 13, he got 18 in his first season for Blackburn and now he's doing it again in the Championship. He seems an obvious one that would be suited by the step up rather than struggle.
"Given Blackburn's position in the league, they're not going to get relegated, they're not going to trouble the play-off positions either. It seems like this would be the perfect opportunity for him to get that move."
"In time, possibly Eze. He's got the biggest step up to make but he is only 20, so raw. The person right now would have to be Bowen or Dack.
"Either one of those going into the Spurs team wouldn't look out of place at all. I've left out Jack Grealish given his injury problems but they're of a similar ilk."
