EURO 2024 is just around the corner and excitement is building ahead of what promises to be a fascinating tournament in Germany.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Kevin de Bruyne are destined to shine at Euro 2024, but the tournament will also provide a platform for younger players to catch the eye. Here are five players who could spark a summer bidding war by impressing for their country this summer.
Joao Neves (Portugal)
Deep-lying central midfielders are in high demand (see Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice etc.) and Joao Neves could be the next elite level player in that position. The 19-year-old is a key figure for Benfica and is expected to feature for Portugal at Euro 2024 with Manchester United believed to be monitoring his progress.
Likened to Rodri, Neves is comfortable progressing the ball from deep and can quickly change direction due to his low centre of gravity. The teenager could do with adding goal threat to his game, but his development over the last two seasons has been remarkable. A strong Euros could make him a €100m player.
Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia)
Elite level centre forwards are hard to find, but Benjamin Sesko has all the qualities to become of the best strikers in the game. Called Slovenia’s answer to Erling Haaland, the 20-year-old is strong and physically imposing. Most importantly, Sesko has the natural instinct to be the right place in the right time in front of goal.
Arsenal have been linked with a summer move for Sesko while Manchester United are also believed to be long-term admirers. The 20-year-old can still be erratic with his finishing, but a strong Euro 2024 campaign for Slovenia could convince a Premier League club to take a chance on the RB Leipzig forward.
Antonio Silva (Portugal)
Benfica’s youth academy is widely considered one of the best in European football and Antonio Silva is almost certain to be another graduate to reach the sport’s top level. The 20-year-old is expected to partner Ruben Dias in central defence for Portugal at Euro 2024 with the pair very similar in the way they play the position.
Silva is physically strong and has natural leadership qualities. On the ball, he is also comfortable playing out from the back which has helped facilitate a more proactive approach for Portugal since the appointment of Roberto Martinez. The centre back is destined to join one of the biggest clubs in Europe at some point in the future.
Adam Wharton (England)
It was only six months ago that Adam Wharton made the £22m transfer to Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers, but the young midfielder has made a profound impact on the Premier League in the time since then. Wharton’s performances for Palace in the second half of the season were impressive enough for him to earn a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad.
The 20-year-old is composed on the ball and is excellent at keeping possession in tight spaces. Wharton has the makings of England’s next great number six with Bayern Munich believed to be weighting up an offer for the Crystal Palace midfielder this summer. A good Euros could spark a bidding war. His showing against Bosnia on Monday only increased his chances of making England’s final 26-man squad.
Illia Zabarnyi (Ukraine)
Bournemouth flew under the radar as one of the biggest surprise packages in the Premier League this season and Illia Zabarnyi was a big part of the Cherries’ success. The 21-year-old started 37 league matches and will look to carry his impressive form into the summer when he will be a key figure for Ukraine.
Zabarnyi is renowned for his ball-playing ability which could make him attractive to a number of elite level clubs who want to construct possession moves from deep. The centre back only joined Bournemouth from Dynamo Kyiv last summer, but it’s unlikely he will be at the Vitality Stadium for much longer.
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