Homegrown Championship players that Premier League clubs must sign
The football season seems to have never ended, with the European Qualifiers, Copa America, FIFA Women's World Cup and AFC Joint Qualifiers just some of the football on offer to keep us satisfied during this off-season. Even when these games aren't on, the transfer season keeps us on our toes with rumours, loan deals and transfers happening all across the world.The Premier League, England's top football competition, has a global presence that is unmatched by most leagues and all the top clubs in England have established scouting networks across the world.Angel Di Maria, England's most expensive transfer, by Manchester United for £59.7m last season, shows that these clubs are ready to pay big bucks for players who have performed at the biggest stage.On the other end of the spectrum, we have seen the likes of Aaron Cresswell become a regular at West Ham United during the 2014/15 after signing for the Hammers from Sky Bet Championship side Ipswich Town for £3.75m during the summer.The English sides have been wary of signing British and non-British homegrown talent because the players have overinflated values because of their homegrown status, and are therefore much more expensive than their foreign counterparts.With Financial Fair Play and FA Homegrown Rules becoming stricter in the near future, it is the right time for clubs to purchase young English players at a decent price, who can not only fill their squad with numbers but also play a role during the course of the Premier League season.With Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford playing in the league next season, players like Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie (both AFC Bournemouth), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City) and Troy Deeney (Watford) and their respective promoted teams will be plying their trade against England’s best, but there are a few more Championship players that should find their way to the Premier League even though their teams have missed out on promotion.Here are five players that should be signed by Premier League sides from the Championship:
#1 Will Hughes
Current Club: Derby County
Age: 20
Position: Midfielder
Derby County narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League after a dismal run at the end of the 2014/15 season, but this shouldn’t stop the left-footed Hughes from making the jump to the top English league, with numerous Premier League teams scouting him throughout the season.
Rumours during the previous summer transfer window indicated that Hughes had rejected an approach from a major Premier League side to stay with Derby after a heartbreaking playoff Final loss in the 2013/14 season. His side, having missed out on promotion yet again, will find it incredibly difficult to hold onto the youngster even though Hughes is on a long-term contract till 2018.
Having played in 42 of the possible 46 league games for his club this season, and 41 out of 46 in the 2013/14 season, Will Hughes has proved to be invaluable to Derby over the last couple of seasons. Will Hughes completed a Derby County ‘player of the year’ clean sweep this season, picking up the club player of the year, the players' player of the year, the supporters' club player of the year and fans' player of the year awards.
After getting his first Under-21 cap at 17 and becoming the second youngest English player to do so, he has gone on to represent his country at this level on 15 occasions, chipping in with a couple of goals. Hughes is currently with the England side in the European Under-21 Championship, pulling the strings from the centre of midfield.
Liverpool were looking to sign this blonde, technical player in late March and should still be ready to pay around £15m for his services but will face top competition from other top sides as Will Hughes promises to be one for the future of English football.
Teams that should look to sign him: Liverpool, Arsenal.
Will Hughes could be Liverpool’s long-term successor to legend, Steven Gerrard, who has left the club. Whether he can slot into that role immediately is debatable, but even if he takes some time to fit in at the club, there is no doubt that Hughes has what it takes to be a fixture in a top Premier League side like Liverpool.
As for Arsenal, with Rosicky, Flamini and Arteta seemingly at the end of their careers at the club; this season or next, there’s a big hole in the centre of the park and virtually no one to fill it. Arsene Wenger could develop Hughes and have him challenge and complement Jack Wilshere in the long run.