Each season gives us lots of new breakout stars, and 2021/22 will be no different.
Take a look across Europe and you will find countless young prodigies flirting with superstars, and the stars are in line for some to reach new heights and take over the coming season.
Let’s take a closer look at some.
Bukayo Saka
Saka is one of Arsenal and England’s brightest prospects / Chloe Knott – Danehouse / Getty Images
In addition to Raheem Sterling, there is one case that suggests that Bukayo Saka was England’s best forward at Euro 2020.
The Arsenal star was one of his club’s most important players already last season, but with the summer in the sails, Saka expects to continue and assert himself as the Gunners’ undisputed star man this year.
The whole country is behind Saka, which enjoys that kind of pressure. It is a challenge that he will do everything to live.
Mason Greenwood
Greenwood is the latest in a long line of top-qualified graduates from Man Utd Academy / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
The potential has been there for several years now, but it’s time for Mason Greenwood to take over.
Jadon Sancho’s arrival at Manchester United means Greenwood will see more minutes on the striker, where he made his name in the academy with 34 goals in as many games for United’s under-18 side. He was always billed as a future superstar center going forward, and now he gets the chance to prove why.
Greenwood is an ice-cold finisher and has been waiting for this opportunity for several years. He knows he can make a boat with goals, and fans should expect that from him this season.
Alexander Isaac
Isak’s share has risen after a fantastic Euro 2020 screening with Sweden / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Since his days in Sweden with AIK, it has been clear that Alexander Isak will become a superstar, and the hype is only growing bigger.
17 goals in 34 games in La Liga last season was an outstanding return for the tall Swede, but it was the least he deserved. He dominated defense all over Spain and brought that excitement to the euro, where he almost gave us the highlight of the tournament with a small solo attempt against Slovakia.
After years of earning the spotlight, Isak has finally got it, and he looks more than ready to make it his own.
Ezri Konsa
Konsa can be England counting for too long / Malcolm Couzens / Getty Images
There are many English midfielders vying with Harry Maguire and John Stones for a place in the national team, but Aston Villa’s Ezri Konza has a stronger fall than most.
Under the leadership of John Terry, Konsa has quietly moved on to elite status. He is so comfortable in everything he does and has neutralized some of the game’s best strikers, doing it in such a simple way that selection packs often do not address it. It’s just that simple.
A call to England will definitely come for Konsa in the near future, but that may just be the first step in his quest for superstar.
Call Hudson-Odoi
Hudson-Odoi has added positional versatility to its repertoire / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
One of Thomas Tuchel’s first moves at Chelsea was to highlight the astronomical potential of young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The boss trusted Hudson-Odoi a lot and repeatedly said that the youngster has more than enough to excel at the top level. The pair shared a fantastic embrace after Hudson-Odoi shone in a 2-1 victory against Manchester City last season that showed how in love Tuchel is with the young star.
A step further will benefit Hudson-Odoi and allow him to focus on his unreal dribbling abilities without the anchor of defensive responsibilities holding him back. Once he has that freedom, it may be over for the rest of the league.
Jamal Musiala
Musiala has broken into a very successful Bayern site / ANDREAS GEBERT / Getty Images
Last season, Jamal Musiala was a regular part of arguably the best club side on the planet, Bayern Munich. He got the taste for success, and now it’s time for the young German to take the next step.
With Julian Nagelsmann, a manager who values young people, now at the helm of the Allianz Arena, Musiala will have more opportunities than ever before. He managed six goals in seven starts last year, so imagine what he could do with more.
More minutes with Bayern will give Musiala a bigger step to impress before the World Cup 2022, where the young forward can take his career to a whole new level.
Boubakary Soumare
Soumare is the latest exciting addition to Leicester / Tony Marshall / Getty Images
Ending Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in Ligue 1 would never be easy, but Boubakary Soumare made it look like easy work.
His reward for that, in addition to the league title, was a £ 17m move to Leicester City to be included in the most exciting midfield in the Premier League along with Youri Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi. English fans know all about these two, and Soumare is reaching the same level.
£ 17 million does not normally get you that much today, but in Soumare Leicester have produced one of France’s best young midfielders in what could be this summer’s bargain.
This article comes to you from Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which is now streaming on STARZPLAY. See the trailer below.
