Eleven Euro U21 Championship stars hoping to tempt Premier League giants into big-money transfers including France duo
PREMIER LEAGUE scouts will have their eyes on Georgia and Romania over the next fortnight.
The Eastern European duo are co-hosting the Under-21 Euros, where the continent’s hottest young talent compete.
GettyFrance’s Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram is already thought to be on the radar of Liverpool and Newcastle[/caption]
GettyBorussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone is a prime target[/caption]
GettyRyan Gravenberch is also much admired by Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp[/caption]
GettyFree-scoring Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga is sure to attract attention[/caption]
Liverpool and Newcastle will surely be tracking France’s progress in Group D — there are four groups of four — given Les Bleus’ midfield options.
Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone, both 22, of Nice and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively, are admired by Jurgen Klopp and Eddie Howe.
The same can be said of Group B Spain’s Gabri Veiga, 21, who hit 11 goals from midfield for Celta Vigo last term and is said to have a release clause of £34million.
Klopp may also check out Holland in Group A, as another target — Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, 21 — will be a starter for them.
Brighton must hope his keeper team-mate Bart Verbruggen, 20, comes through unscathed as they look to sign him from Anderlecht.
Both are up against another player drawing Premier League interest — stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili, 22, of hosts Georgia.
Tottenham are looking at the Valencia goalie, as Chelsea have done with Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, 19, of heavily fancied Italy.
The Azzurri also boast Willy Gnonto, 19, who will likely move following Leeds’ relegation.
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Plus left-back Destiny Udogie, 20, who Spurs signed in August and loaned back to Udinese.
He returns this summer to his parent club and hopes to be a key part of Ange Postecoglou’s new era.
Across North London, Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta wants another centre-back so he will be monitoring the progress of France’s Mohamed Simakan, 23, of RB Leipzig.
Other high-profile players on show in the likes of Tbilisi, Bucharest and the Young Lions’ base Batumi include Borussia Dortmund ace Youssoufa Moukoko, 18, of Group C Germany — who face England next Wednesday — and AC Milan’s Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, 23.
Not to mention Mykhailo Mudryk, 22, who will aim to get back on track after a poor start to life at Chelsea.
Of course, hoping to outshine them all will be Lee Carsley’s England, who boast a number of top talents.
Only one has a senior cap to his name in Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, who is looking to kick-start his career with the tournament following a frustrating campaign with his groin injury.
But Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Gordon, Curtis Jones and Noni Madueke are all among those with the ability to light up the competition.
French deender Mohamed Simakan will be monitored by ArsenalGetty
GettyDortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko is in the German U21s squad aged just 18[/caption]
Anderlecht and Dutch U21 keeper Bart Verbruggen is wanted by Brighton […]Rex
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