In the last six years, this list has included current Liverpool stars like Dominik Szoboszlai in 2017, Curtis Jones in 2018, and Ryan Gravenberch in 2019, as well as many others who have since gone on to achieve stardom in European football.
It’s why this list is very much worth keeping an eye on. The next Gravenberch or Szoboszlai may well be on it. On Wednesday, the best talents for 2023 were released by The Guardian, with all of them having been born in 2006, and Liverpool.com has decided to take a look at the eight best talents to keep an eye on who could one day end up at Anfield.
One of the most intriguing names on the list is Karol Borys. Having seen him live at the U17 European Championships, where he was one of the standout players, he is definitely a player who has the potential to be an elite midfielder in the future.
According to The Guardian, he’s already gone on a trial to Manchester United. However, Liverpool could also be a potential future destination considering the club’s academy has brought in a lot of Polish stars in the last few years, and has a strong scouting presence in the country.
In the last few years, Hajduk Split has developed the most expensive defender in the world in Manchester City’s Joško Gvardiol, as well as the supremely talented Luka Vušković who is set to join Tottenham in 2025. The next player to follow suit could be Noa Skoko, who was brilliant in the UEFA Youth League last season and is set to make his senior debut this season.
Japanese football is on the rise and Gaku Nawata is another interesting name on the Guardian’s list. He was the star of the U17 Asia Cup and will now be looking to make his mark at the U17 World Cup. Very technically gifted and great in one-on-one situations, he presses well too and has a knack for scoring. He’s definitely the type of attacker who could attract Liverpool’s attention.
Another standout player from the U17 Euros who made The Guardian’s list is Matija Popovic. A very exciting and tall attacker who can play on the wing and centrally, Popovic is 1.93m (6ft 4in), but he’s brilliant technically and extremely fast. Once again he is the type of player Liverpool likes to go for in attack, which is why he is worth keeping an eye on.
The seventh player is Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal. A tall center-back in the mold of Joël Matip, the Moroccan comes from the prestigious Mohamed VI academy that developed a host of stars who shone for the country at the senior World Cup in Qatar. Aït Boudlal could be the next one to break through and he is one to watch at the U17 World Cup.
Last but not least is Romanian Enes Sali. He’s been making waves in his home country for years, and has been linked with Barcelona in the past according to The Guardian, which also claims he is often ‘compared to Lionel Messi.’ Definitely one of the biggest talents of his generation, he is the youngest European player to ever play for a national team and the youngest goal-scorer in Romanian football.
