England haven't had the luck to produce some world-class talents in football for a while now. A host of their young stars have fizzled out early on in their careers due to the vigour and the demands of the Premier League.
But the tides are changing and some of their young stars are finally being able to handle the pressure. The future of the English national team is bright with some of the best young talents coming through in the sport. The Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world and it comes as no surprise that it remains a destination for talented English youth.
Here's looking at five of the most valuable and talented young footballers from England: (Under-23 only)
#5 Luke Shaw – €21 million
While he hasn't been a part of Manchester United's first-team recently, 21-year-old Luke Shaw remains one of England's prized possessions. The former Southampton man has all the right ingredients to go on and forge a very successful career in the sport.
Whether that'll be at Manchester United remains unclear. But one thing is certain, he has the talent and the eagerness to beat the likes of Ashley Cole to become one of England's best left-backs in the country's history.
Having yet to regain the kind of confidence and pace he had before his horrific injury a few years ago, Shaw is taking small steps in ensuring he comes back a stronger player. A minute short of 1000 minutes in all competitions this season, Shaw’s return is a boost for Jose Mourinho who will surely utilise the Englishman when he's ready. It's a no-brainer, really.
#4 Ross Barkley – €22 million
It may have seemed like Ross Barkley hit his peak too soon under Roberto Martinez but now, under new management with Ronald Koeman, the Evertonian seems to be back at his best doing what he does on the pitch every single week.
Barkley is an archetypal English talent – strong, fast and purposeful with the ball at his feet, while also being inconsistent and so very near the threshold of greatness that he teases it every now and then.
Under Koeman, however, the 23-year-old has come alive. He's back to being the main man in the Everton team and decides just how the team attacks when they do so. He plays in the middle and has had a hand in the way the team have played this season with four goals and four assists in twenty-four games.
#3 John Stones – €35 million
The amount of criticism this young footballer gets is beyond ridiculous at times. Still only 22, Stones has the kind of potential only a few defenders in world football have. He's such a talented player both on and off the ball and can dominate the best of strikers in the tightest of situations.
Pep Guardiola was sure of Stones’ ability that he bid a nearly-British-record to sign him from Everton and that in itself goes to show how valuable the Englishman is – both in the market and to one of the most competitive football coaches in the world.
Stones has been making mistakes this season and that should be ignored given the Spaniard's system is often a maze for youngsters coming through. At Bayern Munich and Barcelona, Guardiola had established defenders at the back but in time, Stones could very well go on to become of the best defenders he's ever managed.
#2 Harry Kane – €40 million
Given what he does and the amount of time he's been doing it for, it seems almost incomprehensible that Harry Kane is still only 23. The Tottenham Hotspur man has been on fire for a few seasons now and seems like the kind of talent that could lead England's attacks for years to come.
This season alone, the Englishman has scored 15 goals and has contributed 3 assists in the 20 games he's played for the North London side. He's also the youngest top-scorer within Europe's top twenty goal scorers for League competitions – a feat he should be enormously proud of.
Kane has the potential to become a world-beater under Mauricio Pochettino. He has the know-how in the box, the intelligence to make the right kind of runs and the confidence to slot past the best of keepers. There's nothing more you could ask for, really.
#1 Raheem Sterling – €45 million
The most expensive British signing in the Premier League is still 22-year-old Raheem Sterling. The former Liverpool man has been an exceptional signing for Manchester City but you always get the feeling he could be so much better should he have a fixed position on the field.
Pep Guardiola trusts Sterling enough to play him almost every week. The Englishman has been silently racking up the numbers even though it may seem like his side are yet to reach their potential. With 6 goals and 12 assists in all competitions this season, it's no doubt he's one of the highest valued under-23 players in the world.
Sterling could play with the very best of players and shine – and given time at the Etihad, has the potential to achieve just that. He has the trust of his club manager, his national team manager and the fans, all that's missing is his insistence to demand greatness.
