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#3 Presnel Kimpembe - PSG
Not many academy graduates have enjoyed success within the PSG first-team. But Presnel Kimpembe is an exception and has the quality to become a captain.
Kimpembe made his PSG debut in the 2014-15 season when he was just 19. While the Frenchman did not play much in his first two seasons, he became a regular on the team during the 2016-17 season. Since then, Kimpembe has been a key part of PSG's defense.
The 26-year-old has made more than 180 appearances in all competitions during this time and has won several domestic titles with the club. He was also part of the France squad that went on to win the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
Playing alongside the likes of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos at club level, Kimpembe has seen the defensive and leadership qualities required at the top level in close quarters. He is currently PSG's vice-captain after the departure of Thiago Silva last season and has also taken on the captain's armband in the absence of Marquinhos on several occasions. The defender has also been loved and adored by PSG fans since he came up through the ranks at the club.
Considering the above factors, there's no doubt that Kimpembe is the prime candidate to replace Marquinhos as the club captain in the near future.
#2 Mason Mount - Chelsea
Mason Mount's rise in recent seasons has seen him return from loan spells at Vitesse and Derby County to become one of Chelsea's most important players.
Mount has already made more than 100 appearances for the Chelsea first-team since making his debut at the start of the 2019-20 campaign. An outstanding achievement for an academy product. Mount also played a key part in Chelsea's Champions League triumph last season, assisting the winning goal in the final.
Seeing his performances and attitude on the pitch, Mount has been tipped to become the club's next captain after Cesar Azpilicueta. Aged 22, he has already captained the team twice, once in an FA Cup game against Luton Town and then in a league game against Sheffield United last season.
Chelsea's most successful captain, John Terry, who is also an academy graduate, has backed Mount to captain both club and country in the future.
Mount definitely has all the qualities to become a captain. He's smart, hard-working and has also been vocal on the pitch. It wouldn't be surprising if John Terry's words come true as the years go by.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
It's hard to remember that Trent Alexander-Arnold is only 22, considering the fact that he has been a key part of Liverpool's backline for such a long time.
Alexander-Arnold played a huge role in the Liverpool side that won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons. He is already one of the most experienced players at the club, having made more than 150 appearances since making his debut in 2016.
As such, he has also been consistently touted as a future Reds captain, something the Englishman hinted was one of his aims in a recent interview with the club's website:
"It's about just winning things, leading the team as well in certain ways, being more of a leader on the pitch, off the pitch for the younger players. Establishing myself in those kind of roles as a leader would be something I've got my eye on."
Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Alexander-Arnold will captain Liverpool one day after handing the armband to the youngster in a Champions League game against Midtjylland.
With role-models like Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Virgil van Dijk around him, Alexander-Arnold definitely has the right grooming to lead Liverpool into the future.
