The young Championship stars you will see linked with a Premier League move
Whilst the Premier League feels very stop-start during the early months of the season, the Championship is typically full-throttle.
The clubs vying for promotion to the top-flight have already played 12 league games, as well as more Carabao Cup games and enjoying the international breaks.
It is often labeled the most-entertaining league in the world – a league that often sees teams at the bottom upset those in the upper echelons of the table.
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But it is also full of quality and Gareth Southgate’s selection of Mason Mount, on loan at Derby County from Chelsea, speaks volumes for that.
Other players such as James Maddison and David Brooks have made the step up from Championship to Premier League and looked at home right away.
You would expect top-tier clubs to be casting their eye over the young talent currently plying their trade in the second tier ahead of January, potentially looking for someone to come in and reinvigorate a squad.
Yahoo Sport UK pick out the players likely to be linked with Premier League clubs over the coming months.
Neal Maupay – Brentford (22)
The Championship’s top scorer at this early stage, netting ten goals in his first ten games and benefitting from Brentford’s positive start. Guilty last season of missing too many chances, Maupay has been more clinical this time around and the Frenchman is 22, so will only get better. Championship goal scorers do not always make the step up, but they are normally given the chance and Maupay will be at some point.
Bradley Dack – Blackburn (24)
Blackburn Rovers’ star man has only played nine games of Championship football, yet he already looks like a Premier League player in waiting. The former Gillingham youngster fired Rovers to promotion from League One and has netted six times in nine games this year. He creates goals, causes problems for defences and works hard too. Dack is 24 and getting better every week.
Nick Powell – Wigan (24)
Nick Powell will not be a new name to many, he has already spent a fairly unsuccessful spell at Manchester United. Powell, though, has been at Wigan permanently for the past two years and his career has rebooted. He turned down a switch to Brighton last year, but the creative midfielder will be on plenty of club’s radars going into January. Another with an eye for goal too, having scored four already this season.
Chris Mepham – Brentford (20)
Let’s move away from the forwards and back into defence – and Brentford. Chris Mepham is already a Welsh international and the centre-back has established himself at the heart of the Bees’ backline. Mepham made 21 appearances last year and has missed just 16 minutes of league football this season. He is destined for the top-flight, it is question of when, rather than if.
Jarrod Bowen – Hull (21)
Currently playing for Hull City, the Championship’s bottom side, Jarrod Bowen still manages to impress. He netted 14 goals last year and has scored three of Hull’s 10 strikes so far this season. All of that from a tricky winger who is just as likely to set one up as he is to score one. Was linked with Everton in the summer and the number of clubs interested in him will only increase with Hull languishing near the relegation zone.
Jack Grealish – (23)
Jack Grealish is no stranger to rumours. The Aston Villa playmaker was close to moving to Spurs in the summer, however they failed to meet Villa’s admittedly large valuation. Despite signing a new deal at Villa and the change in management, Grealish will be one of the favourites to make the step up in the near future. It’s just a question of which clubs are willing to stump up the cash.