With the 2020/21 Champions League competition set to commence, we look at some of the younger talents set to make the headlines with many of Europe’s biggest sides.

The 2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage returns with the biggest clubs in Europe aiming for ultimate glory in the May 2021 final in Lisbon. With all eyes on the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and Mbappe, we look at some of the younger talents we feel will explode on the European stage this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai (19, Salzburg, midfield, Hungarian)

A solid left sided player who has not impressed at club level but also with the Hungarian national side. Possesses a ferocious strike and his manner of hitting the ball evokes that of Cristiano Ronaldo. The player bagged 12 goals and delivered 18 assists last season.

Dayot Upamecano (21, RB Leipzig, defence, France)

The RB Leipzig player is being heralded as one of the best future centre backs in Europe and is one of the emerging French stars to catch Zinedine Zidane’s eye but recently renewed his contract with the Bundesliga side. Just this weekend, Upemecano has been linked with Liverpool as the ideal replacement for Virgil van Dijk who will be out of action long term after an ACL rupture.

Marcos Antonio (20, Shakhtar, midfield, Brazil)

The 20-year-old is not a strict midfield player but more of a No. 8 with the player holding an incredible ability to respond in both attacking and defensive responsibilities. Came to the attention of many European sides after an impressive series of performances at the 2019 CONMEBOL U-20 championships where he was snapped up by Shakhtar and named in the Best XI of the tournament.

Antony (20, Ajax, forward, Brazil)

After impressing with Brazilian Serie A’s Sao Paulo, the striker secured a move to the Amsterdam based outfit and has availed of the injury to compatriot David Neres in securing playing time. The Brazilian is lethal in front of the target and destined for greater things.

Fabio Viera (20, FC Porto, forward, Portugal)

Came to public attention after starring in the Porto side which claimed the UEFA Youth League in 2019 beating Chelsea in the final with Viera bagging the opening goal for the Portuguese side. Has managed to earn the confidence of first team coach Sergio Conceiçao and is slowly establishing himself with the Liga NOS champions and has all the hallmarks to be another Portuguese great.

Jude Bellingham (17, Dortmund, midfield, England)

After impressing with Championship side Birmingham City, the teenager was snapped up by Dortmund for a fee of 25 million euro. The midfielder is highly rated by BVB coach Favre and has appeared on four occasions for the Bundesliga side already this season delivering one assist. A player who loves to be in possession and possesses an ability to dribble and take on defenders.

Ansu Fati (17, Barcelona, forward, Spain)

With all eyes on Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, the Argentine this season will appreciate having teenage talent Ansu Fati in his team as the Catalan side attempt to overcome the trauma of the 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich last season. Fati broke through last season in LaLiga and has already been capped by at full international level by Spain. The striker can play on the flank as well as a more central role and is a natural goal getter.

Vladyslav Supriaha (20, Dynamo Kyiv, forward, Ukraine)

Supriaha was the standout player in Ukraine’s FIFA U-20 World Cup win and bagged 15 goals as part of his loan term with FC Dnipro last season. The 20-year-old is now back in the capital and a regular in the Dynamo starting XI and is at his best outside the area and with his back to goal.

Eduardo Camavinga (17, Rennes, midfield, France)

Camavinga is one of the hottest young properties in European football and on the wish-list of many top clubs with the player deciding to stay a further year with Rennes despite the strong summer overtures from Real Madrid. The teenager recently made his debut for ‘Les Bleus’ with coach Didier Deschnamps claiming that his performances for the national side made him ‘un-droppable’. Dangerous with the ball at his feet and a possesses an ability to glide past defenders.

Mason Greenwood (19, Man United, forward, England)

A highly skilled left footed player who spends most of his time on the right flank at Old Trafford, the teenager already has a market value of 50 million euro attached to his signature. Recently made his full international with England though an episode of indiscipline in Iceland may have blotted his copybook with national team manager Gareth Southgate.

Kylian Mbappe boldly stated his mind is fully focused on beating Manchester United on Tuesday night despite potentially coming up against former team-mate Edinson Cavani.

Cavani could make his United debut on the opening night of the Champions League, after signing a two-year deal at the Red Devils on deadline-day following the expiration of his contract at PSG.

But PSG’s star striker Mbappe, who played alongside Cavani for three years in Paris, insisted there was no room for sentiment as the Ligue 1 champions look to go one better than their runners-up showing in last season’s competition.

When asked if it would be strange to see Cavani on the opposition team, as reported by AS, Mbappe said: ‘Not at all.

‘Now he’s on another team. I wish him the best, but he’s not one of us anymore.

‘We’ll play against him and try to beat them.’

Cavani is PSG’s record goalscorer, having netted 200 times for the French side in seven years at the club.

Though he left PSG under a cloud in the summer after a final season disrupted by injury, the Uruguayan won 19 trophies, including six French titles.

On Sunday, he finally took part in his first United training session after joining the club this summer as a free agent.

The 33-year-old frontman was forced to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period following his arrival in the UK in light of the country’s coronavirus measures.

But with the two week spell having now elapsed, Cavani was free to be put through his paces alongside his team-mates at the club’s Carrington complex on Sunday.

The Uruguay international was pictured training at home in a bid to retain his fitness levels prior to heading to the club’s training facilities for the first time.

And despite a limited time to make an impression, Cavani will be desperate to make his United bow against his former club as the Champions League returns on Tuesday.

In interviews since signing for United, the striker has even sensationally insisted that his target is to win the Premier League.

He told United’s official website: ‘I believe that you can’t help but think that a club like Manchester United can aspire to win the title.

‘Starting with the Premier League, and then moving on to other trophies.

‘That’s what I would like to achieve with this club, win trophies, win titles, and then to be able to make the same impression here that I’ve always tried to make with every club I’ve played at.’

James Rodriguez’s stunning start to his Everton career has reportedly ‘upset’ previous club Real Madrid.

The Colombian attacker who joined the blue half of Merseyside during the summer on a free transfer, has enjoyed a fine start to the season after scoring three goals in five matches.

Madrid’s hierarchy however have ‘shown their disappointment’ towards the club’s management concerning their handling of the 29-year-old, according to Saturday’s edition of AS.

Gareth Bale, Dani Ceballos and Sergio Reguilon are other players that Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has deemed not good enough when conceivably all three could have been great assets to his squad.

Rodriguez is at the hub of Everton’s fantastic start to the season and the decision to allow him to leave may come back to haunt the Spanish champions if they fail to meet their objectives this season.

He first came to prominence during the 2014 World Cup with some outstanding performances during Colombia’s run to the quarter finals, leading to the playmaker being named on the shortlist for the prestigious Golden Ball, while he was the tournament’s top scorer.

The former Monaco star did win the Puskas Award, with his memorable volley against Uruguay in the first knockout round declared the best goal scored in world football that year.

Everton are still unbeaten and sit atop the Premier League table having battled to a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

Rodriguez’s corner was headed home by Michael Keane for Everton’s first equaliser, taking his assists tally up to three for the season.

Next up for the league leaders will be a trip to Southampton, however they will be without Brazilian star Richarlison after he was sent off in the latter stages of the derby.

Referee Michael Oliver showed no hesitation after the winger committed a reckless foul on Thiago Alcantara.

Juventus are reportedly looking to smash the world record transfer fee with an incredible £360million bid to try and land Kylian Mbappe, in a move that would see Cristiano Ronaldo head to Paris Saint-Germain in return.

The Italian giants are keen to land the France star who has emerged as one of the world’s best young players and looks set to take the next decade by storm.

According to Tuttosport, Juve know they will be unable to accommodate both the World Cup winner and Ronaldo, who will be 36-year-old should the Italian side push ahead with plans for a bid next summer.

Ronaldo currently has a contract that runs until 2022 and earns around £540,000 per week.

However, PSG would be unlikely to accept the approach from Juventus despite it trumping the current transfer record of Neymar’s move to the French capital from Barcelona by £162million.

Ronaldo though is of interest to the French side  and the Portuguese forward has flirted with the idea if a move to France in recent times.

He has previously been linked with a move to PSG back after growing unsure of Juventus’s credentials to win the Champions League and believing the French side offered a better chance of helping him land Europe’s biggest prize for a sixth time.

Although this could lead to a fearful front three of Ronaldo, Mbappe and Neymar, this now looks unlikely to happen with Mbappe’s future uncertain at the Parc des Princes.

The World Cup winner desires a move to Real Madrid who in turn are keen to bring in the 21-year-old to add star power to their attack.

The La Liga giants have been long-term admirers of Mbappe but due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic could not splash the cash this summer.

Madrid are keen to lure the 21-year-old forward away from the Parc des Princes but also see Dortmund star Haaland, who has a £63million release clause in his contract, as an alternative option.

With his Real Madrid contract expiring, Sergio Ramos is reportedly a target for two other European giants.

Sergio Ramos could reportedly leave Real Madrid for Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain, while Paul Pogba is being linked to Barcelona.

Madrid captain Ramos, 34, has been at the LaLiga giants since 2005, but his contract is expiring at the end of the season.

And his situation is catching the eye of two European giants.

Real Madrid captain eyed by Juve and PSG

Juventus and PSG have tabled contract offers for Madrid star Ramos, according to El Chiringuito.

Ramos is out of contract in June next year, leading to fresh speculation over his future.

The Spain international has won five LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues among numerous other trophies with Madrid.

Transfer rumour round-up

– Amid a difficult financial position, Barcelona could also be looking at players coming out of contract. Mundo Deportivo reports Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Bayern Munich defender David Alaba may become targets.

– Inter reportedly offered Bayern Munich and intriguing exchange during the transfer window. Sky Germany says Christian Eriksen was offered to Bayern by Inter, who wanted Jerome Boateng, but the Bundesliga champions turned down the deal.

– Sergio Romero wants out of Manchester United. The Sun reports the goalkeeper has begged the Premier League giants to let him leave amid apparent interest from MLS.

– Harry Wilson could be set for another loan spell away from Liverpool. After spending last season at Bournemouth, Wilson is being offered to Swansea City, according to The Sun.

– Danny Welbeck may stay in the Premier League. The Daily Mail reports the forward, who was released by Watford earlier this month, is attracting interest from Brighton and Hove Albion.

– West Ham‘s move for Brentford forward Said Benrahma has stalled, according to The Telegraph, and Aston Villa may make a move for the 25-year-old.

Manchester United icon Andy Cole says he would have ‘loved’ playing against Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool defender’s sluggish start to the season.

The Dutchman has become known as one of the best centre-backs in world football after some dominant performances under Jurgen Klopp in recent years, and he was pivotal to their Premier League title triumph last season.

But this term the 29-year-old has looked off the pace and has put in some suspect displays, with Liverpool conceding three against Leeds in the season opener and then slumping to a 7-2 defeat against Aston Villa last time out.

And Cole, who is third in the Premier League’s all time scorers list with 187 – with 93 coming for United – says that while he still rates van Dijk highly, he has started to show vulnerabilities, including a reluctance to track back.

‘Van Dijk is a really good player, but I’m the kind of individual who would love to have played against him – and I feel like I would have got to him,’ he told Sunday World.

‘You want to test yourself against the best and he is the best at the moment, without a doubt, but I like to look at defenders and find weaknesses in them and we have seen a few with Van Dijk in the last few months.

‘I watched him in the opening game of the season against Leeds and the strikers who give him problems are the ones who run in behind him and stretch him. They scored three goals that day and he didn’t look like he enjoyed the experience.’

Cole believes he would have been van Dijk’s ‘worst nightmare’ if he came up against him in his prime and warned that top flight strikers may be alerted to his weakness in future games if he doesn’t adapt.

‘He is a Rolls Royce of a defender, but he didn’t like putting his foot down and chasing back when people were getting in behind him.

‘That’s what I would have done all day when I was at my best, so I would probably have been his worst nightmare if I was playing against him.’

Van Dijk has started all four league games under Klopp this season, scoring in the 4-3 win over Leeds last month and looking mostly untroubled in victores against Chelsea and Arsenal.

But former Gunners defender Sol Campbell believes he may be getting complacent after winning so many plaudits in recent years and suggested he is not being challenged enough.

‘I know Van Dijk struggled in the Villa game, but he stands out these days because he’s head and shoulders above everyone else, which makes me wonder if that is hampering him at the same time,’ he told the Athletic.

‘He’s the complete player in that position and has made it look easy, but maybe he’s not been challenged enough and then, like a cricketer being done by a slower ball, he’s come unstuck.’

‘If you’ve not been worrying about forwards troubling you, sometimes you drop your guard a fraction. It’s a natural human thing.

‘Maybe that’s seeped in a bit at Liverpool in general. I’m sure Jurgen Klopp will recognise that and get them back on track.

Barcelona could make a surprise swoop for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba next year as they target bargains following the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Cup winner openly flirted with a move away from Old Trafford last week, stating that it would be his ‘dream’ to play for Real Madrid.

But Real’s rivals Barcelona are interested in signing Pogba should the midfielder become a free agent, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The 27-year-old has entered the final year of his deal at United although there is an option for it to be extended by one more year.

While hinting at a move away from the Red Devils, Pogba did reveal that there have been no talks with United chief-executive Ed Woodward about a new contract at the club.

Pogba said: ‘Yes, all football players would love to play for Real Madrid. It is a dream for me, why not one day?

‘I am in Manchester and I love my club. I am playing in Manchester, I’m having fun and I want to do everything to put the club where it deserves it. I will give everything to the max, like my team-mates.

‘No-one has told me anything. I have not spoken to Ed Woodward. We haven’t spoken about a new deal.

‘At the moment, I am in Manchester and I am concentrating about getting back to my best form.

‘I think there will be a moment when the club will come and talk to me and maybe offer me something, or not.

‘So far, nothing has happened. I can’t tell you something that I don’t know.’

Barcelona’s finances have been severely hit this summer and made an £88million loss following the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak and find themselves cash-strapped.

If Pogba, who is believed to be open to the idea of a switch to the Nou Camp, did not agree new terms at United, the midfielder would be available for free in June.

The Frenchman has been linked with a move away from United for some time and speculation will only intensify with just nine months remaining on his current contract.

Real Madrid will reportedly turn to Borussia Dortmund star striker Erling Haaland if they cannot sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain.

The LaLiga giants have been long-term admirers of Mbappe but due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic could not splash the cash this summer.

Madrid are keen to lure the 21-year-old forward away from the Parc des Princes in the future but also see Dortmund star Haaland, who has a £63million release clause in his contract, as an alternative option, according to Marca.

The report appeared on the front page of the Spanish newspaper on Tuesday morning, with the headline reading: ‘Haaland if Mbappe does not come.’

Mbappe has entered the final two years of his deal in France with PSG desperate for him to agree new terms.

Norwegian forward Haaland is reportedly seen as a perfect replacement for current striker Karim Benzema, who Madrid are reliant on to lead the line, and he is considered more affordable than Mbappe.

Benzema turns 33 in December while £62m signing Luka Jovic has failed to make an impact at the Bernabeu.

Haaland bagged a stunning hat-trick in the 4-0 UEFA Nations League thrashing of Romania on Sunday to make it 51 goals in his last 48 games for club and country.

He was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United prior to his switch to Dortmund earlier this year and United are reportedly still keen on the 20-year-old.

Ben Chilwell and Kieran Trippier have withdrawn from the England squad ahead of Wednesday’s game against Denmark.

Chelsea left-back Chilwell, who missed Sunday’s win over Belgium, has left the camp due to a pre-existing foot injury.

Atletico Madrid defender Trippier has been given leave due to personal reasons

The line-ups of England vs Wales have been announced.

England XI: Trippier, Ings, Coady, Keane, Grealish, Pope, Winks, Joe Gomez, Calvert-Lewin, K. Phillips, Saka

Subs: Pickford, Maguire, Ward-Prowse, Mings, Maitland-Niles, Dean Henderson, Mount, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Rashford, Reece James, Barnes

Wales XI: Hennessey, J. Williams, Ben Davies, Kieffer Moore, J. Morrell, T. Roberts, C. Roberts, J. Rodon, Ampadu, Mepham, R. Matondo

Subs: C. Gunter, Ward, W. Vaulks, A. Davies, Daniel James, Woodburn, R. Norrington-Davies, M. Smith, B. Cabango, Neco Williams, Levitt, B. Johnson