Ones To Watch In 2008

[EskWeston 696]

THE past 12 months have seen the emergence of some of the brightest young talents in football. Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi transformed themselves into world-class performers during 2007.

Ronaldo, 22, and Messi, 20, were named as runners-up to Kaka in the FIFA World Player of the Year awards and Fabregas, 20, has helped turn Arsenal in to genuine Premier League title contenders.

But who will be the stars of 2008?

SunSport profiles 20 players who are set to make their mark on the beautiful game.

Sergio Aguero, 19, Atletico Madrid, striker

YET another Argentine youngster who has been tagged "the next Maradonna". Aguero joined Atletico aged just 17 in June 2006 from Independiente for a club-record fee of £15.75m. Struggled to cope with the pressure in his debut season but has already scored 12 goals in 22 games this term.

Ever Banega, 19, Valencia, midfielder

CLASSY Argentine holding midfielder who has agreed to join Spanish giants Valencia for £10million. Took over the holding role for old club Boca Juniors when Fernando Gago joined Real Madrid last year and formed a strong partnership with Juan Roman Riquelme as the Argentine giants won the Copa Libertadores — South America's answer to the Champions League.

Karim Benzema, 20, Lyon, striker

CAME through the ranks at Lyon and has caught the eye of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus after scoring 12 goals in 16 matches this season. Made his international debut for France in March and has netted three times for Les Bleus in eight games. Arsene Wenger described him as "an immense revelation".

Breno, 18, Bayern Munich, defender

BRAZIL Under-20 skipper who will join the German giants on January 1. Bayern paid Sao Paulo around £8.5million for the skillful central defender. Ex-Brazil and Bayern striker Giovani Elber described Breno as "an absolutely stunning prospect" after he agreed his big-money move.

Macauley Chrisantus, 17, Hamburg, striker

MANCHESTER UNITED, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City were all interested in signing Chrisantus after his exploits at this year's FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The scintillating striker fired seven goals in seven games and was the top scorer as Nigeria won the competition. Joined Hamburg in November 2007.

Denilson, 19, Arsenal, midfielder

BRAZILIAN star who is a regular fixture in the Gunners' youthful Carling Cup sides. Bought from Sao Paulo in August 2006 for £3.4m despite just four starts for the club. All-round midfielder who is comfortable going forward but also a tenacious tackler.

Lorenzo De Silvestri, 19, Lazio, defender

TALENTED full-back who has been tipped as a future Italian international. De Silvestri will be a target for Roma, Juventus and Arsenal in January as he will be available on a Bosman when his contract expires in the summer. Made his Champions League debut in August and has made 12 appearances so far this season.

Franco Di Santo, 18, Chelsea, striker

ARGENTINE wonderkid who will join the Blues in January for £3.4m from Chilian side Audax Italiano. Like Lucas Leiva at Liverpool, he holds an Italian passport and will be able to play for the Blues immediately. May struggle to break into Avram Grant's star-studded team but should earn a few run outs in cup competitions in 2008.

Giovani dos Santos, 18, Barcelona, striker

CAME to prominence in 2005 when he was one of stars of the Mexico team that won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Has been a regular feature for Barca this season and has managed to keep Ronaldinho out of the starting XI. Already has four caps for Mexico.

Stevan Jovetic, 18, Partizan Belgrade, striker

A £7m target for Manchester United after becoming the top scorer in the Serbian league with 11 goals. Was named captain of the Montenegro Under-21 side aged just 17 and has already made his full international debut. A creative striker who likes to drop deep and run at defenders. He is also a deadly-accurate finisher.

Bojan Krkic, 17, Barcelona, striker

HAILED as Spain's answer to Lionel Messi by Barca fans after scoring over 800 goals in the Catalan club's youth teams. Broke the record as the youngest ever player to feature in a Champions League match in September 2007. A month later, he became Barcelona's youngest La Liga goalscorer.

Toni Kroos, 17, Bayern Munich, midfielder

NAMED player of the tournament at the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and has already made his Bundesliga and European debuts for Bayern. A creative, goalscoring midfielder, Kroos shone at youth level for both club and country. Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has already earmarked him for the revered No10 shirt.

Lucas Leiva, 20, Liverpool, midfielder

SIGNED for the Reds in the summer from Copa Libertadores finalists Gremio after winning the Brazilian Footballer of the Year award. Likened to Steven Gerrard before his move to England, the box-to-box midfielder has already featured heavily in Rafa Benitez's side and should be a key player in 2008.

Lulinha, 17, Corinthians, midfielder

TRANSFER target for Italian champions Inter Milan after starring for Brazil's Under-17 side. Scored 12 goals in seven matches during the South American you-17 Championships before being one of the stars of the 2007 FIFA you-17 World Cup. The tricky attacking midfielder has an eye for goal and is already being touted as the long-term successor to Ronaldinho.

Alexandre Pato, 18, AC Milan, striker

KNOWN as 'the duck', Pato shot to fame when AC Milan shelled out £15m for his services in the summer — despite rules stopping him from playing until January 3. Milan have high hopes for Pato, with president Silvio Berlusconi claiming he expects the youngster to score 30 goals between January and the end of the season. Brazil coach Dunga has dubbed him "the new Ronaldo".

Gerard Pique, 20, Manchester United, defender

RETURNED to United this season after a successful loan spell with Real Zaragoza. The ex-Barcelona youth product showed huge potential during his year in Spain and is expected to feature regularly for the Red Devils in 2008. Has played nine times this season, including the Champions League matches with Roma and Dynamo Kiev.

Ivan Rakitic, 19, Schalke, midfielder

NIKO KRANJCAR and Luka Modric may have ended England's Euro 2008 qualifying hopes but new Three Lions boss Fabio Capello will have to watch out for Rakitic in 2008. The Swiss-born attacking midfielder is the latest Croatian star to catch the eye and was snapped up by German champions Schalke in the summer.

Adel Taarabt, 18, Tottenham, midfielder

YOUNG French midfielder who has established himself as a regular member of Spurs' match-day squad. Compared to Zinedine Zidane before his move to North London, the left-footed trickster has already wowed the White Hart Lane faithful with his ambitious runs and long-range strikes.

Carlos Vela, 18, Arsenal, striker

THE Gunners snapped up Vela after he finished top scorer in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2005 — a feat that Cesc Fabregas achieved two years earlier. The Mexican has been on loan in Spain for the past two seasons and will return to North London in January. An exciting prospect who should make his Arsenal debut this term.

Theo Walcott, 18, Arsenal, striker

JOINED the Gunners from Southampton for £5m in January 2006 and shot to fame when he was called up to England's 2006 World Cup squad aged 17. Scored the opening goal in last season's Carling Cup final and is a regular at Under-21 level for the Three Lions. Should return to the Fabio Capello's England squad in 2008.

Source: The Sun

[Layla 0]

LMFAO about Theos call to fame.He didnt play in the world cup at all that was more his call to fame

[Ollie 4,400]

young theodore wont do shit this year, next year or the year after and will be sold to a team like everton or villa for £5m. In that list above, theres certainly some great talent about. Theres a few names i know, i like Giovani dos santos a lot, i think hes quality. Pato also looks class and ive also liked what ive seen from Rakitic.

Franco Di Santo, 18, Chelsea, striker

ARGENTINE wonderkid who will join the Blues in January for £3.4m from Chilian side Audax Italiano. Like Lucas Leiva at Liverpool, he holds an Italian passport and will be able to play for the Blues immediately. May struggle to break into Avram Grant's star-studded team but should earn a few run outs in cup competitions in 2008.

I'll look forward to seeing this guy. He was bought for a fair amount of money so i want to see bim feature in cups like the carling cup. We need to stop being so serious about the Carling cup, It should be used for players like Sahar, Sinclair, Di Santo, Woods and Smith. If we carry on like we are, we wont see these guys. If not the quarter finals, semi's, Final etc, at least the earler rounds against teams like Grimsby and Mansfield. FA Cup should be the same in the earlier rounds.

[Elliott 7]

young theodore wont do shit this year, next year or the year after and will be sold to a team like everton or villa for £5m. In that list above, theres certainly some great talent about. Theres a few names i know, i like Giovani dos santos a lot, i think hes quality. Pato also looks class and ive also liked what ive seen from Rakitic.

Franco Di Santo, 18, Chelsea, striker

ARGENTINE wonderkid who will join the Blues in January for £3.4m from Chilian side Audax Italiano. Like Lucas Leiva at Liverpool, he holds an Italian passport and will be able to play for the Blues immediately. May struggle to break into Avram Grant's star-studded team but should earn a few run outs in cup competitions in 2008.

I'll look forward to seeing this guy. He was bought for a fair amount of money so i want to see bim feature in cups like the carling cup. We need to stop being so serious about the Carling cup, It should be used for players like Sahar, Sinclair, Di Santo, Woods and Smith. If we carry on like we are, we wont see these guys. If not the quarter finals, semi's, Final etc, at least the earler rounds against teams like Grimsby and Mansfield. FA Cup should be the same in the earlier rounds.

But we do do that, look at the earlier rounds of the Carling Cup this year, we played Sinclair, who is the only reserve/youth player good enough to consider getting in our team and not on loan at the time, and we played fringe players such as Sidwell. What more can you ask for? There's no point us playing a team of 17 year olds, then we'll just lose, it'll ruin the players confidence and won't have many beneficial effects at all because we'll be out of a competition we're good at. If we get Premiership opposition, like we did in the quarter final, then we should treat it as such and play a mostly first team like we did.

[Layla 0]

I think next year maybe but seeing this is Grants first season in charge and he wants to actully win something so he can kinda be 'I can still win you trophies dont panic etc etc'

We need so do something like that though mean its a shame Jose plans for having Sinclair in the last 2 games of last season didnt go to plan thanks to Brown!If its a Premiership team then maybe not so much but least maybe make an appearance,as a sub or whatever.

Anyho hope our guy does become one to watch would make the Sun right...for once

Edited January 10, 2008 by Layla

[Steve 10,227]

Some really great talent around the world, we picked up a young star in the transfer window i hope we get to see him playa few games and see what hes got, same age as me and i iwhs i was at the level of footbal he was at lol

[captainmarvel 1]

I've heard of most of them.. The list was probably taken from Football Manager as they are all superstars on there (except walcott who is shit in the game and real life)

it will be exciting to see some of those players develop, especially the better ones like Aguero, Dos Santos, Lunlinha etc

[EskWeston 696]

But we do do that, look at the earlier rounds of the Carling Cup this year, we played Sinclair, who is the only reserve/youth player good enough to consider getting in our team and not on loan at the time, and we played fringe players such as Sidwell. What more can you ask for? There's no point us playing a team of 17 year olds, then we'll just lose, it'll ruin the players confidence and won't have many beneficial effects at all because we'll be out of a competition we're good at. If we get Premiership opposition, like we did in the quarter final, then we should treat it as such and play a mostly first team like we did.

Yup your right, our reserve team is a lot younger than Arsenal's "Carling Cup Team" who all are pretty much considered first team players in truth. Although i would argue that Miroslav Stoch deserves a run out in the Carling to see what damage he can do.

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Yeah i'd quite like to see Stoch aswell, heard good things about him. Also would like to see Woods in the future, what about Jimmy Smith? I hope they, with scott sinclair, will be at Chelsea in the future.

[EskWeston 696]

Yeah i'd quite like to see Stoch aswell, heard good things about him. Also would like to see Woods in the future, what about Jimmy Smith? I hope they, with scott sinclair, will be at Chelsea in the future.

Smith won't make it, hasn't been able to take his standard up to the required level. May be given one more loan oppertunity before a descision is made to let him go.

[Ollie 4,400]

we've won the carling cup enough times lately, got in the semi and might win it this season too. The Carling cup is the only chance they'll get to play, if they don't play, there's no point them being here. No wonder we struggle with fatigue in may when the same players are playing 60 games a year. The only reason i like the Carling Cup is because i love seeing Chelsea at wembley and of course, a domestic treble would look stunning, but in all seriousness, it means jack all and i dont think the prem teams should even take part tbh. Should be for the Championship, League1 & 2. Of course, we are in and it should be a stage for the young guys to show what they can do on a biggish stage. Thats just what i feel.

[Elliott 7]

we've won the carling cup enough times lately, got in the semi and might win it this season too. The Carling cup is the only chance they'll get to play, if they don't play, there's no point them being here. No wonder we struggle with fatigue in may when the same players are playing 60 games a year. The only reason i like the Carling Cup is because i love seeing Chelsea at wembley and of course, a domestic treble would look stunning, but in all seriousness, it means jack all and i dont think the prem teams should even take part tbh. Should be for the Championship, League1 & 2. Of course, we are in and it should be a stage for the young guys to show what they can do on a biggish stage. Thats just what i feel.

You don't seem to understand that we are playing the few young players we have ever going to be good enough in the Carling Cup already. We're just not playing them against the top sides because then we'd lose. And of course Premiership teams should take part, it's a top competition, without that it'd just be another Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Edit: Many of our young players that are going to be good enough for our first team are already in it. Our young players that are potentially good enough are: Mikel, Kalou, Sinclair, Sahar. Mancienne maybe, but he was on loan. Smith, no. All other players are a bit too young, such as Stoch, Woods, Bertrand (who will get more involved next year I think).

[SuperSheva7 0]

YEAH Chelsea IS AWESOME

MANURE SUCKS BALLS (get it)

sorry thats my friend (he is now a Chelsea fan )

[Layla 0]

I've heard of most of them.. The list was probably taken from Football Manager as they are all superstars on there (except walcott who is shit in the game and real life)

it will be exciting to see some of those players develop, especially the better ones like Aguero, Dos Santos, Lunlinha etc

Walcott plays once in a blue moon and so far has scored 2 goals!He's been there for ages now lol

[captainmarvel 1]

Walcott plays once in a blue moon and so far has scored 2 goals!He's been there for ages now lol

lol, its ridiculous the way they go on about him "ooooooooooh Theo's about to come on!"

he's absolute shite lol the only good thing he has is his lightening pace. He is going to be nowhere in 5 years time, as someone said above, he'll probably be sold off to some average team for a few million. How much was it that they spent on him? 16 million? or was it 20?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

They missed Mikel. Not for reasons of him discovering potential. Because he'll break your legs if you ain't careful

Agree with Benzema. The guy is incredible.

[Mungii 3]

I hope Jovetic will be the best!!

[Mungii 3]

I hope Jovetic will be the best!!

[ChrisGnu 0]

Taraabt has been sooooooo overhyped and as usual us Spurs fans go over the top, showing that hes too much of a show pony, and so far, showed little end product.

Agree with everyone on Walcott, waste of space.

[Badboy 1,526]

I have watched Macauley Chrisantus for the nigeria youth team and i think he will be a very good poacher.