Premier League’s 5 biggest young talents outside the Big 6 – and who should sign them

Analysis

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

The Premier League’s biggest prospects outside the Big 6 – and who should sign them

The Premier League is packed with young talent, but while young players at the traditional ‘Big 6’ clubs are often lauded, those playing out of the spotlight can be overlooked.

FootballTransfers has picked out the biggest five talents outside of this elite group of teams based on the potential calculated for them by data analytics experts SciSports and has looked at the best potential steps for them in their careers going forward.

Unsurprisingly, clubs with a strong record of developing players feature prominently.

Jack Hinshelwood – Brighton

Position: Defensive midfield

SciSkill: 95.9

Potential: 123.3

Long admired for his talents at Brighton, Hinshelwood is regardless carving himself a reputation as one to watch. A foot injury has limited his progress so far this season, yet three goals in three games – including a double against Aston Villa on the opening day, when he played a more advanced role – underline the fact that it’s only a matter of time before the 21-year-old earns wider recognition.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on Hinshelwood, August 2026:

“He's developing as a player but also as a personality, he's getting into a leadership role, he's stepping up, although he's quite young, but that's what we need now.”

Hinshelwood’s transfer prospects

Another consistent season is likely to see Hinshelwood linked with some big clubs next summer.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - Brentford

Position: Left-back

SciSkill: 96.5

Potential: 125.5

Given Brentford’s reputation for smart buying, it comes as little surprise that the Bees are represented on this list, having signed Diouf from West Ham for €40.1m in the summer. It’s a decision that has been criticised by fans, with the full-back struggling to settle at his new club, not aided by the competition he faces for game time. However, he delivered an impressive five assists for the struggling Hammers last season and was an ever present as they went down.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews on Diouf, August 2026:

“He has attributes we really like. He fits what we are about, and he comes into an already competitive squad. His ceiling is really, really high. We feel there's huge growth and development in his game.”

Diouf’s transfer prospects

Brentford remain confident that the Senegal full-back will come good, but right now a sideways move next summer looks more likely than a jump to a big team, despite his potential.

Bazoumana Toure - Newcastle

Position: Left wing

SciSkill: 94.3

Potential: 125.7

A big-money summer arrival at Newcastle, Toure’s situation on Tyneside highlights how difficult it is to break into a Premier League club at present. Despite his €50m transfer fee, he has yet to start a top-flight game, although injury has played a role in this. He has come off the bench five times and has already scored one goal. He is a player noted for his blistering pace and ability to create chances for others, making him Newcastle’s long-term replacement for Anthony Gordon.

Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on Toure, September 2026:

“Bazou, it's really clear, he's a young lad, came as a new signing and he's doing a great job… It's sometimes in football that if you have other players performing as well on a really high level, like Harvey at the moment, then you're getting a little bit less playing time. But we said that from the beginning, especially for the young lads and the new signings that we give them time.”

Toure’s transfer prospects

Newcastle have signed Toure for the long term so there’s no prospect of an immediate sale, but it’s interesting to see Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham all tipped as strong destinations for him.

Noah Sadiki - Sunderland

Position: Defensive midfield

SciSkill: 96.8

Potential: 126.9

Sadiki’s stock has risen sharply in recent years. He has graduated from being a substitute at Union SG in Belgium to becoming a regular in the Premier League with Sunderland, where he is carving out a role as one of the league’s most promising box-to-box midfielders. He may not have the typical stature of a Premier League midfielder, but like N’Golo Kante before him, he makes up for this with his energy and explosiveness. But he’s far more than just a technical monster, with a cool head and the ability to use both feet effectively.

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris on Noah Sadiki, November 2025:

“We can forget that he is only 20. He is a really good player. He has a different personality, but I think he is really smart to understand what is needed to go further. He looks at what type of specific profile he needs to progress – technical, physical…. He has this combination of talent on one side, then on the other side, the ability to learn.”

Sadiki’s transfer prospects

He was already being linked to Chelsea and Manchester United last year, so if he can confirm his good form, a big move in 2027 is likely to be on the cards.

Luka Vuskovic - Brighton

Position: Central defence

SciSkill: 85.4

Potential: 135.2

Tottenham could really live to regret allowing Vuskovic to leave them for Brighton in the summer, with the 19-year-old’s future potential higher than any other U21 player in the Premier League with the exception of Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly. Just a couple of months into the season and his transfer fee of €54m is already looking like a bargain. Anyone who watched the teenager play for Hamburg last season could have predicted this; he looked immense in the Bundesliga.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on Vuskovic, September 2026:

“What he has is the physicality to quickly adapt to the Premier League. For his young age, he plays very mature and he definitely adapts quick. He still has moments - similar to the whole team performance - where he switches off a little bit, moments where he's not 100% into the game, moments where he also has a lack of experience, but this will come over time… We try to help, we try to give him support, and then he can be a top player.”

Vuskovic’s transfer prospects

Having proven himself in Germany, Vuskovic is already being linked with a switch to Bayern Munich. Given Albion’s player flipping model, they could well sell if a huge offer arrives.

Written by

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Robin Bairner is an eminent digital football journalist who has been writing about the sport for major global publishers since 2006, specialising in Ligue 1 and Scottish football. He has been chief editor of the FootballTransfers global edition since its launch in 2020. Previously Bairner had been a key member of the editorial team which helped Goal.com become the world’s biggest football website. He covered multiple major competitions as a correspondent for Goal including the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he had the opportunity to work in Fortaleza. Among his highlights of the competition was Brazil’s quarter-final victory over Colombia.

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