Top 10: Championship players made for the Premier League

England’s second tier is full of unearthed gems, ranging from future superstars plying their trade to the likes of Wayne Rooney & Gareth Barry who are in the twilight of their illustrious careers.

In the modern era the championship has offered playing time in English football for those who have their sights set on the premier league.

The likes of Gareth Bale, James Maddison & Wilfried Zaha are perfect examples of players who used the Championship to showcase their talent and in turn earned a move to the Premier League.

This top 10 is made up of players who are currently playing in the championship but will be lining up in the top flight at the start of next season regardless of how the season ends.

Honourable Mentions: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Filip Krovinovic (West Brom/Benfica), Jed Wallace (Millwall), Brice Samba (Forest), Terence Kongolo (Fulham), Jude Bellingham (Birmingham), Jayden Bogle (Derby), Ovie Ejaria (Reading/Liverpool)

10) Karlan Grant (Huddersfield Town)

The 22 year old already has 13 premier league appearances to his name during which he produced a memorable solo effort against West Ham. The sort of thing we have become accustomed to seeing Grant pull off this season.

Grant’s greatest strengths are his positional play and finishing, he’s quick, strong and a natural goal scorer. He plays as a centre forward but can also play on the left wing cutting on to his right foot.

The Terriers striker’s pace, power and instincts will make him a welcome addition to any Premier League side.

Market Value*: £5.85m

PL Style comparison: Che Adams

9) Conor Gallagher (Swansea City/Chelsea)

The latest Chelsea loanee to drop down to the Championship to cut their teeth. Gallagher’s childhood hero Frank Lampard is willing to give his youngsters a chance. Over the next few years Chelsea might be about to reap the rewards of Abramovic’s investment into their academy system.

Gallagher is best described as a “box to box” midfielder, his greatest strengths are defensive attributes such as his ability to time tackles, awareness and work rate.

Scoring 6 goals in 26 games for 22nd placed Charlton shows that the young Englishman is also a threat in the final third.

With the likes of Kovacic, Kante, Mount, Jorginho, Barkley, Gilmour & Loftus-Cheek at Chelsea other clubs may be interested in Gallagher, who is a future England player without doubt.

Market Value*: £4.86m

PL Style comparison: Scott Parker

8) Matty Cash (Nottingham Forest)

This was a great year for Matty Cash before football was suspended. He had played all his football as a Winger before the arrival of Sabri Lamouchi who (due to injuries) swiftly converted Cash into a full back where he’s had his most successful season in terms of assists.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about Matty Cash is his pace. He’s lightning quick meaning he carries the ball up the touchline extremely effectively from the Right back position.

His close control and ability to beat a defender are also big strengths of his. He also defends with a tremendous amount of energy.

He was linked with a £15m move to AC Milan in January which never materialised. But with the way the full back position is evolving, a player with his skill set will be highly sought after.

Market Value*: £4.32m

PL Style Comparison: Andy Robertson

7) Ben White (Leeds United/Brighton & Hove Albion)

White has been an integral part of a Leeds side who pride themselves on their excellent defensive record. White has certainly been their outstanding defensive player in a season where it looked inevitable that Leeds would finally return to the Premier League.

He’s played every minute of every championship game for Leeds United this season. He plays Centre Back primarily but has come forward into midfield on occasion.

White’s ability to read the game is impressive but it’s his composure and ability on the ball which will catch the eye of Premier League coaches.

Matthew Clarke (LB/CB, Derby) is another Brighton loanee of a similar style to White which shows that Graham Potter wants ball players at the back.

With that in mind, if I were a Leeds fan and expected to secure a long-term deal for White then I wouldn’t hold my breath!

Market Value*: £4.95m

Style Comparison: John Stones

6) Saïd Benrahma (Brentford)

They’ve done it again! Brentford’s unique recruitment process is remarkable. Benrahma burst onto the scene this year making up ⅓ of “BMW” which is the most feared strike force in the league.

Benrahma has contributed towards 17 goals this season from the Left Wing and was already gaining interest from Premier League clubs, with Leicester City & Crystal Palace reportedly interested.

The Algerian winger loves to take on defenders and has the 2nd highest dribbles per game in the league. Not only can he beat his man but his end product is often on the money too.

A player with the ability to terrorise any defender in the world on his day.

Market Value*: £9.45m

Style Comparison: Riyad Mahrez

5) Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion/West Ham United)

When Diangana has played for the Baggies this season they've won 65% of their games, compared to the 25% when Diang doesn't play.

He has missed 17 Championship games through injury this season and there is no doubt in my mind that he would be in the Player of the year conversation had he stayed fit. He’s produced jaw-dropping pieces of skill and scored some outrageous goals.

He already has top flight experience, The West Ham academy graduate was a huge part of their 2018/19 campaign where he featured 34 times as a 20 year old.

Much like Benrahma, Diangana has the ability to beat defenders at will. Alongside this he has a unique ability to keep hold of the ball, he’d be a nightmare to play 5-a-side against.

His 10 goal contributions in 20 league appearances highlight that the end product is there as well.

Market Value*: £4.05m

Style Comparison: Wilfried Zaha

4) Ollie Watkins (Brentford)

Another diamond in the rough discovered by you know who! Watkins came through at Exeter and played mostly as a winger.

Thomas Frank thought that a Centre Forward role would suit him better and this season he’s flourished.

Watkins’ movement and goal scoring ability makes him Brentford’s prized possession at this moment in time and with a new stadium that needs paying for it might be the right time for the striker to move on.

His 22 goals in 37 games means clubs will be queueing round the block for his signature.

Market Value: £10.8m

PL Style Comparison: Callum Wilson

3) Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United)

A player I have heaped praise on in the past! He’s got everything you could possibly want from a holding midfield player in the modern game. Defensively aware, range of passing, vision, physicality, work rate.

I think after a year of getting up to speed with the premier league I would struggle to name a midfield in England he wouldn't get into.

He is a Leeds boy and came through their academy, like Jack Grealish, he might be committed to getting Leeds promoted before moving on. But if we’ve learnt anything about Football in the last few weeks it’s that money talks.

Market Value*: £10.8m

PL Style Comparison: Michael Carrick

2) Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers)

A player who rattled around London’s academies before settling at QPR. Eze showed his potential last season in spells, this year he’s been far more consistent.

He is certainly in contention for the Championship player of the season award, and is one of the most exciting young players in English football.

His 20 goal contributions in 37 games from midfield in a mid-table QPR side, displays how good of a player he can become.

He has immense close control and uses his body extremely well to protect the ball. Alongside this, his vision, passing, finishing and trickery make him a headache for defenders.

Market Value: £8.1m

PL Style Comparison: Dele Alli

1) Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion/ Sporting Lisbon)

For me, he’s the best player in the Championship at present. There were reports that Manchester United were monitoring the baggies talisman and for good reason. Traditionally a winger but he’s been most effective playing as a number 10.

There is an elegance about Pereira that you just aren’t used to seeing from a player in the second division. He has so many strings to his bow which is why he’s so dangerous going forward.

Particularly his ability to pick passes in behind defences but also his dribbling and a venomous left foot. He has recorded a league high 12 assists.

I think he’ll adapt brilliantly to the Premier League as well. There's a stereotype associated with South American flair players like Pereira that they don't work hard enough for the team and they’re soft.

Not Periera, he is extremely industrious off the ball and has a nasty streak which will mean he’s less likely to suffer from the usual teething pains an overseas player would.

Market Value*: £8.55m

PL Style Comparison: Bernardo Silva

Which championship players do you think have a future in the Premier League? Is there anyone on this list who would be out of their depth at the next level?

*Market Value as per www.Transfermarkt.co.uk