Euro 2020 Young Player of the Year Odds

Less than 12 months ago, questions surrounding his place in the England setup hung over the head of promising midfielder, Phil Foden.

One year later, the Manchester City star is arguably the best under 21 player in world football behind Erling Haaland and now dead cert to be involved, with the only doubts around the 20-year-old being which position he is most effective in.

Having shone under Pep Guardiola this season, Foden’s exploits have helped steer the club to a Premier League title, a first-ever Champions League final and a fourth-consecutive League Cup triumph, and during this time, Foden has reached his best scoring season to date.

As the favourite to win the Young Player of the Tournament award, the Stockport-born starlet is likely to feature heavily for the Three Lions this summer and with Jack Grealish only just returning from injury during a period of red hot Foden form, he may well start.

The young Englishman already has experience of winning tournaments with the national team after playing an instrumental role in England’s 2017 U17 World Cup win where he netted twice in the final against Spain. At the same time, Foden was named in the Team of the Tournament and awarded the competition’s Golden Ball prize.

If Foden is anywhere near the form shown at club level this summer, they'll only be one winner.

After a difficult start to life at Chelsea under Frank Lampard, Kai Havertz has enjoyed a slight turnaround in form since his compatriot Thomas Tuchel was handed the job at Stamford Bridge in late January.

Having managed just one goal in 15 league appearances under Lampard, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has bagged three in 10 matches since Tuchel’s arrival. Handed more of licence to roam the pitch, Havertz has demonstrated the form which tempted Chelsea to pay Bayer Leverkusen £70m for his services last summer.

Introduced to the Germany side following their disastrous 2018 World Cup campaign, Havertz has been a staple in Joachim Low’s set-up ever since. Likely to feature heavily for die Mannschaft this summer, the ex-Leverkusen man is priced at 5/1 to be named the best youngster.

Germany will need him to be on top form if they are to succeed, with the three times European Championship winners being drawn in the 'group of death', alongside Portugal, France, and Hungary. A potential round of 16 tie against eternal enemies England awaits beyond the group stages, depending on where the two sides finish, so Havertz won't have it easy.

The second Chelsea player on this list but, unlike Havertz, Mason Mount has shone under both of the Blues’ previous two managers, whilst also establishing himself as a crucial player in Southgate’s squad.No player under the age of 23 has scored more goals in an England shirt than Mount whilst Southgate has been in charge – an achievement made all the more impressive considering the 22-year-old only made his senior debut in 2019.

Like his Three Lions teammate in Foden, Mount too has experience winning trophies with England. Providing the assist for Lukas Nmecha’s winning goal in the 2017 U19 European Championships final, the dynamic midfielder was given the Player of the Tournament award in that competition.

Mount is priced at 13/2 to be named the best young player this summer and with his form crucial in Chelsea’s Champions League final run, you wouldn’t bet against him outperforming his rivals at the Euros.

Backed to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s talisman following his retirement from international football, Joao Felix is already one of Europe’s hottest prospects. Having made his name with Benfica as a teenager, the Atletico Madrid forward will be hoping to help his country achieve back-to-back European Championships in a few weeks time.

The 2016 winners overcame host-nations and favourite France to lift the trophy five years ago, with Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches the previous winner of the Young Player of the Tournament award.It is 8/1 for Portugal’s latest golden boy to be named the best youngster of the tournament, with Felix already an integral part of the national team set-up. Earning his first senior cap in their successful Nations League campaign, the 21-year-old has featured 15 more times in two years for the Seleção.

With an eye for goal and the ability to create something out of nothing, don’t be surprised to see Felix shining alongside Ronaldo, as Portugal eye up yet another international title.

The most capped international on this list, it’s difficult to believe Matthijs de Ligt is still only 21-years-old, given the maturity to which the Netherlands and Juventus central defender plays with.

Becoming the youngest Dutch debutant since 1931 when he featured against Bulgaria at the age of 17, de Ligt has since made 26 appearances for the national side, scoring twice. His header against England in the 2019 Nations League semi-final forced the tie into extra time, with the Dutch prevailing as eventual 3-1 winners.

De Ligt would become the first defender to win any individual best player award at the European Championships and at 8/1 there’s value in the ex-Ajax captain. His centre-back partner is no stranger to individual titles either, with Virgil van Dijk picking up the PFA Players’ Player, Premier League and UEFA Men’s Player of the Season award for the 2018/19 season. If the Netherlands are to experience any kind of success at Euro 2020, it’s likely to be down to the form of their imperious defensive duo.

By Amos Murphy