England Under 21 Discussions Thread (2002+ born) #8

West Ham are continuing to look at a deal for Burnley centre-back CJ Egan-Riley despite interest from elsewhere.

— Jacob Steinberg 🎗️ (@JacobSteinberg) May 14, 2025

 

Threy still have a lot of English players. But just because they lost one of them it means they will sell all of them.

 

Having English players in the promoted sides is probably a net negative these days anyway. It's really hard for them to impress when they're losing every week. Liam Delap seems like a bit of an exception, maybe there are more?

 

Striker Layton Stewart who is age-eligibale but currently miles off even the periphery of this team has been promoted to the Swiss 1st tier with FC Thun. He's scored 4 goals for them and one in their decisive promotion match.

 

No Delap story today? What's going on?

 

At this stage, I’m more surprised if there’s a club that he hasn’t been linked to.

 

🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid ADORE Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. @Jack_Gaughan pic.twitter.com/KfT5Nx3Fhr

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 15, 2025

It's bullshit but I believe it.

 

Be amazing to have him and Bellingham in the same team

 

It seems unlikely to me as well but they desperately need a midfielder in the mould of Kroos/Modric. I also think he would fit Alonsos´s playing style and learning under him can only be beneficial for every midfielder. It´s just a Palace midfielder seems a bit of an unusual target for them and their fans. Maybe his "reputation" could change if they manage to win the FA Cup but still I´d rather expect a move to Man City or Bayern at some point. Real have apparently liked Rice for a very long time too yet no move has ever materialised...

 

Don´t think this has been mentioned on here before but it looks like a delegation of BVB members including Kovac and Kehl flew out to England to have a personal conversation with Jobe and his family, trying to convince him to pick Dortmund like his brother did. There were even secretly shot photos of them arriving at Newcastle Airport circulating in the German sports media some days ago but can´t find them anymore now.

 

Newcastle have scouted Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old English winger Jamie Gittens, and could also make a summer move for his team-mate, Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, 27. (Mail - subscription required)

 

That would be a smart move: 3 English left wingers for one place.

 

Is there going to be a big turnover of midfielders at Dortmund this summer you think? They have quite a few on their books but many seem to be ageing/not performing. You'd think they plan on shipping a few out if they want both Jobe and Chukwuemeka.

 

Wolves are stepping up their efforts to sign Liverpool's English midfielder Harvey Elliott, 22. (GiveMesport, external)

 

Harwood-Bellis & Branthwaite both off injured, not ideal.

 

Would be a huge blow particularly with Tuchel’s likening of Quansah meaning he could miss out for senior duty. After those 3 it’s Cresswell and Edwards maybe?

 

They'd just select Quansah instead, Carsley and Tuchel can just have a conversation.

 

Yeah there really is no need nor does Quansah currently merit a call up to the seniors over other senior players who are playing week in week out and performing better. Would be odd to leave the U21’s short when it’s not needed considering we have other good senior options at centre back.

 

Depends on how injured they are. At this stage of the season plenty of players duck these meaningless games at the first sign of trouble so they can play in the summer international tournaments.

I've no doubt that United's dreadful end of season form is in no little part due to players not wanting to get injured for the Europa League final.

 

Both looked genuinely hurt. Harwood-Bellis had to be helped off the pitch, while Branthwaite pulled up with a hamstring problem.

 

Let’s hope so. It would be self defeating if Tuchel insists on players who could be more beneficial going to the U21 Euros.

 

You could make an argument for Branthwaite being a massive loss but equally there's a good chance he would've been with the seniors anyway and even then, he's never really featured that much as a starter for this group (weirdly).

THB is very experienced and it'd be better to have him than not but I don't think he's a massive loss personally. We're very deep and CB at this level and I don't think he's that far ahead of some of the other options. If he misses out I'd hope it would open up a late window for Charlie Hughes to sneak in.

 

[...] #SaintsFC

Harwood-Bellis will also have an ankle injury evaluated.

'I need to get an update on Taylor.'https://t.co/OqiIsD8sdf https://t.co/uEf7d3ce3u

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) May 19, 2025

 

There are rather contradicting rumors I´ve read about the situation. As of now, it seems like they´d prefer a deal for Bellingham to sign him as their own player instead of Carney (younger, potentially higher profit due to age and surname etc.). Everyone at Dortmund raves about Carney but the bosses think he´s been injured too often during his loan spell and keep on talking about his prior injury record and bc of that they apparently feel like he won´t be worth the money Chelsea are allegedly demanding for a full transfer. The bosses at Dortmund would prefer to loan him for another, full season this time and reevaluate after that if they´d be willing to pay Chelsea´s asking price. So far they are mainly concerned about 2 things: Can he stay injury-free for a longer period over a full season and can he subsequently show and repeat the undeniable glimpses of quality and difference-making he´s shown in his short appearances oer the course of a full season?

As for the other options in their midfield no one except Nmecha can really be considered "safe" of selling. They definetely want to get rid of Özcan. They´ve been trying to sell Can for 2 season now yet nothing has materialised. He´s also more of a character/fighter which Kovac really likes and can fill in at CB somewhat okay-ish so I suspect he´ll be staying. Brandt isn´t too popular amongst the supporters but many coaches including Kovac rate him so I guess it´s unlikely although they´d be willing to let him go for the right price and if they can sign a replacement for him they are happy with. They were heavely trying to get Cherki signed for example but I guess he´ll go to a club with more international revenue. Groß is aging as you said and hasn´t quite been able to replicate his Brighton form for Dortmund, but he´s still been one of the most consistent players this season and his age and maturity are important for the many other young players they have and want to sign so my guess would be he´ll stay too. Interestingly, in the winter they were also linked with Kiano Dyer for their defensive midfield as a sort of short-term heir for Groß who could acclimate to the Bundesliga under his tutelage but this rumor has since gone cold. Who knows, maybe it could become relevant again now as it seems he won´t sign for Chelsea? Then again, I suspect they see Jobe in that role now when they are trying hard to sign him. All this midfield uncertainty might probably also open up a place for current Germany u19 central midfielder Kjell Wätjen who is highly thought of at the club.