Plenty of young players have impressed in English football's second tier and some have already agreed big transfers ahead of the summer. Watford forward Joao Pedro is set to join Brighton & Hove Albion for around £28 million this summer, while Blackburn Rovers midfielder Ben Brereton Diaz has reportedly agreed a pre-contract to sign for Villarreal on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, some players who have done well on loan will head back to their parent clubs, with hopes of sealing a place in the first team. Among those are: Amad Diallo (Sunderland, back to Manchester United), James McAtee (Sheffield United, back to Manchester City), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Burnley, back to Man City), Nathan Tella (Burnley, back to Southampton) and Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough, back to Aston Villa.)
So which of the Championship's top stars could be next to move? Who should clubs have on their radar when the transfer window opens again?
Amid interest from Everton in January, Sheffield United did well to hang on to Ndiaye. It remains to be seen, however, if the Senegal international -- whose contract expires in 2024 -- remains a Blade when the Premier League season commences.
With 14 goals and 11 assists from 46 league games, Ndiaye was deemed "irreplaceable" by his manager, Paul Heckingbottom. He is the very definition of a "livewire" as his rapid dribbling skills, neat footwork and low centre of gravity make him hard to anticipate and dispossess. The sheer persistence of his running is impressive, while he always comes up with instinctive solutions to whatever faces him. And the way he makes the quick transition from attacking mode to intensive ball recovery is highly commendable too.
Another Sheffield United star to have shone this season, Berge has been repeatedly linked with big clubs domestically and overseas. And it's only the recurring injuries that the Norway international has faced over recent seasons which has seen him stay at Bramall Lane. But, though he did miss nine games this season with ankle ligament damage, he's been injury-free in 2023, so is starting to attract more transfer interest.
A €23m signing from Genk in 2020, Berge is an atypical figure for a No. 6/No. 8 hybrid midfielder, courtesy of his 6-foot-5 stature. Not only a physical force who takes care of interceptions (3 per 90 minutes) and aerial duels, he's also technically gifted and deceptively smooth with the ball as he breaks opposing lines with his surging runs (2.8 dribbles per 90 minutes) from deep midfield positions. With a contract that expires in 2024, Berge has been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The lack of quality right-backs available internationally might see top clubs take special interest in the England under-21 defender this summer, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Man United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all previously linked.
Aarons recently recorded his 200th league appearance for Norwich and, by Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber's own admission, has "outgrown the club." With just a season left of his contract, the Canaries are expected to evaluate offers rather than run the risk of losing their consistent, energetic right-back for nothing next summer.
A brilliant ball carrier, who hardly misses a game, Aarons times his forward runs perfectly and positions himself well to swing in crosses. His quick feet and mental alertness also render him efficient in anticipating duels and picking up loose balls in midfield.
