5 Championship Players Who Deserve a Premier League Shot

The past two seasons, 23-year-old Harry Souttar has been a mainstay in the Stoke City defence, and this campaign he has played a big role which has led to Stoke currently having the seventh-best defence in the league.

Souttar is averaging 3.6 tackles and 3.6 interceptions per game, along with an almighty league-high 5.7 clearances per fixture too. Since his injury in November, Stoke’s form has really dropped off, only winning three of their last 10 league games and it only emphasised his importance to the Potters.

When Souttar was in the side, they were in a decent position to make the playoffs. Now, however, he is out for the rest of the season, and the defender has shown enough this season that he is fit for a team that defends deep which could translate into the Premier League.

Possible clubs: Everton, Norwich, Burnley

22-year-old Ryan Giles has been enjoying a very good loan spell at Cardiff City this season, and whilst it was supposed to be a six-month loan, he is set to rejoin the Bluebirds for the rest of the season from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Giles has primarily played on the left hand side as a wing-back and has been Cardiff's primary creator this season. He has managed to create 2.5 chances per game, registered nine assists, and created the most ‘big’ chances in the Championship this season with 13.

Giles could fit perfectly into the system played at Wolves, with Bruno Lage using a three at the back system with wing-backs. He could also slot in very nicely on the left hand side if Wolves give him a chance there next season.

Possible clubs: a return to Wolves

Despite Reading enduring a difficult season which has included a six-point deduction, their midfielder, John Swift, is having his best campaign with the club, which for Reading, is bittersweet as he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Swift has been the best creator in the Championship, registering a league-high 11 assists in 26 games, with another league-high 2.7 chances created a game, whilst also contributing eight goals this season.

At 26 years old, the former Chelsea academy player looks like he is hitting the prime of his career, and with him being out of contract, it is most likely a Premier League club will snap him up for free this summer.

Possible clubs: Crystal Palace, Everton, Southampton

Ben Brereton-Diaz has enjoyed a breakout season in the Championship this campaign with Blackburn Rovers, with the 22-year-old netting an astonishing 20 goals in 27 appearances so far this season - the second most in the league. It also broke that famous 500/1 bet for him to reach 20+ goals for the season in just 23 games.

Since switching his national allegiances to Chile, Brereton-Diaz has been playing with the utmost confidence that has seen him already triple his goal scoring tally from last season, which has helped Balckburn make a push for automatic promotion.

At 22, the Rovers man still has a lot more room to grow, and if he doesn't get promoted this season, he will be on a lot of Premier League teams’ radar as he already is.

Possible clubs: Newcastle, Everton

After failing to make impacts at both Arsenal and Benfica, Willock has found a home at Queens Park Rangers and at 23 years old, he is having the best season of his career which has helped make QPR a contender for promotion to the Premier League.

Willock has scored six goals and provided seven assists so far this season, and whilst playing a multitude of positions, he has played on the left wing and up front, but has primarily played as an attacking midfielder. This has brought on comparisons to his brother, Joe Willock.

If QPR aren’t able to get promoted this season, Willock will be on Premier League teams’ radars, his attacking play added with all-round good play could persuade teams that at 23 years old, he could continue his development to perform well at a higher level.

Possible clubs: Newcastle, Everton, Arsenal, Wolves