Lewis-Potter and Brereton-Diaz head Championship XI who are Premier League-bound this summer
- Graeme Bailey
- 1 March 2022
Interest in Championship players has rarely been higher. Planet Sport takes a look through the most likely candidates to be playing top-flight football in 2022/23.
With Fulham and Bournemouth looking set to return to the Premier League next season, the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dominic Solanke and Todd Cantwell will get another chance to prove themselves on the big stage next season.
And there are plenty more Championship stars set to join them, with or without promotion.
Sam Johnstone - goalkeeper - West Bromwich Albion
The England international is out of contract at the end of the season and is set to have a host of options.
However, the 28-year-old has a big decision to make - does he join his former club Manchester United as a number two, or does he try and seal a move somewhere as a number one.
Dael Fry - central defender - Middlesbrough
The academy graduate has been outstanding for Boro especially since Chris Wilder came in.
Burnley, Brighton, Wolves and local rivals Newcastle have all looked at the 24-year-old who looks set to have his pick of Premier League clubs - if Boro fail to go up.
Rob Dickie - central defender - Queens Park Rangers
Since arriving from Oxford in 2020, Dickie has been in outstanding form for the Hoops and it is little surprise he has Premier League interest.
The giant defender has been watched closely by West Ham and Crystal Palace in the last 12 months so may not even have to leave the capital to get his first taste of Premier League action.
Levi Colwill - central defender - Huddersfield Town
Colwill has been one of the Championship's stand-out defenders, but he looks unlikely to stay at Huddersfield even if their stellar form results in promotion.
Huge things are expected of the 19-year-old and he is likely to be given a chance to impress at parent club Chelsea who have already rejected one bid for him from Leicester. The Foxes are unlikely to give up easily, however.
Isaiah Jones - right midfield - Middlesbrough
The former non-league wide-man has been one of the finds of recent years for Boro and it is not surprising to see him being linked to some big clubs.
In addition to English sides Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Leeds, West Ham and Wolves, there is also interest from the continent with Atletico Madrid, Ajax, RB Leipzig, Lyon and Roma watching him.
It is going to take a big effort from Boro to keep their brilliant wing-back beyond this summer.
Lewis O'Brien - central midfield - Huddersfield Town
The Huddersfield captain saw a proposed move to Leeds fail to materialise last summer and opted to sign a new deal, but if anything he has performed even better this term.
A host of Premier League clubs have joined the chase, including Crystal Palace and Wolves. A release clause of £12million makes a summer move highly likely.
John Swift - centre midfield - Reading
Has consistently been one of the leading Championship players in the last couple of seasons.
Leeds, Burnley and West Ham lead the pursuit for Swift who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Joe Rothwell - left midfield - Blackburn Rovers
The Blackburn star can play anywhere across the midfield, and he is another who is out of contract at the end of the season. A promotion for Rovers could see him stay, but it appears unlikely.
Brighton, Bournemouth and Southampton are among those who are keen, with interest from Scottish champions Rangers perhaps the only reason the 27-year-old won't be playing in the Premier League next season.
Brennan Johnson - attacking midfield - Nottingham Forest
The Welsh international has been outstanding for Forest this season.
Johnson has refused all offers of a new contract at the City Ground and a move this summer looks increasingly likely. Brentford saw a club record bid rejected and they will return again at the end of the season, but they won't be alone.
Keane Lewis-Potter - attacking midfield - Hull City
Another stand-out Championship star and another Brentford target. Lewis-Potter is set to follow in the footsteps of Jarrod Bowen, Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson in being big name Hull exports to the top flight.
Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham have all been linked and it seems nailed on that Lewis-Potter will be playing Premier League football next term. However, with Hull now financially secure following their Turkish takeover, the 21-year-old won't come cheap.
Josh Bowler - attacking midfield - Blackpool
The former Everton man has been in scintillating form for Blackpool since his summer move from Goodison Park.
Blackpool rejected big offers from Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest in January, but with Leicester now among the teams chasing him, a top-flight move is now looking likely for the 22-year-old.
Ben Brereton-Diaz - striker - Blackburn
The Chilean superstar would be the Championship's star man but for one thing - Aleksandar Mitrovic.
But that doesn't mean Brereton-Diaz will not be at the very top of a number of clubs' wanted lists this summer - even with a £25million asking price.
He is out of contract in the summer and won't sign a new deal but the Championship side are expected to trigger their one-year extension option, hastening a sale. West Ham, Everton, Newcastle, Leeds are all possible landing spots for the former Nottingham Forest man.
