Premier League clubs are once again scouring the EFL and Scottish academies in search of the next Antoine Semenyo or Eberechi Eze, according to BBC News.
The report highlights a growing trend of top-flight sides recruiting young talent from lower-league and Scottish youth systems to bolster their U21 and B-team setups, rather than relying solely on their own academy pipelines or overseas imports.
Semenyo and Eze, both of whom progressed through non-Premier League academies before establishing themselves at the highest level, are cited as examples of the kind of success story clubs are hoping to replicate by casting a wider net for emerging prospects.
While specific targets or clubs involved aren't detailed in the report, the broader picture suggests an increasing appetite among Premier League recruitment departments to look beyond traditional academy structures — with the EFL and Scottish game increasingly viewed as fertile ground for spotting future first-team talent before it fully blossoms elsewhere.