Chelsea's Mason Mount, Arsenal's Reiss Nelson and Matteo Guendouzi and the London-born Borussia Dortmund attacker Jadon Sancho have made the shortlist for the prestigious 2019 Golden Boy award.
The 40-man list was announced by Italian newspaper Tutto Sport on Tuesday evening with last year's winner, Matthijs de Ligt, also featuring along with the Watford prospect Tom Dele-Bashiru, a recent signing from Manchester City.
The award, which was established in 2003 and is open to players under the age of 21, has been won by two Englishmen in the past - Wayne Rooney in 2004 and Raheem Sterling in 2014. It is voted for by journalists from 11 newspapers across Europe.
De Ligt became the first defender to win the gong last season and he could be the first to win it twice having led Ajax to last season's Champions League semi-finals, where they were shocked by Lucas Moura and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Dutch centre back, 20, has since joined Juventus in a €75million move.
While making the shortlist will be considered an achievement for Mount, Nelson and Guendouzi, it seems unlikely that they will feature near the top of the voting tallies.
Sancho, however, should be considered among the favourites following his breakout campaign with Dortmund last season.
Everton's Moise Kean and Manchester City's Phil Foden are also on the list, with the prolific Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz and Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix also expected to feature high up the rankings.
Fans can vote for their favourite player on a poll on the Tutto Sport website.
