Brendan Rodgers says Raheem Sterling is the best young talent in European football but here are 10 of the Liverpool player’s rivals for that unofficial title

10 young players who just might be better than Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling

Max Meyer, Schalke

Age 19 Estimated value £11m

The Germany Under-21s forward was one of the standout performers when Schalke beat Real Madrid 4-3 in the Champions League last month and he is a key part of their attempts to qualify, via the Bundesliga, for next season’s competition

Julian Draxler, Schalke

Age 21 Estimated value £19m

Happy with the ball on either foot, the speedy forward made his Bundesliga debut aged 16 and has not looked back since. Draxler has embarrassed numerous full-backs domestically and was part of the Germany squad that lifted the World Cup in Brazil

Mateo Kovacic, Internazionale

Age 20 Estimated value £16m

The attacking midfielder took Inter’s No10 shirt from Wesley Sneijder after arriving at San Siro from Dinamo Zagreb two years ago. According to the Inter legend Javier Zanetti, Kovacic is European football’s best prospect since Cristiano Ronaldo

Hakan Calhanoglu, Bayer Leverkusen

Age 21 Estimated value £13m

The Turkish midfielder is renowned for his free-kicks and general ability to score goals from long range. He has seamlessly made the step up to international football and scored a late winner for Turkey against Luxembourg last month

Memphis Depay, PSV Eindhoven

Age 21 Estimated value £12m

The Holland winger will almost certainly leave his club this summer with Manchester United believed, by many observers, to be his the most likely destination. The Eredivisie’s leading scorer, Depay has 22 goals this season

Paulo Dybala, Palermo

Age 21 Estimated value £17m

Having shone at his hometown Argentinian club Instituto, for whom he made his debut aged 17, Dybala was signed by Palermo three years ago and has continued to shine in Serie A. The forward has been linked with several top European clubs, including Arsenal

Alen Halilovic, Barcelona

Age 18 Estimated value £5.5m

The Croatian playmaker signed for Barcelona in 2014 but has yet to play for the first team. He is highly rated, however, and in 2012 became the second youngest player in Champions League history when he featured for Dinamo Zagreb against Paris Saint-Germain

Davy Klaassen, Ajax

Age 22 Estimated value £6m

The goalscoring midfielder made his Holland debut under Louis van Gaal last year. Klaassen’s technical style and attacking instincts have seen him likened to Dennis Bergkamp, who is currently assistant manager at the Amsterdam Arena

Nikola Ninkovic, Partizan

Age 20 Estimated value £750,000

The midfielder was made Partizan captain at 17 and has grown into a key figure for the Serbian club. Ninkovic was also suspended by his country for 12 months for his involvement in a brawl that followed a play-off defeat to England Under-21s in Krusevac in 2012

Jesé Rodríguez, Real Madrid

Age 22 Estimated value £11.5m

Given his initial chance by José Mourinho four years ago, Jesé is now a fans’ favourite at Real. The forward has seen his first-team chances at the Bernabéu restricted, however. He has managed just seven goals in the past two seasons

Transfer values from transfermarkt.com