Bukayo Saka has been named to the 40-player Golden Boy shortlist for 2020, informs Italian sports daily Tuttosport.

The Arsenal teenage sensation is the only player of Nigerian descent included in the shortlist, with Bayern Munich's Joshua Zirkzee and Red Bull Salzburg's Karim Adeyemi not making the cut this time after it was reduced to 40 names.

The Turin based newspaper is looking for a successor to Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix, who won the prize awarded to the best U21 player in Europe last year.

Real Madrid's Vinicius, Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, Barcelona's Ansu Fati, Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Borussia Dortmund duo Erling Braut Haaland and Jadon Sancho, and Rennes' Eduardo Camavinga are among the favourites for the 2020 Golden Boy.

Saka made his England U21 debut in a 6-0 rout of Kosovo on September 4 after a breakout season for Arsenal in which he was involved in 16 goals (4 goals, 12 assists) in 38 first team appearances.

The Hale End Academy product is aiming to become the first Nigeria-eligible player to win the Golden Boy since its inception in 2003.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com