The Russian Premier League isn’t exactly regarded as one of the top divisions in the world in terms of quality but there are still plenty of talented footballers throughout the 16-team league. In fact, plenty of Russia’s top prospects could earn a move to England’s top flight this summer if they perform well for the national team at Euro 2016. Here are just a few of the Russian league’s most gifted footballers and why they could earn a deserved move to the Premier League at some point this summer.

Hulk

There’s only one place to start. Zenit St Petersburg star Hulk has been linked with England’s elite clubs on a regular basis over the last few years but a deal could finally materialise this summer. The Brazil star played 18 minutes of Copa America football before Brazil’s disastrous exit, and he did little to convince the Premier League scouts that may be keeping a close eye on his performances – especially with a number of new managers in charge at Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Anfield. Luckily, he has already shown enough quality on the big stage to suggest that he could hack it in what is still widely regarded as the best league in the world.

In fact, Chelsea may be the most realistic landing spot for Hulk. According to various reports, the Blues have tried to acquire the 29-year-old on multiple occasions over the years and he would certainly be a welcomed addition to Chelsea’s growing squad. At the time of writing, 32Red are offering Antonio Conte’s men at 7/1 to win the title next season and, if nothing else, Hulk could be the man to help Chelsea recover and challenge for the title after their dismal showing in the 2015/16 campaign.

The Brazilian was however heavily targeted by Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the winter transfer window though, with the Chinese Super League club reportedly mulling a £70million bid to tempt Zenit’s hand, and the Chinese interest could be revived this summer. Fellow Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande also held an interest and rumours were rife of a £30million bid in early February, so it would be no surprise to see a handful of the Chinese Super League clubs make a move for Hulk once more in this window!

Fyodor Smolov

Fyodor Smolov isn’t a household name… but he soon could be. The 26-year-old has attracted plenty of media attention in recent months and it’s surely only a matter of time before he is snapped up by one of Europe’s elite clubs. If you watch him play on a weekly basis, he oozes class and certainly looks like he would be able to adapt to the pace and tenacity of Premier League football. Right now, he’s one of the best strikers in Russia and would be the perfect addition to any English side; whether that’s as a backup at an elite club or to lead the line for one of the top flight’s “lesser” teams.

The Krasnodar forward enjoyed a very successful campaign and finished as the Russian Premier League’s top scorer with 20 goals. In fact, he almost led his side to a top three finish but Oleg Kononov’s men fell agonisingly short at the expense of Zenit. Smolov is a real handful on his best days, and the 26-year-old started all of Russia’s games at the European Championship. So far, Smolov has scored five goals in 15 appearances for Sbornaya, and he is a versatile player who can both play up front and on the wings, which he proved at the EURO.

Quincy Promes

In a way, Promes is similar to Manchester United’s Anthony Martial. He has quick feet, is calm and composed inside the penalty area and can play either wide or through the middle. At just 24-years-old, he still has plenty to learn and could mature and develop into a real talent at one of England’s top clubs. Take Tottenham Hotspur, priced at 9/1 to win the title with 32Red and 888Sport, for example; they need support upfront for Harry Kane – Promes would relish the chance to play at Spurs and support a top striker as and when he’s needed.

Amazingly, he scored 18 league goals in 29 matches for a below-par Spartak Moscow side this season and this incredible achievement is testament to his own ability. If given the opportunity to showcase his talent on the biggest stage of all, Promes could be a huge hit and a Premier League club could do much worse. He isn’t the complete package just yet but he certainly has the confidence and mental strength to achieve great things – both at club and international level.

Ahmed Musa

Last but not least, CSKA Moscow’s Musa has set the Russian Premier League alight since he joined from VVV Venlo in 2012, scoring 42 goals in 107 games for the club. The Nigerian is just 23-years-old – giving plenty of scope for improvement – and has caught the eye of last year’s Premier League Champions, Leicester City.

Manager Claudio Ranieri is looking for several replacement strikers if reports are to be believed, with both Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez coming under intense transfer speculation after dazzling throughout their campaign. Vardy is set to decide on a move to the Emirates after Euro 2016 and if he opts to leave, Musa could certainly offer the same intensity on the Foxes’ frontline.

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By Andrew Hill