Marcus Rashford, Renato Sanches, Marco Asensio Among 2016 Golden Boy Nominees

Premier League youngsters Marcus Rashford and Alex Iwobi are both in contention to win the 2016 Golden Boy award following breakthrough years at Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively. Bayern Munich's Renato Sanches and Real Madrid's Marco Asensio are also among the 40 nominated for the accolade.

Italian newspaper Tuttosport announced their nominee list for this year's Golden Boy on Thursday (h/t Sport Witness), with the annual award given to the best under-21 player based at a European club:

Should England international Rashford bring home the gong, United could house four Golden Boy winners in their current squad, after Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial claimed it in 2004, 2013 and 2015, respectively.

Sport Witness also highlighted the Red Devils' Golden Boy success could be counted even further if one were to account for players not currently at Old Trafford:

Rashford has enjoyed a dazzling year at club and international level, scoring on his debuts in the Premier League, UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup, not to mention his England and England under-21 bows.

Squawka's Jake Gallagher recently hinted it's the 18-year-old's refreshingly simple approach to the game that allows him to excel as such, as only a teenager should in this sport:

"

Marcus Rashford on his debut last season: "I thought I'd be more nervous but I was quite calm. It's just a game of football."

— Jake Gallagher (@MatchoftheDave) September 24, 2016"

Sanches in particular could provide hefty competition for the Golden Boy, having played a prominent role in Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph and earning a high-profile transfer from Benfica to Bayern Munich.

The 19-year-old also helped Benfica clinch a league-and-cup double before his summer departure, and ESPN's Alex Shaw agreed he'll be among those vying to challenge Rashford's stake on the trophy:

Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele is also on the 40-man shortlist, as is Chelsea centre-back Andreas Christensen—who's in the middle of a two-year loan at Borussia Monchengladbach—and Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli.

Arsenal superstar Mesut Ozil recently talked up the talents of team-mate Iwobi, 20, likening the Gunners attacker to two European greats after his break into manager Arsene Wenger's senior ranks, per Arsenal's matchday programme ahead of the trip to Basel on Wednesday (via the Sun's Jamie Gordon):

"

He reminds me of his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha. He was a player I loved watching.

Alex reminds me of a mixture of him and Edgar Davids. He’s really strong on the ball, also defensively, but he’s good in front of goal too.

He’s developing really well and if he continues the way he’s been playing for the whole season, he will enhance his game.

The manager knows exactly how good he is and I wish him all the best.

"

The Premier League links don't end there, though, with Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathan—currently on loan at Vitesse—also nominated alongside Liverpool's Marko Grujic, as well as Manchester City duo Leroy Sane and Kelechi Iheanacho.

All 40 of those under-21 players up for the 2016 Golden Boy will have credentials to back up their nomination, but only one will be able to take home the title of Europe's best budding star.