Meet Premier League icons’ lads who could be even better than their dads including Chelsea wonderkid and Man Utd twins

ERLING HAALAND, Frank Lampard and Paolo Maldini are all sons of footballers and kept up the family tradition.

Talent tends to trickle down from one generation to the next – and having a dad who knows what it takes to turn pro doesn’t hurt either.

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Those who grew up watching football in the Noughties are now seeing many of those players’ children trying to forge their own path.

And it is not always easy for youngsters with familiar surnames to escape from the long shadow cast before them.

But here are a select few who are on the verge of a breakthrough, and look like they could give their old men a run for their money…

Reggie Watson

Whether this talented youngster’s dad, Ben, reached icon status is up for debate – though there is no doubt that he scored an iconic goal to head Wigan to FA Cup glory in 2013.

Chelsea prospect Reggie looks set to eclipse his father’s Prem legacy if he carries on his current trajectory.

The central midfielder, who is just 16, was one of the standout performers during Xabi Alonso‘s first pre-season.

And many expect him to enjoy a bright future.

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Jack & Tyler Fletcher

With five Premier League titles, four domestic cups and a Champions League, these two twins would do well to achieve half of what dad Darren did at Manchester United.

Fletcher, who spent 13 years in the United first team and briefly served as caretaker manager earlier this year, has brought up two talented prospects who have already had a taste of senior action.

Jack, 19, played three games in the Prem last term and has progressed through the England youth ranks.

While Tyler, also 19, has only played twice for United, but is already a full Scottish international, just like his dad.

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Shaqueel van Persie

Fans could be forgiven for thinking a carbon copy of deadly left-footer Robin van Persie had spawned in Holland.

The Arsenal and Manchester United hero started and finished his career with Dutch giants Feyenoord, which is where 19-year-old Shaqueel is just starting out.

The London-born teenager is a striker, prefers his left foot, and is exactly the same 6ft 1in height as his dad.

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Shaqueel scored twice in three Eredivisie games last season, and has already played four league matches this term.

Reigan & Jaden Heskey

Target man Emile was always adept at bringing others into play, and now he has seemingly brought his two sons to the brink of pro stardom.

Jaden, 20, is still on the books at Manchester City – though he will spend this season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday after impressing there last term.

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Reigan, 18, has just left City to sign for Cologne in Germany.

And there are murmurs that the young winger could be even better than his older brother – and maybe even his dad – as he continues to excel for England at youth level.

Maximilian & Vincent Ibrahimovic

A third set of brothers on this list, Maximilian and Vincent Ibrahimovic are out to continue the footballing legacy left by ponytailed dad Zlatan.

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Surpassing the achievements of the Swedish striker, who notched a 28-goal campaign for Manchester United during his only stint in the Prem, will take some doing.

But Maximilian, 19, is cutting his teeth with Dutch side AZ, and younger brother Vincent, 18, is on the books at AC Milan.

Kai Rooney

At 16, striker prospect Kai is already the same age as dad Wayne when he made his breakthrough with Everton.

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Overnight sensations like that are few and far between, but Kai’s academy career has shown that he stands a good chance of going pro.

Kai has been racking up goals at youth level and was a regular while playing two years above himself for Manchester United’s Under-18s last season.

Gabriel Arteta

While Mikel pulls the strings on the Arsenal touchline, young Gabriel is trying to fight his way into his dad’s first-team plans.

At 17, the midfielder is on scholarship terms and is already a regular fixture in the Gunners’ Under-18s set-up.

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But breaking into the reigning Premier League champions’ squad will be no easy feat.

Cristiano Junior

Not many youngsters can boast a footballing education like Cristiano Ronaldo‘s 16-year-old son.

And that is not just because he has one of the best players of all time for a dad.

Junior has followed CR7 all over the world, learning his trade in the academies of Manchester United, Juventus and now Al-Nassr.

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Already standing 6ft 3in and playing as a centre-forward, big things are expected of this Portuguese prodigy.

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