The Championship is renowned for its competitive nature, where the quality of football is a step above that of any other second-tier division in Europe.
Just take a quick look at Gareth Southgate's England squad from last summer's Euros. A stint in the Championship is something many of the nation's stars have etched on their CVs; Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount… we could go on.
This season, it looks a foregone conclusion that Fulham will be returning to the Premier League as they comfortably occupy the top spot. But predicting the other two teams who will join them, is quite frankly, anyone's guess.
For football clubs – particularly in the Premier League – there can quite often be a desire within scouting departments to search for signings on the continent. Conducting transfer business with clubs lower down the football food chain is often overlooked.
But, sometimes, a player is simply too good to miss out on. We have taken a look at seven players who could be in line to make the illustrious jump up to the Premier League next season.
Fabio Carvalho
Fulham's teenage sensation came a stone's throw away from signing for Liverpool in the January window – but failure between the clubs to agree terms scuppered a potential deal on deadline day.
Whilst Carvalho would likely be a key part of the Fulham's champions-elect squad next season regardless, it's rumoured Jurgen Klopp's interest in the 19-year-old has in no way faded. An agreement could be put in place for the midfielder to make the switch to Anfield at the end of the season.
It's easy to see just why Carvalho is catching the eye. He's scored seven and assisted a further six goals in the league for Marco Silva's high-flyers this term.
He may soon be joining Harvey Elliott as the latest talented Fulham youngster to join the Reds.
Brennan Johnson
Nottingham Forest reportedly turned down bids from a number of Premier League clubs for Johnson in January.
They are in play-off contention and have a glamour FA Cup quarter-final tie with Liverpool on the horizon, and the 20-year-old is a big reason for the club's recent success.
Johnson is out of contract at the end of next season. This makes it likely Forest will be forced to cash in on a player who has netted 11 times this term – supposing he doesn't sign a new deal in the coming months.
“What you see on a daily basis is a young player who is never late – who comes in with the right attitude and works hard in training,” Forest boss Steve Cooper said about Johnson.
The forward, whose performances have already earned international recognition with Wales, looks set to go all the way to the top.
Djed Spence
Yet another Forest player who has impressed at the City Ground. The 21-year-old full-back is on loan at the club from Middlesbrough. Neil Warnock sent him away to “sort himself out.” He's certainly done that.
Like his team-mate and Carvalho, Spence attracted interest from Premier League sides in January. Arsenal were believed to be keen following his Man of the Match display against the Gunners in the FA Cup third round.
Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli, who struggled to make an impact in that FA Cup defeat, is certainly a fan.
“He [Spence] is very strong, good on the ball, calm and quick. I was surprised; he is a really good player,” the Brazilian said after a torrid afternoon up against the attack-minded defender.
John Swift
The 26-year-old midfielder has been in sublime form for Reading in what has been a difficult campaign for the Royals – they're only one position clear of the relegation zone as things currently stand.
Swift has been a key man for the club since his arrival in 2016 but, with his contract a few months from expiry, Premier League sides are expected to be sniffing around the Portsmouth-born man. West Ham and Leeds United have reportedly expressed their interest already.
Twenty-four goal contributions in 34 Championship outings this season represents a fantastic return for a player who progressed through the Chelsea academy ranks.
Sorba Thomas
Huddersfield are in the hunt for the division's second automatic promotion spot this season, and Thomas is one of the main reasons why.
The Terriers signed the forward from National League side Boreham Wood in January 2021. This term he's gone on to become a full international for Wales and has been a near ever-present in the starting line-up for Carlos Corberan's side.
We've seen others propel themselves through the pyramid from non-league to the elite level – Jamie Vardy immediately springs to mind. Thomas is showing he's potentially cut from the same cloth as Leicester City's talisman.
Ben Brereton Diaz
The Stoke-born striker made his international debut for Chile in last year's Copa America. We can put our necks on the line and safely say, he's the first and last person from the Potteries that this will happen to.
Under Tony Mowbray at Blackburn Rovers, Brereton Diaz has already bagged 20 goals this season – only Aleksander Mitrovic and Dominic Solanke are ahead of him in the league's top goal-scoring charts.
“Brereton with the ball at his feet is an extraordinary talent,” Mowbray said recently. “He's a wonderful footballer who can dribble with both feet, take people out of the game.”
At just 22, Blackburn's talisman will be high up on the list of targets for a number of Premier League clubs. He's filled the void left by Adam Armstrong, who departed Rovers for Southampton last year.
Lloyd Kelly
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker gave the captain's armband to Kelly on a stand-in basis with Steve Cook out of the side. But following Cook's departure to Forest in January, the ball-playing centre-back was handed the role on a permanent basis, becoming the youngest skipper in the division at 23.
The former England Under-21 international has always possessed bags of potential, and he's now showcasing his quality at the Cherries as a mainstay in the club's line-up.
“Lloyd [Kelly] is a good type – fact. Has good values, good morals, an unbelievable professional, [who] wants to learn constantly,” Parker said following the club's recent draw with Peterborough.
Parker has assembled a squad littered with Premier League experience. It's possible Kelly will get his chance to shine in the English top-flight if Bournemouth are promoted this season, but if they fail to get over the line, you'd expect the defender to still move up a level.