Bringing you the most interesting players in the Premier League to keep your eye on. Whether it be a wonderkid who we think is on the verge of taking the next step into stardom, or someone with a point to prove to the rest of the league - this is our ones to watch XI (with some honorable mentions too).

Goalkeeper

Honourable mentions: Robert Sanchez (Chelsea), James Trafford (Man City)

After being heavily linked with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, it looks like Chelsea may not be signing a new first choice goalkeeper. An industrious Club World Cup final performance capped off what has been a very good and very underrated last 4 months for the Spanish goalkeeper. Once riddled with mistakes, the 27 year old has barely put a foot wrong as of late. Maresca and the coaching staff look like they’re putting a lot of faith into the former Brighton shot-stopper - is this just a purple patch or the start of something special? The 25/26 season will give us our answer.

There is only one word to describe James Trafford’s Championship campaign last year. Historic. Burnley conceded 16 goals across 46 games and the English shot-stopper was the largest reason for that. Trafford prevented 22 goals being conceded according to xG - a number that is quite frankly astounding and makes it less surprising that Man City have activated their buy-back clause for him. Of course, Trafford was in the Premier League two seasons ago and his performances left a lot to be desired - but he was too young and inexperienced. Now, he’s coming back with a vengeance as he will battle with either Ederson or Ortega to prove that he deserves to be Man City’s first-choice keeper.

Djorde Petrovic - Bournemouth

Most Premier League fans will be familiar with the Serbian goalkeeper, formerly of Chelsea. During the 2023/24 season at Stamford Bridge, he started 23 Premier League games and it’s fair to say he didn’t rip up any trees. Although he wasn’t a disaster by any means, a goalkeeping error was pretty common - whether it be a dodgy fumble or inability to play from the back. However there were glimpses of someone, who with some good development, could turn into a proper goalkeeper.

Last season, these glimpses became a regularity. On loan at Strasbourg, Petrovic blossomed into one of the best goalkeepers in the league. He won Strasbourg's fan player of the year and also was voted as the division’s best goalkeeper. The 25 year old improved radically with the ball at his feet and became a more assured and confident box presence, leading to Strasbourg conceding 12 goals fewer than they should have and the 5th best clean sheet record in the league. Petrovic ranked in the top 1% of goalkeepers in Europe for touches per 90 and the top 2% for save percentage - he’s turned into the ideal modern day GK and will serve as a great replacement for Kepa.

Bournemouth have developed a reputation for their brilliant recruitment over the years, and Petrovic may prove to be another example of this. He’s improved drastically since he was last in the Premier League, but will he be able to command over a backline that has been utterly dismantled by Europe’s elite clubs? It’s a tough ask but he’s now got all the tools he needs to deal with it.

Left-back

Honourable mentions: James Milner (Brighton), Milos Kerkez (Liverpool)

James Milner is 16 Premier League games away from breaking Gareth Barry’s all time appearance record. At the ripe old age of 39, the Englishman’s fitness and intelligence are showing little sign of slowing down. With the Brighton squad getting even younger for the upcoming season, the Seagulls are going to need Milner’s experience and know-how more than ever. For what’s going to be his 24th season in professional football, Brighton’s number 6 is on the verge of etching his name in English football history and it will be an award befitting of the perfect Premier League professional.

Liverpool’s attack next season is extremely frightening and that’s before you even consider the full-backs. At the time of writing, they’ve already added Ekitke and are aiming to add Isak to an attack of Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo and others - according to reports. Then when you factor in Liverpool have also signed two of the best attacking full-backs in Europe, you really start to question how they’re going to be stopped. We’re all familiar with Kerkez’s game by now due to his performances at Bournemouth. The dynamic left-back loves to get forward and is a brilliant crosser of the ball - a tribute to what Andy Robertson was like in his prime. Although I question him defensively, it will be fun to watch how Kerkez contributes to an attack that already looks incredible .

El Hadji Malick Diouf - West Ham

More of a wing-back than a traditional full-back, it looks like Potter is heading towards a five at the back system and there’s not many better equipped for that LWB spot than the Senegalese international. He continues the evergreen love-story between Slavia Prague and West Ham, which has created Premier League icons such as Thomas Soucek andVladimir Coufal.

The 20 year old was highly sought after by a host of Premier League and European teams, so credit must go to West Ham for being able to secure his signature. The wing-back adds some much needed physicality and pace to the squad and is the exact profile that the hammers should be targeting. Although I haven’t watched much of him - Diouf looks to be a great crosser of the ball and a brilliant ball-carrier. Once he gets going, not many can stop him and it makes him a real threat in the final third. Not to mention he can half strike a football.

The 6ft defender will add a new dynamic to West Ham’s left hand-side and I think will be a player that the Olympic Stadium really comes to like. For the first time in a while, there’s something to be excited about as a West-Ham fan and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.

Centre-back

Honourable mentions: Christian Mosquera (Arsenal), Maxime Esteve (Burnley)

Arsenal have done it again with Christian Mosquera. First it was Gabriel and William Saliba and now it’s Spain’s u21 international. The gunners have a habit for picking up young centre-backs with unlimited potential, for a fraction of what their value should be. Mosquera is a rolls-royce of a CB who's unfazed in possession whilst being able to read the game very well for someone still relatively inexperienced. The 21 year old will provide great back-up for Arsenal’s main centre-backs and there’s less reason for gooners to worry if one of Saliba or Gabriel get injured, because they now have this juggernaut waiting in the wings to take their minutes.

When it’s all said and done I think Mosquera will leave fans and pundits alike scratching their heads as to how Arsenal were able to acquire him for less than £20 million.

Along with Trafford, I’d say Maxime Esteve is the crown jewel of the 24/25 Burnley team. The 6ft 4 Frenchman was a wall at the back for his team last season and impressed with his defensive awareness and also his ability on the ball. The left-footer is brilliant at switching the ball out to his wingers with pinpoint pace and accuracy - he’s also a great carrier of the ball which gave Scott Parker a new dimension in possession. Now in the Prem, Esteve is going to be going up against some of the best attacking players out there and Burnley won’t have the comfort of always being on the ball. If Esteve can meet the challenge that comes with playing in the best league in the world and can still prove himself to be the defensive colossus he was last campaign, then not only will it give Burnley a better chance of staying up - but they’ll also have a £30 million+ centre-back on their hands.

Ayden Heaven - Manchester United

Funnily enough, it’s Christian Mosquera who is filling the Adyen Heaven sized hole that Arsenal had in their squad - not to compare the two players. Heaven was a central midfielder all the way through Arsenal’s academy until he was converted into a centre-back in the last year or two.

Heaven is a great talent and when you watch him, you can see that he was a midfielder for the majority of his career. With the ball he’s never rushed and always makes the right decision - in fact, the 3 at the back formation that Amorim plays will probably suit him even more as a wide centre-back. Last season, although it was cut short due to injury - Heaven impressed thoroughly and this should continue into this coming season. The left-footed 18 year old is one of the few players Man United have brought in recently that people can unanimously agree is a great signing. He thought there was no real pathway at Arsenal and like any footballer should do - he went elsewhere in search of consistent minutes, saying “I felt like it was easier for me to get into United’s first team,” in an interview with the Athletic.

With the injury woes of Lisandro Martinez seeming to be increasingly common, Heaven has a chance to make that left centre-back spot his own and make his mark on the Premier League. He’s good enough to get consistent minutes and Amorim is aware of this, hence he was thrown straight into the first-team.

Most fans are aware of who he is, but now’s the chance for him to show him just how good he is. In a few years time, this could be one of the few sales that Arsenal might come to regret.

Luka Vuskovic - Tottenham Hotspur

The expectation for many Croatian fans is that Vuskovic turns out to be a better centre-back than Josko Gvardiol.

This is the same Gvardiol who moved to City for around £77 million and not once has anyone mentioned the price tag. The Josko Gvardiol, who at 19 years old, was easily the best defender at the 2022 World Cup and has looked as one of, if not the best young centre-back in world-football. Croatian fans believe Luka Vuskovic is a bigger talent.

We’re dealing with a player here, who many people might not be aware of now, but in a few years time I think the whole of Europe will know the now 18 year old’s name. The most interesting thing about the 6ft 4 centre-back is his otherworldly threat from set pieces. Last season, on loan from Spurs at Belgian first division side Westerlo - Vuskovic scored 7 goals and two assists with the vast majority of them coming from him attacking corners and indirect free-kicks, and a spectacular overhead kick mixed in there too. Given his size and explosiveness, he is just so much of a threat in the box and it is almost a match made in heaven with Thomas Frank, who is constantly looking to develop an advantage over opponents from set-pieces.

Even at the young age of 18, Vuskovic looks like he can make an impact in the first-team right now. Away from being a threat in the box, the Croatian is deceptively fast and agile - his footwork when facing up more mobile attackers is extremely impressive. He’s brilliant on the ball for someone so young and seems to always be in control of the situation. With Van De Ven and Romero constantly struggling for fitness, Spurs face a big decision regarding whether or not to loan him out for the 25/26 season. Given Spurs’ lack of quality centre-back depth which haunted them last season, the wise decision might be to keep the teenager and give him cup and sporadic league minutes.

There’s not many 18 year old centre-backs who come around who are able to make an impact in the first team. Like Heaven, Vuskovic might just be one of them - emphasising the level of talent we’re dealing with. In his first pre-season game for Spurs, he already took a step into the limelight with a goal, assist and clean sheet in just 47 minutes. A sign of things to come, no doubt. I have no qualms about his ability - if he gets significant minutes this season, Vuskovic will quickly become one of the highest rated young defenders in Europe.

That is, if he isn’t already.

Right-back

Honourable mentions: Michael Kayode (Brentford), Jayden Bogle (Leeds)

Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth. The three B’s. Every season it feels as if they’re competing with each other at the top of the league for who can conduct the best transfer business. Kayode is one of the crown jewels of the Bees’ recent recruitment and although he only joined in January, it hasn’t taken fans long to realise that this guy can play. The Italian is a sheer athlete who is blessed with attributes that make him the complete full-back. He can go forward and is a brilliant defender capable of locking up some of the league’s best 1v1 threats. Kayode can turn into one of the league’s best right-backs and might be a brilliant Fantasy football pick up too.

Also, keep an eye out for his long throw-ins. A secret weapon I’m sure Keith Andrews has already identified.

Part of a Sheffield United team that were relegated from the Premier League twice in three seasons, Bogle has seen his fair share of Premier League football. Whilst in the league, he was a steady player that people likely didn’t take too much notice of but now he’s playing in a Leeds team in which his role is tailor made for his abilities. The Englishman is only 24 years old and is slowly coming into his prime: He’s a pivotal attacking outlet for this Leeds side and is always looking to bomb past his winger and affect the game from dangerous positions in and around the box and any chance Leeds have of staying up will partly depend on how well Bogle can cope from the jump up to the Premier League. If he’s able to perform as well as he did last season and continue to be a game-changer from full-back, then Leeds’ odds will definitely improve.

Ferdi Kadioglu

Before joining Brighton, the Turkish full-back was commonly regarded as the best player in the Turkish Super Lig. However, a foot injury suffered in November ruled the 25 year old out for the remainder of the season. He was never able to really show Premier League fans what he had to offer last campaign, so will no doubt be itching to go out now and make up for lost time.

Kadioglu is very much the modern-day full-back. He’s brilliant on the ball and even though is predominantly right-footed, can more than do a job at left-back. He likes to dribble and get forward to create chances and can invert into the midfield but can also be used as a wide attacking outlet - making him a sort of Swiss army knife for Fabian Hurzeler. Brighton’s defence has already been boosted by the signings of Boscagli, Coppola and De Cuyper - but Kadioglu might as well be a new signing too.

If he can get back to anywhere the level he showed in Turkey, then Seagulls fans are in for a treat. I believe he offers more than Wieffer and Veltman are able to offer from the right back position (partially because they aren’t right-backs) and so once fully fit, expect the Turkish international to be a constant fixture in the Brighton side.

A fascinating player to watch when he’s fully flowing, Kadioglu is just another reason why you should keep a close eye on Brighton this season.

Defensive midfield

Honourable mentions: Stefan Bajcetic (Liverpool), Ao Tanaka (Leeds)

How quickly we forget. Nearly 3 seasons ago now, Bajcetic made a name for himself in the Premier League as one of the most promising young defensive midfielders around. Only 18 at the time, the Spanish youth international was thrown in the deep end almost straight away for a Liverpool side riddled with injuries. 3 seasons later and Bajcetic has barely featured for the Reds since then, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s still not a fantastic prospect. He had two relatively successful loans at Las Palmas and Salzburg in the 24/25 campaign and was an important player in both sides. One of the few holes you could say Liverpool have in the squad is in the defensive midfield position, but instead of splashing out on a fancy new player such as Adam Wharton, there might be an in-house solution that’s more than ready to pick up the minutes. Bajcetic was sadly left out of Liverpool’s pre-season tour due to injury, but when he comes back - there could be an important role in the side waiting for him. If he does stay, look forward to seeing just how much he’s improved since he was last in the league.

Ao Tanaka was arguably the best player in the best team in the Championship last season. Leed’s midfield metronome was only signed for £3 from the German second division, but it was obvious from minute 1 that this deal was a serious coup for United. A fabulous passer of the ball and extremely press resistant, Tanaka is a pleasure to watch and Leeds will depend on him to replicate his classy performances in the Premier League. The question is if the jump will prove to be too much for the Japanese international - Leeds will undoubtedly have less of the ball than they did last year, meaning it will be harder for Tanaka to get on the ball and set the tempo. If he can become acclimatised to the physicality and ferocity of the Premier League then Leeds have nothing to worry about, but the jump is big and a lot of footballers look amazing in the second division to only be relatively average in the Prem. I think Tanaka has the quality to be an exception, and Leeds will certainly be hoping this to be the case.

Amadou Onana - Aston Villa

Last season was an odd one for Amadou Onana. At the beginning, he was starting every game and was looking like the player we had come to terms with at Everton. However, as the season progressed and Kamara came back from injury - the Belgian international found himself on the bench quite a lot as Emery favoured the midfield three of Mcginn, Kamara and Tielemans.

Most fans were sure that Onana’s move to Villa was going to be a success - even given the relatively large fee. We know about the talent he has off the ball, his size and athleticism makes him a real force to come up against in the middle of the park - but his on the ball limitations are probably what caused Emery to drop him in the first place. Onana now has a task back on his hands to even get back into the starting eleven and prove to Emery and Villa fans that they were right to spend £50 million on him.

Just given his freak physical profile and defensive ability, Onana has all he needs to become a world-class talent. But, Emery and the Villa squad aren’t going to wait around for him to slowly become that player. This season has now suddenly turned into a very important one for the 24 year old - I believe he can go up a level and become one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, but there’s no point speculating about it. He has to go out and show it to the rest of the league.

If Onana doesn’t take that step up and with Villa’s finances in the mud - then his career at Villa might be hanging in the balance.

Central midfield

Honourable mentions: Tijani Reijnders (Man City), Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)

By the end of the season, I’m confident in saying that Reijnders will be regarded as one of the best midfielders in the league, if people don’t think he already is. It’s extremely telling that AC Milan fans across social media were furious that the Dutch midfielder was let go so easily. Even though he was sold for around €55 million, which is no small fee - the Rossoneri were convinced a player of this calibre should be going for upwards of €80 million. Reijnders is silk personified. The way he passes, the way he dribbles and creates chances - it’s just great to watch. At the Club World Cup, he was one of the Blues’ most impressive players and as he grows accustomed to playing next to the best defensive midfielder in the world in Rodri, I think his level will only go up. In a possession heavy team under a coach like Guardiola - I think Tijani Reijnders is the perfect midfielder for that system. If you want to watch attractive and entertaining football, make sure you keep an eye out for the 26 year old.

One of my favourite signings of the summer, although slightly premature because he hasn’t fully put pen to paper yet Granit Xhaka is back in the Premier League after bossing the Bundesliga for two seasons. It’s a fantastic move for all parties as the Black Cats get some much needed Premier League experience whilst also getting a fantastic set-piece taker; brilliant passer of the ball and now a bonafide winner. A midfield of Xhaka with Sadiki and Diarra as the legs around him, sounds really interesting and I’m sure the Switzerland captain will be relishing the leadership opportunity back in England. Even after all the heavy spending, this move has given me the most confidence that Sunderland might actually be able to stay up and potentially even finish in those 15th-13th spots. Xhaka has the chance to become a cult hero to cap off a very successful career - one of the most fun moves you’ll see this window.

Kobbie Mainoo - Manchester United

If Mainoo was Spanish or French, I feel like the footballing world would be having completely different conversations about the midfielder than we are currently having. The English emphasis on athleticism and pace combined with Ruben Amorim’s lack of tactical flexibility has made fans believe that Mainoo maybe isn’t that good. I’ve heard the phrases ‘system player’ and ‘luxury player’ branded around quite a lot recently and it’s disappointing. The guy is so, so talented. In my opinion, when you have a talent as good as Mainoo in your squad, you play them no matter what and you build the team around them. Amorim is proving he can’t accommodate the unique skillset that Mainoo has and so the 20 year old’s future at Old Trafford is slightly up in the air - as United still need to sell players.

After his first season of football for the Red Devils, Kobbie was starting in the Euros final against Spain, having looked in his natural element for the whole duration of the tournament. The best players are able to play at higher levels and play the exact same as they did in the academy. Mainoo fits this description - from the United u18s to the senior team, to the England squad - he’s always played the same way.

This season is pivotal for Mainoo’s United career. If he can’t find a way to make Amorim start him, regardless of the system - then the writing might be on the Old Trafford wall. A player this talented can’t just wait around and I trust he’ll have plenty of suitors. If it doesn’t work out in Manchester, I’d bet a lot of money that he still goes on to have a great career but it won’t make it any less of a shame that he didn’t make it at his boyhood club though

A player that can boss the middle of the park without sprinting is the antithesis of England’s greatest midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Charlton, Ince and now Rice and Bellingham - all had relatively successful international spouts with the Three Lions. It would be a shame for Mainoo to join the list of technicians such as Scholes and Carrick, who were never used in the right way for their country and had England careers that didn’t match up with their ability.

For his sake, Kobbie Mainoo needs a big bounce back year. He needs to stamp his foot down and show the world just how good he is - before it’s too late and all we have left to reminisce on, is that one good spell in 2024.

Attacking midfield

Honourable mentions: Rayan Cherki (Man City), Dwight Mcneil (Everton)

I’ve spent a decent amount of time writing about Cherki, so I’m not going to babble on too much. I think people are finally waking up to the player that the Premier League has on its hands. It might not be this season or the next, but with the amount of possession City have, combined with his genius creative ability and having the best goalscorer in the world at his disposal - it wouldn’t surprise me if the Frenchman comes dangerously close to breaking Henry’s assist record. He’s one of the only few players I’ve seen that can actually create from anywhere on the pitch with both feet. The other that springs to mind is a certain Belgian that just left the Etihad. The biggest compliment I can give Cherki is he might be the only player on the market that could theoretically replace Kevin De Bruyne’s magnificence at Man City and at long last, the Premier League finally has some real entertainers on their hands. Along with Palmer and Wirtz, the future of the league’s number 10s is in great hands.

Dwight McNeil is a player who divides opinion, and I’m not too sure why. Before his knee injury last season, the former Burnley man was loving life under Sean Dyche in his new central role. Although they were relatively few and far between, McNeil was instrumental in nearly all exciting attacks that Everton were able to conduct, along with Ndiaye. The now 25 year old ranks extremely high in Europe for crosses, expected assists and shot-creating actions per 90 for forwards across Europe. Now, with 6 ft 5 Thierno Barry in the box attacking these dangerous balls in, I’d expect McNeil’s numbers to improve even more. Whether on the right or through the middle - I look forward to seeing how he links up with Everton’s other exciting forwards.

Mohammed Kudus - Tottenham

Kudus is an extremely unique player. His dribbling and ball-carrying ability separates him from almost any other forward in Europe and it makes him dangerous no matter where he is on the pitch. Often, particularly in his first season for West Ham - he’d pick up the ball somewhere in his half and blow past three or four midfielders before laying it off - like it was nothing. When he’s at his best, the Ghanaian is extremely difficult to stop. You don’t have to be an analytics man or ‘tactico’ to realise that Kudus is a special player, and under the right conditions could really explode into one of the league’s best.

We’ve seen glimpses at Ajax and in the first year at West Ham, now it’s all about putting it together. Yes, last season he was thoroughly disappointing but so was every other Hammers player barring two or three. Whether he plays on the right or in the 10 for Thomas Frank, I’d like to think the outcome will be the same. For all the qualities that Frank has, I think he particularly thrives at improving players and getting the very best out of their ability. I don’t think he’s ever coached a player with the sheer raw ability that Kudus possesses and so I can imagine he’s relishing the opportunity to work with the forward.

I believe the 24 year old is one of those players whose level increases when playing with better players and in this Spurs side, there is some brilliant talent around him. Frank and Kudus are a match made in heaven and although the output historically has never been out of this world, in a more specialised role and in a more possession dominant team - Mo Kudus could reach some incredibly high heights.

Left-wing

Honourable mentions: Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Emile Smith Rowe (Fulham)

12 months ago, you would be forgiven for having no idea who Chemsdine Talbi is. A player who only really announced himself on the world stage this calendar year through some fantastic Champions League performances, Talbi is a direct and exciting winger who can play on both sides. With last campaign being the 20 year old’s first real taste of senior football, there’s still areas of his game that need ironing out if he wants to star in the Premier League. But, the promise is most certainly there - in the youthful and exciting atmosphere that’s building around the Stadium of Light, it could be the perfect place for the Moroccan international to thrive.

When Smith Rowe left Arsenal for Craven Cottage, most Premier League fans were waiting in anticipation to see what the 24 year old might blossom into, in some new surroundings. The result so far has been… decent? Smith Rowe had some great games for Fulham last season but he also had spells where he was relatively invisible on the pitch and found himself on the bench. 6 goals and 4 assists in his first season at a new team is by no means bad, but we know how good this guy can be and so is it harsh to say we were a bit underwhelmed? At his best, Smith Rowe is a player who should be playing for England - whether he can ever get back to that version of him is a question that’s difficult to answer. But now he’s fully settled in West London, I hope he can kick on and get back to the levels we saw in 2021/22 because when he’s firing on all cylinders - I’d say the Premier League is a better place for it.

Jamie Gittens

If you don’t know anything about Chelsea’s new left-winger, know that he loves to dribble and he loves to shoot. That’s really what you’re getting with the England u-21 international and it makes him and the Blues a perfect match for each other. Last campaign, with the exception of Palmer - there was nowhere near enough shots in that Chelsea attack. Forwards such as Sancho, Nkunku, Jackson and Neto were all more of the creative ilk rather than players that are always looking to test the keeper. Gittens is the opposite, if you’re looking for cute passes and crosses - you’re at the wrong place.

Perfect for the touchline winger role that Maresca likes to deploy, Gittens is going to be a headache for a lot of Premier League footballers. Chelsea were missing a player like him on the left-hand side all season, he’s direct almost to a fault. There might be times where he tries to take on too many players or attempts a shot from a ridiculous angle - and that might annoy fans, but if I can guarantee one thing - it’s that he’ll be very exciting to watch.

With the arrival of Xavi Simmons looking imminent, there’s a small question of how much Gittens will actually play. I wouldn’t worry about that because Maresca’s versatility combined with European football will see that both of them will have more than enough game-time. If he’s not starting every game, that’s no problem because there’s no winger you’d rather have to come on in the 65th minute against tired legs. After a few years of transfer windows that were quite frankly a mess, Chelsea seem to have finally bucked up their ideas and Gittens is just another example of this.

Expect the former City academy graduate to play a big part in the Blues’ revamped attack for the 25/26 season.

Right wing

Honourable mentions: Fer Lopez (Wolves), Harvey Elliot (Liverpool)

Wolves’ recent attacking signings have been hit after hit in recent years. Fer Lopez might just be another fantastic piece of scouting from the Wolves recruitment team. Again, I can’t say I’ve watched a great deal from him, but from what I have seen - the Spaniard looks very intriguing. He’s not your typical Spanish attacker - well over 6 ft, the former Celta Vigo player is a powerful runner with the ball but still has that technical excellence. He likes to cut in from the right-hand side and hit shots with his left foot from outside the box and often finds himself in midfield areas moving the ball forward. Matheus Cunha will be a hard man to replace, but with the joint efforts of Fer Lopez and one or two more signings - there’s definitely a chance that Cunha won’t be as missed as we think. Arias, Lopez and Strand Larsen is a very exciting attack - let’s see how far it takes Wolves.

At the time of writing, Elliot is still a Liverpool player but I don’t expect him to be when the window shuts. The u21 Euros proved to everyone that Elliot is a very good footballer that shouldn’t be playing at that level. Only Nick Woltemade, you can argue had a more impressive tournament than Elliot - and that’s a player who’s being linked with Bayern Munich for upwards of £60 million. Elliot is too good to sit on the bench, that’s been clear for a while. For all the great things Slot has done since he joined the Reds, I can’t work out why he’s so hesitant to trust the 22 year old. Elliot has the ability to start for a team competing in the Champions League, and more importantly - he has the confidence to match. Liverpool have put a pretty big price tag on his head, which is likely why he hasn’t been snapped up yet. But I’m sure a team will bite the bullet on the forward and in a year or two’s time, will be very thankful that they did.

Oscar Bobb - Manchester City

The Norwegian winger is a victim of really bad luck and the harshness of elite-level football. Last season was meant to be his breakout year. He looked electric in pre-season and a lot of fans thought he’d be nailing down a starting spot on the right-hand side imminently. However a broken leg completely ruined what was meant to be a special season for the 22 year old who now finds himself competing with Doku, Foden, Cherki and Savinho for one position.

Bobb is another one of those players that’s just fun to watch. Similar to Reijnders, he’s extremely silky and is also one of the best 1v1 dribblers in the league. I’ve seen many people give loose Messi comparisons which I are pretty funny, but the way he does move with the ball does present a slight resemblance to the Argentine.

It’s weird to me that I haven’t seen Bobb more heavily linked with a City exit. A player of this quality can’t be the 3rd or 4th option - he has to get minutes now or you’re risking his development stagnating. Maybe he backs himself to force Pep into a position where he has to start him, and I do think he is good enough to start - but whether he’s even in his manager’s plans is another question.

City are undoubtedly aware of how good Oscar Bobb is, so if they even do let him go - it won’t be for cheap. We could be looking at another Cole Palmer situation, where a club strikes gold by bringing him in for a fee that may look expensive at first - but you quickly realise it’s a fraction of what they’re actually worth. Like Mainoo, I think it’s make or break for Bobb at City. If he stays and gets barely minutes, he’s got no option but to leave - but if he manages to get his foot in the door and begins to get consistent minutes, expect the Norwegian magician to become one of the best right-wingers in the league.

Striker

Honourable mentions: Victor Gyokores (Arsenal), Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)

With the rise of data analytics and the increasing focus on the tactical side of the game, I think we as football fans tend to overcomplicate the sport sometimes. Arsenal are plugging in a striker who has scored 97 goals in the last 2 seasons into a team that managed to have Mikel Merino scoring quite a few goals upfront. As a pure goalscorer, there aren’t many better that the Gunners could’ve found - the chances will surely come his way. I find it hard to picture the Swedish forward not making it to double digits for goals in the Prem when Havertz - a forward famed for missing a lot of easy chances, managed to hit 13 in his first season at the Emirates. Arsenal needed a goalscorer and they got one, yes there’s risks with the move but what’s life if you don’t take any? These are the sorts of moves that win you the big trophies, let’s just wait and see if the big man is good enough to take Arsenal all the way to the finish line.

Bournemouth signed a 18 year old striker who scored 22 goals in 30 games in the French second division last season, and not enough people are taking note. Due to the ties between Lorient and the Cherries, they were able to bat off competition from some of Europe’s best teams to sign Eli Junior Kroupi for less than £20 million - a mind-boggling move. Kroupi is a sharpshooter who can score any kind of goal, I assume he stays this season and provides great competition to Evanilson. Maybe he’s not ready yet to lead the line consistently for Iraola’s side, but in a season’s time I think he might be. Bournemouth’s system gets a lot of output out of forwards who aren’t as talented as the French youth international. I dread to think about the chances and goals he might be getting in this setup, in a few years time.

Thierno Barry - Everton

We’ve written about Thierno Barry in an article you can find here . So instead of talking a lot about the player, we’re going to talk about the potential impact this move might have on the Toffees. I think Barry is the perfect signing for Everton and David Moyes for the number 9 position. To say he’s a handful for defenders is a slight understatement - the guy is 6ft 5 and can run like the wind, the potential solutions in possession this creates for Everton are huge. You want to play on the counter-attack and have Barry run in behind, he can absolutely do it. You want to have the Frenchman attack all kinds of crosses launched into the box, he’s your man. If you want him to battle with defenders, hold up the ball and bring others into play - you’re again barking up the right tree.

Barry being supplied by Ndiaye, McNeil and potentially a few more exciting attackers that Everton bring in - is a frightening prospect. Moyes has got his man and I cannot wait to see the scuffles he has with some of the league’s best centre-backs. He might not be the most perfect finisher, but he will attack and go for every ball that comes his way - the Hill Dickinson faithful I think will fall in love with him quite quickly.

You might see the frame and think he’s similar to Beto, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s more mobile, technically better and is a lot faster. That’s not to slight Everton’s number 14 - he was actually pretty good when Moyers took over. But it’s exciting to think what an overall more complete striker might be able to accomplish in the same team, with the potential additions of some more creative players.

If you’re going to put stocks on any striker this season, you could do a lot worse than putting them on Thierno Barry.

Thanks for reading this pretty long article about the players I’m most excited to watch this season. I could’ve listed more and I’m sure there’ll be more Premier League incomings that I would’ve liked to include but oh well. I look forward to being proved wrong on a half of these guys.

Premier League ones to watch XI

European players to watch: Part 1

A nation on its knees: Ghanaian football needs saving