5 early contenders for Premier League Young Player Of The Year
The English Premier League is home to an ocean of talent from across the world. Season after season, young prospects are bundled in and while some of them go unnoticed, others go on to become real superstars. Managers and owners are now looking more closely than ever towards their academies and as a result, investing more money in youth players.
In 2017, Pep Guardiola’s then-aging Manchester City team underwent a complete overhaul when veterans like Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart were offloaded and replaced by a young and hungry crop of players which included Leroy Sane (23), Gabriel Jesus (21), Raheem Sterling (24), Benjamin Mendy (24) and Bernardo Silva (24).
Manchester United’s lightning duo of Anthony Martial (23) and Marcus Rashford (21) has lit up the Premier League ever since their arrival. Midfield engines Matteo Guendouzi (19) and Lucas Torreira (23) have been Arsenal’s surprise packages this season. Kepa (24) has been a revelation in goal for Chelsea after Courtois’ forced move to Real Madrid in the summer. Though marred with injuries this season, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (20) has already shown the league his brimming talent.
Wolves’ trio of Ruben Neves (21), Diogo Jota (22) and Leander Dendoncker (23) have greatly impressed in their first full seasons in England. Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice have been touted to be big-name players for their respective clubs and the England National Team in the coming future.
Here, we take a look at the top five players who are genuine contenders to win the PFA Young Player Of The Year award come May. The award is given to a player aged 23 or less at the start of the season and is adjudged to have been the best player throughout the season in English football.
#5 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Perhaps, the find of the season has to be Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The 21-year-old Englishman is consistently putting in solid performances at the back since day one for Roy Hodgson’s side.
The young lad from South London made his debut against Spurs in a slender 1-0 defeat in February last year. Since then, he has not looked back and has, in the process, become one of the most sought-after defenders in the continent. He has a remarkable 76 tackles to his name this season, first in the division, only level with Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
Daily Mail has reported that German champions Bayern Munich are showing serious interest in the Chelsea target. Everton, Borussia Dortmund and both Manchester clubs are also keen on landing the full-back.
Crystal Palace, in recent years, have shown their capability of producing world-class talent through their academy ranks, with the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Victor Moses and Wilfried Zaha proving to be big name stars in the country.
Wan-Bissaka could potentially be among England’s next generation of superstars which includes the likes of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, Dortmund’s high-flying Jadon Sancho, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden.
Palace will be hoping that they can keep hold of their extremely talented defender who is poised to make it big in the future.
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