With just over a week to go and all 20 Premier League teams fine-tuning their squads, who are the men to watch at the moment? Here is our league Best XI going into the season … and a few others who might have made the cut.
GK: David De Gea, Manchester United
Man United have made their fair share of transfer market coups this summer, but equally significant is that any suggestions of their goalkeeper’s departure for Real Madrid seem finally abated. De Gea was outstanding last term amid a flood of mediocrity, and now, with what will surely be a better team in front of him, he seems poised to get even better. It is easy to forget that he is still just 25. It’s equally remarkable to think that this will be his sixth season at Old Trafford.
Other candidates: Petr Cech (Arsenal), Jack Butland (Stoke), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Man City), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
RB: Hector Bellerin, Arsenal
Occasionally a report surfaces that Barcelona, whose academy Bellerin left at the age of 16, would love their former charge to fill the void left by Dani Alves’ move to Juventus. But Arsenal would not let Bellerin go at any price. The right-back, who began as a winger like so many Gunners full-backs, matches incisive attacking play with a constantly improving grasp of his defensive duties and will cement his status as the best at his position over the next nine months.
Other candidates: Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool)
CB: Virgil van Dijk, Southampton
Unless a late move is made for his services (couldn’t Arsenal do with a centre-back?), Van Dijk is one of the last prize assets standing at Southampton. Early last season, the 25-year-old Dutchman had an error or two in him, but as the campaign progressed, his performance became consistently imperious, and the six-year contract he signed in May will make it hard to prise him away. However, a player with his strength, pace and composure is bound to find himself at a Champions League club sooner or later.
Other candidates: Chris Smalling (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Man City)
CB: Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham
Alderweireld played a huge part in tightening up Mauricio Pochettino’s defence last season and was a threat at the other end too. His physique and leap are impressive, but equally important is his distribution, with his diagonal switches to attacking full-back Danny Rose a feature of their play. There was no more complete centre-back in England last season, and it seems there is more to come.
Other candidates: Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Wes Morgan (Leicester)
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea
Azpilicueta’s versatility (he can play on either side of the centre-backs) is a bonus, but his performances on the left last season were one of the few bright spots for Chelsea, and the league boasts no better all-round defender in his position. Perhaps Europe does not, either; Azpilicueta has been linked with Barcelona, but having seen off competitors such as Filipe Luis and Baba Rahman at Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard is far too important for Antonio Conte to lose.
Other candidates: Danny Rose (Tottenham), Ryan Bertrand (Leicester), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham)
DM: N’Golo Kante, Chelsea
Sometimes a certain place and time are exactly right for a player, and it remains to be seen how smoothly Kante fits into a setup away from the perfect blend Claudio Ranieri created at Leicester. You would give him every chance at Chelsea, though. Kante and Antonio Conte appear cut from the same cloth, and the midfielder’s tigerish, efficient approach should set the tone perfectly for the transformation his manager is effecting.
Other candidates: Fernandinho (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham)
DM: Granit Xhaka, Arsenal
Xhaka is exactly the deep-lying midfielder Arsenal needed, and he looks as good as any other in the division. Xhaka can do the dirty work but also has the vision to play quick, simple balls between the lines. It is not something everyone in this position can boast, but the Swiss international should give the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez plenty to work with. He should also ensure that his new team aren’t caught out by simple counter-attacks.
Other candidates: Danny Drinkwater (Leicester), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham)
AM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Manchester United
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has arrived, and Paul Pogba might too, but it could be Mkhitaryan who has the greatest influence on this team’s game. The attacking midfielder was the 2016 Bundesliga players’ player of the season while at Borussia Dortmund. His 11 league goals and 15 assists last term were a phenomenal return, and the Armenian adds drive and acceleration to his timing around the box. He can play wide or centrally but could prove the answer to United’s long-standing problems at No. 10. He should be head-and-shoulders above most in the league.
Other candidates: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea)
RF: Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
Doubts still linger regarding Mahrez’s future at Leicester, but he showed an impervious disdain for such talk when, late in July, he scored a stunning goal at Celtic even as rumours of a link with Arsenal were swirling. If last season was Mahrez’s breakout year, then this, with opponents well attuned to his threat, will probably be the season when we see exactly how good he is. It would be hard to find a more consistent, efficient threat in his position.
Other candidates: Willian (Chelsea), Erik Lamela (Tottenham), Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
LF: Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City
Despite the riches at their disposal, City were sterile at times last season, but the return of De Bruyne from injury in April after six weeks out seemed to single-handedly raise their tempo. The Belgian was irrepressible for the remainder of the season, and he almost single-handedly decided the Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain. With a first full campaign at the Etihad ahead of him and Pep Guardiola to learn from, even more exceptional things surely lie ahead.
Other candidates: Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
CF: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
He might need a little more protection this season, but last season’s Premier League top scorer, who turned only 23 at the end of July, should keep getting better and better. Kane looked tired at times during Euro 2016, perhaps suffering from two years’ worth of incessant demands at the top level, but he has some support this term in the form of Vincent Janssen. Unlike Sergio Aguero (his nearest rival for this place), he should continue on an upward curve for three or four years yet.
Other candidates: Sergio Aguero (Man City), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
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