Five Players Who Could Break Out This Season In the Premier League

With the 2018/19 Premier League season kicking off next week much attention has been concentrated on the star players and managers. Pundits are questioning whether Harry Kane can regain the Golden Boot and if Pep Guardiola can become the first manager since Alex Ferguson (2007/8 2008/9) to win consecutive league titles.  

What is not being talked about is who could become the next unexpected star this season. Last season it was Mo Salah. His rise to the top was unpredictable, the Egyptian joint Liverpool from Roma that summer and went on to score 32 goals to win the Golden Boot. 

Who is next to take the Premier League by storm? Here are five players who could surprise many during this upcoming season:

1.    Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham) 

The easy pick is Ryan Sessegnon. The 18-year old enjoyed an impressive season in the Championship, scoring 16 goals to help Fulham achieve their return to the Premier League. His effort led him to be named both young player of the year and player of the year in the Championship.

He started out as a left-back, but his quick reactions, pace, and movement saw him move up the field to transform into a winger. Gareth Southgate has praised the youngster and stated that he was close to becoming the first championship player to represent England at a World Cup. 

The teenager now finds himself in the Premier League, the test in front of him to make the jump is huge but so is his potential. The question isn’t if he can make the jump, its how easily can he settle in the premier league. If he finds his feet early on, I expect the youngster to break even more records for Fulham this season. 

2.    Ruben Neves  (Wolves) 

When Wolves smashed the Championship transfer record and signed a young Portuguese Central Midfielder Ruben Neves for £16m many people said, ‘Who?’. 36 Championship games later and Neves has proven his worth. He scored 6 goals, which were all outside the box, during Wolves campaign. One of them was a peach against Derby that was named goal of the season. 

However, Neves provides more than just a rocket every now and then. He is a hybrid midfielder, good defensively who can break downplay but also has a peach of a pass in his locker. He possesses similar qualities to Zidane and Michael Ballack. 

Prior to his move to Wolves, Ruben Neves was breaking records for Porto. At 17 years old he became the youngest ever goalscorer in the clubs history. At 18, he was captaining the club in the Champions League. At 21, he now finds himself playing in the Premier League for Wolverhampton and will be hungry to live up to his potential by becoming one of the best midfielders in the league. 

3.    Cenk Tosun (Everton) 

Cenk Tosun was being slammed as a flop when he struggled in his first few months in the Premier League. The Turkish striker was being pushed out of Everton’s side by Oumar Niasse having only joined the side for £27M a month earlier. 

His first goal came in March and since then he seemed to have adapted to the Premier League. He went on to score four more between then and the end of the season, helping a side that struggled for goals at the beginning of the season achieve the 8^thplaced finish. 

In the Turkish League, Tosun scored 24 goals during the  2016/17 to help Besiktas win the league. He is a proven natural goal scorer and under Marco Silva’s attacking philosophy he will score a lot of goals, expect him to surpass the 15 goal mark this season with ease. 

4.    Phil Foden (Manchester City) 

Phil Foden is a player that many have heard a lot about but seen nothing of. The Manchester City youngster won the Golden Ball when England’s under 17s won the World Cup. He has bags of potential and talent and unlike other English youngsters, Pep Guardiola rates him highly and is reluctant to loan him out. 

Foden will only be able to break out this season if he is given game time. He only made five substitute appearances for City last season but he seems to be more in the mix this season. He started in the Community Sheild on Sunday and assisted Aguero’s opener. 

With every cameo appearance that Foden makes for City he delivers. If Pep rewards his efforts with consistent game time this season expect the youngster to shine and cement himself into Manchester City’s starting XI. 

5.    Felipe Anderson (West Ham) 

Felipe Anderson is the epitome of a typical Brazilian winger. Quick feet, pacey and great in the final third. He joins West Ham from Lazio for a deal worth £36M, a bargain when compared to Richarlison’s £50M price tag. 

He has shined for Lazio consistently over the past few years, having being linked with Chelsea and Manchester United in previous transfer windows. In his debut season, he scored 10 goals and notched 7 assists in the Serie A which is a great return for a winger. 

Another winger with an afro who came from the Italian league took the limelight in the Premier League last season and I would not be surprised if Anderson follows suit. West Ham have signed a gem from Lazio, his pace and skill will definitely torment many defenders but his season in the Premier League will be accessed on how many times he can create and score goals.