Players who will make a big impact in the coming season.
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
He’s the answer to all of Arsenal’s and England’s many problems if you listen to the tabloid press and the pressure will be undeniably on the returning Gunners star especially in a World Cup year. Experiencing his first proper pre-season since 2010 due to repeated injuries, the 21-year-old will be rearing to go and made his first start of the season earlier this week as the Gunners strolled past Nagoya Grampus 3-1 as part of their summer tour. Various injuries have hampered his development as a top class footballers in recent years but his man of the match performance for England in their 2-1 friendly victory over Brazil in February went some way to demonstrating his true international ability. A born match winner on his day and probably Arsenal and England’s most important player, it is set to be a crucial season for the Stevenage-born midfielder and we can’t wait to watch a fully fit Wilshere impressing for club and country.
Oscar (Chelsea)
The Brazilian was an exceptional additional to the Chelsea first-team during his inaugural year in the Premier League. With 59 matches under his belt for the Blues, contributing 11 goals, the 21-year-old has already become a key member of the Chelsea side that lifted the Europa League trophy last season. Blues manager Jose Mourinho is now expected to raise the standards and get even more out of the talented youngster during his second campaign in England. The hard-working midfield maestro offers copious amounts to the Blues side possessing dazzling talent with the ball at his feet while also using his strong engine to get up and down the pitch to back-up his team-mates. Expect all the talk at Stamford Bridge to be focused on the ever-improving Brazil star as he looks to secure his place at the World Cup in his native country.
Andreas Cornelius (Cardiff City)
It’s not often up you see a newly promoted Premier League side forking out £8.5million to sign a 20-year-old striker not everyone will know but Cardiff City have clearly decided that the Danish international is the man capable of firing the Bluebirds to safety. After a superb season for FC Copenhagen last term, as the forward netted 18 goals in the league, he will now be seeking to establish himself as a top striker in the English top-flight. The lanky attacker will certainly provide a threat from set pieces and he offers the ability to cause issues for opposing defenders given his physical strength. With seven caps already for his country, Cornelius clearly has a very bright future in the game. A possible dark horse to be one the signings of the summer if he can replicate the sort of form he demonstrated in his native country.
Wilfried Zaha (Man United)
Manchester United’s newest signing Wilfried Zaha could be one of the players of the Premier League for the upcoming season. Red Devils supporters have been given a glimpse of the future at Old Trafford with the 20-year-old’s explosive displays during their pre-season tour of Asia. Zaha has amade his name playing at Championship side Crystal Palace and even collected his first senior cap for the England national team earlier this year. Snapped up Sir Alex Ferguson during the January transfer window in a reported £15million transfer, he was loaned back to the Eagles for the rest of the campaign. Zaha subsequently led the South London outfit back to the top-flight with a play-off final victory over Watford showing all his raw talents that have made him so highly-rated. There had been talk of another short spell away from Old Trafford but United boss David Moyes wants him to learn and develop at the club. That may give the England U-21 international a chance to shine just in time to feature in Roy Hodgson’s World Cup plans.
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
The 20-year-old Belgian international striker emerged as one of the finest young talents around during his season on loan at West Brom last season. Hitting 17 goals in his 35 appearances for the Baggies, Lukaku demonstrated just why he is so highly rated at Stamford Bridge. He has even been compared to Blues legendary powerhouse Didier Drogba, high praise indeed. The striker was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year as he made people take notice of his obvious ability with some performances beyond his years at the midlands club. Now back at Stamford Bridge under the tutelage of new Blues boss Jose Mourinho, Lukaku is ready to take the Premier League by storm with a view to gaining a place in the Belgium World Cup squad during next summer. If his hat-trick against Manchester United during the last day of the season 5-5 thriller at The Hawthorns is anything to go by he could be set for a massive campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Jesus Navas (Man City)
One of the highest profile signing of the summer looks set to make a big impact in England. Manchester City finally landed the extremely talented Spanish winger from Sevilla after much transfer wrangling over the years, fending off interest from a whole multitude of rivals. The 27-year-old has proven himself to be a top-class winger in La Liga and is often a delight to watch with exceptionally quick bursts of pace to take on an opposing defender with a delightful cross that even Harry Redknapp’s wife would convert. City fans saw a flavour of what to expect from Navas at the recent Confederations Cup, with the former Sevilla man coming off the bench to great effect for the World and European champions. A real option for Manuel Pellegrini as he seeks to bring the Premier League back to the Etihad Stadium while sustaining a real challenge in the Champions League.
Gerard Deulofeu (Everton)
It has been described as the coup of the summer so far as Everton managed to defeat a host of rivals to land the Barcelona youngster on a season long loan. A player who has been compared to Messi at the Camp Nou can’t be too bad in our opinion. Keep a watchful eye on Goodison Park as the talented attacker looks to make his big impression in England. Deulofeu has the ability to be a Premier League star with the pace, trickery and vision needed to shine for Roberto Martinez’s new side. He can feature either down centre of attack or on either flanks and will offer exciting options across the park for the Toffees. The Barca loanee is certainly one of the players to follow during the new season as he looks to continue his development into a world-class player while setting the league alight.
Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
Arriving at Anfield in the January transfer window, Coutinho can only be described as one of the stars of the second half of the Premier League season. Brendan Rodgers picked up the Inter Milan playmaker for a reported £8.5million and after 13 appearances, three games and an incredible seven assists that looks a gem of a signing by the former Swansea manager. Liverpool’s form turned on his arrival and the 21-year-old was a vital part of Rodgers’ team that finished last term so strongly, losing just the once in their last 16 matches. His Brazilian flair sparkles through with the ease to take on players of find a team-mate with a splendid cross field pass, wowing the Kop with his trickery and vision. After such a positive impression in just six months at Anfield, Coutinho is certainly set to be one of the performers of the new season.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Recruited from Lille last summer for £32million as the best player in the French Ligue 1 and as one of most hyped up youngsters in world football, Hazard had what you could call a mixed first season at Stamford Bridge. He’s clearly a brilliant footballer but he failed to live up to the sort of billing he gave himself upon signing for the Blues. At times he is the explosive attacker who can win games for the Blues but too often he fades out of matches. 12 goals and 15 assists reads as strong stats but we expected slightly more impact with the forward sometimes slipping under the radar. Under new Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho we can expect better from the 22-year-old as he develops as a player. Settled and understanding the physicality of the English game, Hazard could be the man to watch during the upcoming campaign. This may be the season where the young Belgian performs to his full potential to become one of the best players in the Premier League and in world football.
Stevan Jovetic (Man City)
The technically gifted attacker became the latest in the long line of summer arrivals at the Etihad Stadium as Manuel Pellegrini looks to makes his mark on the City side with the forward joining in a £22m switch from Fiorentina. He might not be the ’20-a-season’ man City need but he’ll further enhance the Citizens side already full of world-class talent. The 23-year-old emerged as a boy wonder in his native Montenegro causing Serbian club Partizan to swoop for the youngster. Making his debut at the age of just 16, Jovetic was always set to be a star. In 2008 he made the move to Italy with the Florence based team and it was there that he really came into his own during his six year stint. His goals, link play and creativity has made Jovetic one of the stars of Serie A. A brilliant dribbler and passer of the football, the forward has the capacity to take teams apart on his own. Jovetic adds versatility to the City side, as he can function on both flanks as well as behind the main striker, or as the chief target man himself. The Montenegrin international could yet be the man who helps bring the Premier League title back to the Blue side of Manchester and if not he’ll certainly be a joy to watch.