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#3 Conor Gallagher
The arrival of Patrick Vieira over the summer signaled the start of a new era at Crystal Palace. The Premier League club has implemented a new vision and a new style of play under the new manager. Vieira has tried to impose a possession-based style of play as opposed to most of his predecessors and made a few new signings to that end.
Palace roped in Conor Gallagher on loan from Chelsea over the summer and he has been instrumental for his new club so far in the Premier League. Vieira has given the youngster the license to roam across the pitch and Gallagher has made the most of the newfound freedom.
The young Englishman possesses a goal-threat as he has registered two goals and one assist in six Premier League games so far. Palace will hope that Gallagher’s contributions will help them retain their status as a top-flight team for another year.
At the end of his loan spell, Gallagher is set to return to Chelsea where he might struggle to get sufficient games. Based on his performances so far, if Chelsea are unable to guarantee Gallagher first-team football, there will certainly be a host of other clubs looking to sign him.
#2 Demarai Gray
Despite winning the Premier League title with Leicester City in 2016, Demarai Gray never managed to cement his place at the club. The then 20-year-old was always blessed with incredible pace but needed to develop other aspects of his game, especially his decision-making in the final third of the pitch.
Five years and a stint at Bayer Leverkusen later, Gray has returned to England with Everton and has shown glimpses of what he is truly capable of. He has also benefited from the fact that Everton are now under the management of Rafa Benitez, who has trusted the Englishman to be his first-choice left-winger.
Gray has justified his manager’s faith with his performances at the start of the ongoing season, with three goals and one assist in seven league games so far. Now, at the age of 25, Gray’s best years are well and truly ahead of him. If his performances so far are anything to go by, this could be the start of something special for both the player and his club.
#1 Andros Townsend
Still only 30 years of age, Andros Townsend seems to have been around forever. A host of Premier League clubs have tried to unlock Townsend’s potential to its fullest over the years and it looks like Everton have finally succeeded in doing so.
Townsend moved to the blue half of Merseyside after leaving Crystal Palace over the summer and has made the ring wing spot his own. Everton made headlines before the start of the season as Rafa Benitez’s arrival in the dugout divided the opinion of the Everton faithful given the Spanish manager’s history with Liverpool.
However, Townsend’s blistering start to the Premier League season has ensured that all that unrest has now been forgotten. The winger has played the full 90 minutes in four out of the seven league games and he has three goals and two assists to show for his efforts.
Townsend’s form has been one of the major reasons why the Toffees have punched above their weight at the start of the season. They are now seated in fifth place in the league table after seven games. If Townsend can manage to maintain the same level of performance, he might go down as one of the signings of the season.
