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#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been one of the standout players for a largely mediocre Arsenal side since he arrived at the Premier League club in 2018.
The former Borussia Dortmund player did not take time to hit the ground running for his new side, scoring ten goals in the second half of the 2017-18 Premier League.
The Gabon striker racked up 22 goals in the competition next season to win the Golden Boot, and followed up with an identical haul in the next season too. However, despite Aubameyang's exploits, Arsenal failed to finish in the top four on both occasions.
Simply put, the 2016-17 Bundesliga top-scorer is too good a player to be languishing at a club that has not been able to offer him Champions League football.
After nine games, Arsenal are in a lowly 11th place in the Premier League this season. Despite the player recently agreeing a new contract extension with the club, he is unlikely to stay at Arsenal beyond this season if the London club does not qualify for the Champions League yet again.
#2 Danny Ings (Southampton)
It would be an understatement to suggest that Danny Ings has been a key player for Southampton in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old centre-forward scored almost 50% (22) of Southampton's 51 Premier League goals in 2018-19, almost singlehandedly keeping the goal-shy club afloat in the Premier League for another season.
Ings has hit the ground running this season as well, racking up five goals and two assists in seven games to help Southampton to a credible fifth place in the Premier League table after seven games.
With league leaders Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested in the player's services, it could be time for Danny Ings to ply his trade at a bigger club with more ambitions than modest Southampton.
#1 James Rodriguez (Everton)
Real Madrid-reject James Rodriguez received a new lease of life when he was reunited with his old manager Carlo Ancelotti at Everton this summer.
The Golden Boot winner at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has hit the ground running in the Premier League, racking up three goals and as many assists in eight games, after falling out of favour at the Spanish giants.
Understandably, the 29-year-old player, who is still in his prime, is delighted to play regular first-team football after a long stint on the Real Madrid bench.
“Both (Everton and Ancelotti) trusted me when nobody did. I’ll forever be grateful to the club and to Carlo. That’s why I try to show my best in every game, that’s why I try to play at my highest level. This is what I want to do for the club," said Rodriguez after his arrival at Everton.
If he continues his exploits at Everton, who were one of the early pacesetters in the 2020-21 Premier League, it may not be too long before James Rodriguez is courted by some of the bigger clubs in the continent.
