EPL 2017/18: 5 players poised to have a breakout season

The Premier League season is just weeks away now and the management at every club is busy preparing their battle plan for the rigours that are to come. With the new season also comes the opportunity for players to leave a lasting impression in the memoirs of the league. While some might be keen to continue with their glorious run, few others will be looking forward to proving that they belong in the top flight and regain their credentials.

However, there is one particular segment of players who, while being excited, would be keen to make a mark when afforded an opportunity in the top flight, the youngsters and in this segment, we take a look at five youngsters who could have a breakout year in the season to come.

#1 Andreas Christensen

While Chelsea might not be afraid of splashing the cash to acquire the services of a world class player, their youth system is something that has become a subject of great admiration and curiosity. Over the course of the last decade it has nurtured numerous household names such as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne and if his performances in Germany were anything to go by, Danish defender Andreas Christensen is set to be a youngster to reckon with.

The young centre-back spent the last two seasons at Borussia Monchengladbach and now returns to the West London despite the Bundesliga club’s intention of signing him on a permanent deal and is expected to play a role in his side’s title defence.

The 21-year-old former Brondby man has been likened to current superstar Mats Hummels and deservedly so. He is very comfortable on the ball has a very tidy set of feet when it comes to keeping possession of the sphere while also ensuring that he contributes with strong defensive actions. He is unafraid to fly into tackles, loves an aerial duel and has shown the capability of leading the defence despite being young.

Chelsea parted ways with their legendary captain John Terry at the end of the last season and we, like many pundits and critics, believe that Christensen could be the long term replacement for the Englishman.

Andreas Pereira

Jose Mourinho is a man on a mission. The Portuguese manager might have won the treble in his first season at the club but he knows that for him to truly win over the fans of the club, he will only have to ensure that his side improves their performances in the season to come. With the side making waves in the transfer market with their acquisition of the Lukaku and Victor Lindelof the focus is largely on new players.

However, one youngster who has come through the academy ranks since joining from PSV Eindhoven in 2011 is in all probability the missing piece in the puzzle that Mourinho has been looking for in the transfer market. Andres Pereira, who spent the last season on loan at Granada comes into the side fresh from his exploits in La Liga and is set to become an integral part of Mourinho’s side in the current season.

While the Duffel-born youngster is equally comfortable plying his trade on either wing, his best moments in his short career thus far have come in the centre of the park. He is quick, can carry the ball with ease and has an eye for a pass that very few young footballers do.

The very fact that he created 52 chances last season (more than the likes of Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Henrikh Mkhitaryan) speaks volumes about his creative abilities and we would not be surprised if Mourinho gave him an extended run in the side at the expense of other more prominent names.

Ben Woodburn

When Ben Woodburn smashed home his first ever senior goal against Leeds United last season, it was a moment to reckon with. And at moment, the forward who was then 17 years and 45 days young had etched himself in the glorious memoirs of the club as he became the youngest ever player to score for the Reds, replacing the former fan-favourite Michael Owen.

While that goal might have done his credentials a world of good, the 17-year-old is not resting on the laurels of a solitary goal and looks set to play a better role in the season to come. He is quick, has wonderful close control for a player his age and knows where the back of the net is, as is evident from his performances for the youth side of his club and country.

Add to that his ability to link up excellently with other attackers as well as his ability to make marauding runs in the attacking third on the pitch and you would understand why millions of Liverpool fans are excited to see his progress in the upcoming season.

Yes, there is a lot of talent at the club in the attacking department and he wouldn’t walk into the side at the moment. However, it is definitely going to be a long season for the Reds with them set to compete in Europe and a player like Woodburn presents Jurgen Klopp with a great option.

It is perhaps the time the gifted player left his mark on the Premier League and we believe under Klopp’s guidance he could become “The” young player to reckon with this season.

Gedion Zelalem

It is time Zelalem was offered an extended run in the Arsenal first team.

The name Gedion Zelalem has been on the lips of several Arsenal faithful these days and deservedly so. The Berlin-born midfielder, who spent time on the books of Hertha Berlin and Olney Rangers before joining the Arsenal ranks at the beginning of the 2013-14 season is believed to be a player in the mould Cesc Fabregas and if observations of several football pundits are to be believed, he is ready to make a name for himself at The Emirates.

Zelalem is a technically gifted midfielder who is extremely good on the ball while proving deadly with his vision. During his time at Rangers during the 2015-16 season, the youngster lit up the Scottish Championship and is to this day fondly remembered by the club’s fans despite spending only one season at the club.

He is quick, loves to take a man on and beat him, has the physical attributes that allow him to go past players with ease and has shown the vision to create frequent chances for his teammates. Add to that his industriousness and his willingness to help out his defensive colleagues and you can begin to fathom why Zelalem could prove to be vital to Arsenal’s ambitions for years to come.

He has found regular game time at Rangers and subsequently at the Dutch club VVV-Velno and would be looking forward to becoming a first team regular at Arsenal.

At 20 years of age, it is perhaps the time for the youngster to be afforded an extended run in the side and given Arsene Wenger’s reputation of nurturing raw talent into superstars, we would be excited about Zelalem come the beginning of the season.

Tammy Abraham

The 19-year-old shone brightly during his time at Bristol Rovers

Very often a loan spell to a weaker league can work wonders for a young player’s career. They get the regular first team action and can ease into the rigours of the Premier League having gained the confidence to perform as a professional. And that has precisely been the case with Chelsea youngster Tammy Abraham.

Not very long ago, Abraham was another of those Chelsea youngsters who had shown great potential and had put in impressive performances in the youth sides but were lacking first team action. All that changed with the loan move to Bristol City last season as Abraham finally came to the limelight for his goal scoring abilities.

In a season where he scored 26 goals in 48 appearances, Abraham showed that he is a great threat in front of goal. He has a great set of feet; knows where the back of the net is and can prove to be a real handful for the opposition defenders with his pace and physicality. The 19-year-old has also shown that he can function effectively with his teammates, either feeding on their creativity or creating chances of his own. And we believe he will be the break out star of the 2017-18 season.

The former Chelsea trainee is set to feature for Swansea in the coming season and the latest move should further help with his development as he will find regular game time in the top flight. With Paul Clement in charge, he would be afforded the opportunity to showcase the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge that he can be a player that could lead Chelsea’s attack for several seasons to come.