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The Premier League is just 25 days away from kicking off and clubs are busy trying to land their targets and get rid of dead weight around the club. The transfer window this season shuts on August 9th in the Premier League as clubs have only less than 30 days to set up their sides for next season.
A number of the Premier League's top players have represented their nations at the World Cup and will now return for the start of the season after a quick holiday. The players will return from their holiday break and join to their respective club's pre-season training sessions.
The Premier League entices to be another mouth-watering, action-packed football campaign filled with thrills, spills and surprises. With a few managerial changes across clubs in the table, fans will witness a new style of players, football and top managers battling it out to guide their clubs to glory.
With a number of big-name, creative players set to move away from clubs in the league and a number set to arrive, there are a bunch of world-class professionals battling it out for various honours.
To look forward to the upcoming season lets take a look back at the top 5 Premier League players who created the most chances in open play last season.
#5 Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez was unable to travel to the United States with the Manchester United squad on Sunday due to a visa issue. The Chilean striker accepted a 16-month suspended jail sentence in Spain earlier this year for tax fraud and could be the reason his visa was denied.
Manchester United are thought to be hoping that Sanchez will be granted a waiver to enter the country which would allow him to join the squad in the coming days. Sanchez despite playing half of last season for Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Chilean created 68 chances from open play in the last season and will be raring to go this campaign, after missing out on the World Cup as well. Sanchez could prove to be vital for Mourinho this season and win the club their first league title since Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge.
#4 Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen made his Danish debut in a friendly match against Austria in March 2010 to become Denmark's fourth youngest full international aged 18. A couple of months later in May 2010, Denmark coach Morten Olsen announced that Eriksen would be part of the final squad of 23 man squad participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
During this time Eriksen was playing for Ajax in Eredivisie and was the youngest player participating in the tournament. At the World Cup, Eriksen played two matches, against the Netherlands and Japan, but Denmark was unable to progress beyond the group stage. After three years at Ajax, he joined Spurs and continued his glorious development into one of Europe's most creative attacking midfielders.
Currently, still at Spurs and after another World Cup for Eriksen, he will look back at the Danish game against Croatia and think what if. However, still young, Eriksen and the Danes will be back four years later competing for another shot the crown but he will be eager to lift silverware with the ever-improving Spurs side under Mauricio Pochettino. Eriksen created 68 chances from open play last season.
#3 Kevin de Bruyne
The Belgian and Manchester City midfielder magician Kevin De Bruyne, who scooped the inaugural Premier League Playmaker of the Year Award with a last-gasp assist at Southampton, has been rewarded for another sensational season with his second Etihad gong in three seasons. He created 71 chances from open play last season and is surprisingly third on the list.
Having made an outstanding 52 appearances in all competitions, the midfielder notched 12 goals and a staggering 21 assists. The Belgian, De Bruyne will return to City following the World Cup with Belgium and will play a crucial part in next season's title defence.
Keen to get back in action and get kicking again, De Bruyne might well be heading into his best season in a City jersey coming off an impressive World Cup campaign. Guardiola will be heavily reliant on the midfielder ace as City has so far failed to bolster their squad from last season.
#2 Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil's Arsenal career was on the verge of coming to an end in 2018 but the German signed a new three-year contract extension with the Gunners. Ozil was poor for Germany in the World Cup group stages in the two games he featured in and might not feature at another World Cup.
His Arsenal career though will depend on the creative genius and his displays on the field. Ozil is unlike any player on his day and can split open defences with a single pass, but it wasn't to be in Russia as he passed by unnoticed. Ozil will have to regroup quickly and find his place in Unai Emery's squad for next season.
The German boasts the second most number of chances created from open play, 72, which is a good sign for the Gunners heading into their first season in 22 without Wenger at the helm.
While he is only 29-years-old, Ozil will need to have a good season and make his mark to cement a place in the Gunners team under Unai Emery.
#1 Eden Hazard
Chelsea's Belgian attacking playmaker, Eden Hazard enjoyed an average last campaign with the Blues but did come to life once his injury progressed. He was Chelsea's best player of the season and ended the season as the player who created the most number of chances from open play, 78. However, the team didn't click and finished fifth.
A crucial season for Chelsea, the Belgian will have to step up and display solid performances but whether he remains at the club is a question that is still unanswered. That being said, he also has the talent to take the league by storm and guide the Blues to another league title.
Hazard has been great in the World Cup and if he can sort out his future and replicate some of his form at club level, the team he plays for will be difficult to stop and managers who have the player on his team could do well.
