JAMIE REDKNAPP’S 10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
EVERY year I select my 10 players to follow for the Premier League season. I try not to go for all the obvious candidates and my picks aren’t necessarily the best players, either. They are the players to look out for to see if they can make a big impact. In my 10 last season I included Leroy Sane at Manchester City and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane — who were both simply sensational to watch — and a few who were notable for how they disappointed! This year I’ve gone for a mixture of big-name signings, exciting prospects and players with a point to prove. Have a look at my list, then log on to MailOnline to let me know yours.
1 VINCENT KOMPANY MAN CITY AGE: 31 PL APPS: 231
AS a player who suffered several injuries I know how frustrating the last few years have been for Vincent Kompany. He will have had those dark days when you doubt whether you will play again. Kompany will restore steel to a defence that was unsettled for large parts of last season. John Stones will thrive playing alongside him and his presence will help new goalkeeper Ederson settle in. If Kompany can remain fit for 85 per cent of the season, City will win the league.
2 VIRGIL VAN DIJK SOUTHAMPTON AGE: 26 PL APPS: 55
THIS will be a massive year for Van Dijk. He is the heir to Vincent Kompany as the Premier League’s best centre back and the time is right for him to leave Southampton. Chelsea and Liverpool are in the hunt for him and while I think he’ll choose Anfield, I can’t wait to see where he goes. If Liverpool do sign him and manage to keep hold of Philippe Coutinho, Jurgen Klopp’s side would have a great chance of winning the title.
3 ALVARO MORATA CHELSEA AGE: 24 PL APPS: 0
IT shows what a nuisance Diego Costa must have been for Antonio Conte to want rid of him but I still think freezing out Chelsea’s top scorer is a massive gamble. Morata scored 15 La Liga goals in 14 starts for Real Madrid last season but will be under enormous pressure. If he does not succeed, it will be Conte’s reputation on the line.
4 ASMIR BEGOVIC BOURNEMOUTH AGE: 30 PL APPS: 190
THIS move has largely flown under the radar but it could turn out to be one of the signings of the summer. Artur Boruc is a good shot stopper but was far too susceptible to errors last season. Eddie Howe’s side gave away too many goals and this goalkeeper is exactly what they needed. The signings of Begovic, Nathan Ake and Jermain Defoe take Bournemouth’s squad to another level — and is yet another sign of just how far this club has come in recent years.
5 DOMINIC SOLANKE LIVERPOOL AGE: 19 PL APPS: 0
THERE has been a lot of talk about Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic leaving but in the long term, Solanke’s departure could be the one Chelsea regret the most. When I first met him two years ago he told me he models his game on Costa. He wants to be an aggressive centre forward and will be licking his lips at the chances Liverpool will create for him. He may not start many games early on, but as the season progresses he will have a big part to play. Don’t rule out an England call-up.
6 ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE ARSENAL AGE: 26 PL APPS: 0
THIERRY HENRY has been hailing fellow Frenchman Lacazette for a while now and it’s easy to see why. The striker has scored 91 goals in just 129 games for Lyon in the last three seasons. He gives Arsenal another attacking dimension and if Alexis Sanchez stays at the club this summer, those two can wreak havoc on Premier League defences.
7 ANTHONY KNOCKAERT BRIGHTON AGE: 25 PL APPS: 9
MY pick of the players coming up from the Championship. Knockaert is a powerhouse whose style is similar to Eden Hazard when he gets on the ball. He won’t see as much of it as he did in the Championship and will have fewer chances to shine but will thrive against the better teams in the top flight.
8 WAYNE ROONEY EVERTON AGE: 31 PL APPS: 460
I’M delighted he has chosen to stay in the Premier League — but the pressure is on him to succeed. After spending large parts of last season on the bench, Rooney will have to deliver every week — particularly in filling the void left by Romelu Lukaku. If he can remain fit and sharp, Rooney can write another exciting chapter of a great career.
9 MANUEL LANZINI WEST HAM AGE: 24 PL APPS: 61
I’M a big fan of this boy. For most of his West Ham career Lanzini was in the shadow of Dimitri Payet and only performed in fits and starts. He started to come into his own when Payet left under a cloud in January and was sensational in the victory over Tottenham in May. Now, Lanzini’s challenge is to establish himself as West Ham’s creator in chief.
10 ROMELU LUKAKU MAN UTD AGE: 24 PL APPS: 186
WITH this battering ram up front, United will be very direct this year. Jose Mourinho will be looking to Lukaku to be his Didier Drogba. There are times when the Belgian plays like a raging bull — but he has appeared timid and uninterested too. Now he must ditch his reputation as a flat-track bully and terrorise every centre back in the division. Lukaku is good friends with Paul Pogba and if they replicate that relationship on the pitch, they can be magnificent.