In 2017, Pep Guardiola’s then-aging Manchester City team underwent a complete overhaul when veterans like Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart were offloaded and replaced by a young and hungry crop of players which included Leroy Sane (23), Gabriel Jesus (21), Raheem Sterling (24), Benjamin Mendy (24) and Bernardo Silva (24).

Manchester United’s lightning duo of Anthony Martial (23) and Marcus Rashford (21) has lit up the Premier League ever since their arrival. Midfield engines Matteo Guendouzi (19) and Lucas Torreira (23) have been Arsenal’s surprise packages this season. Kepa (24) has been a revelation in goal for Chelsea after Courtois’ forced move to Real Madrid in the summer. Though marred with injuries this season, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (20) has already shown the league his brimming talent.

Wolves’ trio of Ruben Neves (21), Diogo Jota (22) and Leander Dendoncker (23) have greatly impressed in their first full seasons in England. Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice have been touted to be big-name players for their respective clubs and the England National Team in the coming future.

Here, we take a look at the top five players who are genuine contenders to win the PFA Young Player Of The Year award come May. The award is given to a player aged 23 or less at the start of the season and is adjudged to have been the best player throughout the season in English football.

#5 Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Perhaps, the find of the season has to be Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The 21-year-old Englishman is consistently putting in solid performances at the back since day one for Roy Hodgson’s side.

The young lad from South London made his debut against Spurs in a slender 1-0 defeat in February last year. Since then, he has not looked back and has, in the process, become one of the most sought-after defenders in the continent. He has a remarkable 76 tackles to his name this season, first in the division, only level with Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

Daily Mail has reported that German champions Bayern Munich are showing serious interest in the Chelsea target. Everton, Borussia Dortmund and both Manchester clubs are also keen on landing the full-back.

Crystal Palace, in recent years, have shown their capability of producing world-class talent through their academy ranks, with the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Victor Moses and Wilfried Zaha proving to be big name stars in the country.

Wan-Bissaka could potentially be among England’s next generation of superstars which includes the likes of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, Dortmund’s high-flying Jadon Sancho, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden.

Palace will be hoping that they can keep hold of their extremely talented defender who is poised to make it big in the future.

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#4 Ruben Neves

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been the most enjoyable Premier League side to watch this season, having taken the English top-flight by storm after their promotion from the Championship in 2017. Though Wolves’ success is credited to many stand-out performers such as Raul Jimenez and Joao Moutinho, it is Ruben Neves who has come on his own.

The Portuguese international has been a pivotal figure in this Wolves team which has proved to be a nuisance this season for the top-six. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have managed to upset Chelsea and Tottenham whilst earning hard-fought draws against Manchester City, United and Arsenal earlier this season.

Neves is a deep-lying midfielder known for both his defensive stability and attacking prowess. With the likes of Moutinho complementing him in a double-pivot, Neves is all-the-more influential for the Wanderers. He has 3 goals and 2 assists in the league this season which includes his occasional thunderbolt from outside the box.

The box-to-box midfielder also has an impressive 55 tackles under his belt more than his illustrious counterparts Lucas Torreira (54), Fernandinho (52) and N’golo Kante (47). At just 21, Neves looks an assured and mature athlete in this new-look Wolves side who have settled in well in the Premier League.

Recent reports have suggested that Neves’ heroics this season has attracted interest from Italian giants Juventus and fellow Premier League champions Manchester City who are looking to get the Portuguese in their squad as a long-term replacement for aging Fernandinho.

#3 Marcus Rashford

Manchester United’s season has been a tale of two halves. Under Mourinho, United fell apart, surrendering a potential title-charge in the first few months of the season itself. With Solskjaer’s appointment, however, United have not only set their record straight since the sacking of the Portuguese in December but have also been absolutely lethal in front of goal.

And they have a certain 21-year-old called Marcus Rashford to thank. The Englishman has felt like home in his preferred center-forward role under the new boss having accumulated six goals and two assists since December, averaging 0.72 goals per game. The striker has forced the Norwegian boss to give him the baton up-front over Romelu Lukaku after impressing week-in week-out.

Rashford is a heavy fan-favourite at Old Trafford and is destined to be a superstar at the club. At his tender age of 21, Rashford has already scored 42 times for the Red Devils since making his dream debut in February 2016 against Midtjylland.

With a big future lying ahead of him both with the England national team and Manchester United, it is no doubt we’ll keep adding Marcus to many such lists in the future.

#2 Leroy Sane

The current PFA Young Player Of The Year award-holder has continued his blistering form from last season, making him a contender for the prize again this year. The German high-flying winger has already scored eight goals and racked up nine assists in 23 appearances so far.

After having won the Premier League in 2018, Sane was shockingly dropped from the Germany squad for the World Cup next month. Benjamin Mendy’s availability in the first few games this season also meant that Guardiola had reduced Sane’s role of playing on the left flank.

However, Sane’s mentality helped him gain his mojo back and he has once again become a central figure in Guardiola’s pursuit of back-to-back league titles. City’s humongous squad does put up serious competition for the winger with the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus always waiting in the wings.

Guardiola has recently heaped praise on the 23-year-old stating that he is the best player in the world in his natural wide position. If the German is consistent with his performances and lands home the title for a consecutive season, he will easily win the prize for a second time.

#1 Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling’s remarkable run this season may put his critics in a difficult position to not credit the Englishman with major accolades, come the end of the season.

Now in his seventh season, Sterling can be somewhat considered a veteran of the Premier League and it is absolutely baffling that he is still eligible to be considered on such a list. Even more baffling is the fact that the 24-year-old has already played over 200 games in the Premier League in which he has scored 61 goals and provided 42 assists.

The former Liverpool man has been subject to major criticism in recent years but has finally showcased his world-class ability to the world under Pep Guardiola. Many pundits have even claimed that the Manchester City winger has outdone his exemplary achievements of last season.

Pep and his backroom staff have completely revolutionized Sterling’s overall game, with the Englishman now becoming an indispensable character in the City dressing room. Sterling shades his counterpart Leroy Sane statistic-wise, with the former racking up 21 goal contributions in 24 appearances in comparison to the latter’s 17 in 23.

If the Jamaican-born winger continues his red-hot form till the end of the season, not only will he be considered for Young Player Of The Year, but he would also be a serious shout for Player Of The Year.

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