Outside90’s Joel Fruci continues our top 50 Premier League players’ special by predicting the 21-30 range for the upcoming 2015-16 campaign.
30. Christian Benteke
A three-year spell at Aston Villa came to an end last month when they and Liverpool announced an agreement had been reached for the £33 million transfer of the Belgian. Some factions of Reds fans met the deal with scepticism, but that is undue. Benteke developed a reputation as a proven Premier League goalscorer at Villa Park, finding the net 42 times in 88 matches in all competitions for the Villains.
A striker of Benteke’s quality and calibre is what Liverpool have missed since the departure of the prolific Luis Suarez. Expect him to excel at Anfield alongside talented youngster Jordon Ibe and Daniel Sturridge, should his body stay true.
29. Oscar
Speculation was rife surrounding the young Brazilian’s future over summer, with a move to Serie A champions Juventus strongly mooted. That rumour has fizzled out, it seems, and Oscar looks to be staying at Chelsea for the time being. The fact that Jose Mourinho seemed willing to let the player go, who has been widely compared to Kaka, somewhat reflects the level and work rate he expects from his players. Oscar scored six league goals last season along with eight assists – who could forget that goal against Juventus?
MORE: Outside90’s Premier League Top 50: 41-50
MORE: Outside90’s Premier League Top 50: 31-40
28. Bastian Schweinsteiger
After almost 350 caps for Bayern Munich since 2002, Schweinsteiger called time on his Bundesliga career and joined Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United project. With a fearsome midfield already on the books, including Mata, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and fellow new boy Morgan Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger adds an experienced head with 111 caps for Germany and extra steel in front of an ever-improving back four. The new captain of Die Manschaaft will act almost as a second number ten, providing an extra number in attack alongside Mata or Herrera.
27. Olivier Giroud
The Frenchman continues to be the focal point of the Arsenal attack, cementing his place at the club after the doubters circled early on. Should Giroud be able to feed off the quality of Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal will boast strong credentials for a title tilt. The former Montpellier attacker is the ideal size for a centre-forward at 192 centimetres and 88 kilograms, strong in the air and clean at ground level. Keeping Giroud fit will be important, however, after he missed nine of the first 11 league matches last term.
26. Willian
The fleet-footed winger is another on the esteemed list of big-name players who have gone through the ranks at Shakhtar Donetsk. Since Chelsea pipped Tottenham to acquire Willian in 2013, the Brazilian has continued to deliver on the promise that saw much of Europe’s elite compete for his signature and repay the fee the winning club parted with for his services. Twenty-six-year-old Willian missed all but two league matches last season, netting twice, assisting three and boasting a pass accuracy rate of 85%.
25. Petr Cech
The legendary goalkeeper was at the centre of what has been, thus far, one of the summer’s most talked about transfer sagas. After 333 appearances for Chelsea, Cech was displaced as first choice custodian by the younger Thibaut Courtois, who impressed on loan at Atletico Madrid. The former Rennes gloveman moved north and joined Arsenal, seeking to address a long-running issue that has plagued several assaults by the Gunners on the premiership. Cech’s presence between the posts will see Arsene Wenger’s side concede seven to 10 goals less than last season’s 34.
24. Jordan Henderson
Henderson initially struggled after swapping Sunderland for Liverpool in a big-money move, but has since gone from strength-to-strength, developing as a player and a leader. The 25-year-old was named skipper following the departure of role model and predecessor Steven Gerrard, and what better man to learn the dos and don’ts of captaincy from? Manager Brendan Rodgers has tipped the ex-Black Cat to flourish with the armband in the heart of midfield where he pulls the strings. Henderson was equal-fourth in the league last season for assists with nine.
23. Vincent Kompany
Manchester City’s skipper endured a difficult 2014-15 campaign, thanks largely to injury. Nevertheless, Kompany never found the form he has become synonymous with; that saw him regarded as one of the Premier League’s best central defenders. Yet the Belgian has the ideal build for a centre-back and is still an integral part of the starting XI. His best form, next to Zabaleta on the right, can take City back to the pinnacle of the English game as they look to wrestle back league supremacy from Chelsea.
22. Juan Mata
The Spaniard’s first roll of the dice in the Premier League with Chelsea did not quite herald the results he would have hoped for, but has since found his niche at Manchester United. Disposed of by Jose Mourinho for a perceived lack of defensive work rate, Mata’s defence-splitting passing ability and creativity played a crucial role in United’s regaining of Champions League football. The former Valencia man missed only five matches in the 2014-15 season, scoring nine goals with an additional four assists.
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21. Pablo Zabaleta
The Argentinean joined Manchester City from Espanyol the day before Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club. Zabaleta has gone on to become one of the Premier League’s and indeed the world’s Premier right-backs, notching up 195 appearances and counting for the Citizens. The 30-year-old’s place in the team is set to be challenged again this term by former Arsenal man Bacary Sagna, but form and fitness permitting, Zabaleta remains the number one right-back at City.
Outside90’s Premier League Top 50: 21-30
30. Christian Benteke
29. Oscar
28. Bastian Schweinsteiger
27. Olivier Giroud
26. Willian
25. Petr Cech
24. Jordan Henderson
23. Vincent Kompany
22. Juan Mata
21. Pablo Zabaleta
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