Ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season starting August 13, The National sports team offer our predictions for who will succeed Jamie Vardy as England’s most outstanding performer.
• More: Full team-by-team analyses and prediction of the 2016/17 table
• GREG LEA, PREMIER LEAGUE CORRESPONDENT
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City: The Belgian playmaker was terrific for much of last season and is only likely to get better under Pep Guardiola's guidance. If City have a successful year, De Bruyne will probably have played a major part.
• RICHARD JOLLY, ENGLISH FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City: The Belgian might have won the award — and won City the title — last year but for an ill-timed injury. Guardiola was an admirer when De Bruyne excelled in the Bundesliga and he might take his game to another level.
• ANDY MITTEN, EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City: The best striker in the league. If Guardiola can bring a degree of harmony to the changing room, Aguero could be his best player. If he can't, then he will have failed to get the most from one of the best players in the world.
• THOMAS WOODS, SPORTS EDITOR
Eden Hazard, Chelsea: Had a woeful 2015/16 but his displays at Euro 2016 showed that he is one of football's most incisive players. With Antonio Conte's team built around him, he'll lead Chelsea to a title challenge
• GRAHAM CAYGILL, DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City: City were considerably more impressive when the Belgian was fit, and the prospect of him playing in a Guardiola system is an exciting one.
• STEVE LUCKINGS, SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City: The league's most lethal finisher has arguably been the victim of missing out on this award on multiple occasions through prolonged and far-too-frequent absences through injury during his four years in England. Stay fit, score goals and deliver the title, and he should win the top player award too.
• JOHN MCAULEY, STAFF REPORTER
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City: The league's best attacking midfielder alongside Hazard, imagine what he will do if he stays injury free. Also, think how Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben excelled with Guardiola at Bayern Munich. An exciting partnership.
• STEPHEN NELMES, WEB EDITOR
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City: A fully fit and firing Belgian with goals and creating chances for his colleagues will be the vital cog in City's push for the title.
• JON TURNER, SPORTS WEB EDITOR
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City: The best player in the league, now playing under the best manager in the world. If Aguero stays fit he should claim all the season-ending individual honours.
• JONATHAN RAYMOND, SPORTS WEB EDITOR
Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur: Been a while since it has been a defender, but if Spurs can again challenge for (or win) the title, their defence will be key, and Alderweireld has shown from Atletico Madrid to Southampton and now to Tottenham that he's world class.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
