With only five games left for each team in the Premier League, it’s down to the business end of the season. It’s been a year like no other with no crowds, non-stop football and VAR delays that last for an eternity. Nevertheless, there has also been some scintillating football on show throughout the league and plenty of individual performances to note.
The PFA player of the year award brings up plenty of talking points and debate every year and this season is no different in that regard. Manchester City have dominated the league and could have five players worthy of the award while Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane and Son Heung Min have all had excellent seasons at an individual level.
Here are my personal favourites to win the award and the candidate who I believe has been the best player of the 2020/21 Premier League season.
5. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
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4. Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City
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Who would have thought that the answer to Manchester City’s goalscoring woes and the man to replace David Silva’s shoes would be their central midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. The German midfielder has revolutionized his game this season to score 12 goals in the league, the most amongst City players. Gundogan has mastered the late run into the box and has been instrumental in carrying this team in tough periods when the likes of De Bruyne, Jesus and Aguero were all out injured. Gundogan has been extremely clinical in front of goal this season and made the most of the chances available with the City midfielder scoring one goal with every two shots on target this season.
3. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
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Bruno Fernandes has taken the league by storm since his arrival in January 2020 from Sporting and is arguably the most influential player in the league at the moment. Fernandes is only one of two players to register double digits in both goals (16) and assists (13) alongside Harry Kane. The Portuguese is the creative linchpin of this Manchester United side and has created the most big chances in the league this season with 19. While Fernandes has had an amazing season with United, his form has (understandably) tailed off in recent weeks with only one goal in his last 8 games and has to settle for third on my list for players of the season.
2. Ruben Dias – Manchester City
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In this congested season, Ruben Dias has played nearly every minute of the Premier League since his arrival from Benfica in the summer and has been the catalyst behind Manchester City’s title challenge. Dias has been central to City’s defensive solidity this season and City have conceded only 16 goals in the 29 games he has played in the league (roughly once every two games). Dias is extremely tidy on the ball – with a pass completion rate of 93.8% – and averages nearly 8 progressive dribbles a game as well.
More importantly, what sets Dias apart is his leadership and presence on the pitch. He has filled the void left by Vincent Kompany at the Etihad and is constantly barking instructions to his teammates, telling them where they should be and his arrival has made the key difference for the title winners this season.
1. Harry Kane – Tottenham
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Amidst all the chaos and misfortune that befallen Tottenham Hotspur this season, Harry Kane has been a shining light for the North London club and currently leads the league in both goals (21) and assists (13). The England captain has been involved in 60% of Tottenham’s goals this season and has evolved his game under Mourinho to become the complete center-forward that can provide as well as score. It is not often a player that finishes outside the top 6 wins this award but Kane has crucially managed to keep fit throughout the season and almost single-handedly carry Tottenham to the European places. The Englishman is set to win his third golden boot award this year and deserves to be named as the PFA Player of the Year despite Tottenham’s poor record.
[Image Credit: Harry Kane]
Shivaan Shah