Players to watch – Premier League

Stephen Donovan picks out five players who may emerge as standout performers in the Premier League in 2024-25

Joshua Zirkzee -Manchester United
Of the many stars to emerge from Bologna’s unexpected run to Champions League qualification last term, Joshua Zirkzee was arguably the standout with 11 goals in 34 Serie A appearances. Manchester United were quick to secure his services and make him the poster boy for their new transfer policy, with the Netherlands international set to add an exciting new dimension to a forward line which struggled in 2023-24.

Jeremy Doku – Manchester City
To see a winger with genuine pace frightening defenders is an exhilarating sight, and Jeremy Doku provided many moments like that in his first season in a Manchester City shirt. The best thing for manager Pep Guardiola is that the Belgian still has the potential to improve considerably and become a fully-fledged world class talent, with 2024-25 the next step on that particular journey.

Mohammed Kudus -West Ham United
An explosive player with the quality to produce moments out of the ordinary, Mohammed Kudus had some standout moments in his first season in the Premier League, but one assumes that much more is to come from the Ghanaian. It’ll be interesting to see how much licence he is given by new manager Julen Lopetegui, yet he’s capable of carrying West Ham towards a return to European qualification.

Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Everyone knew Cole Palmer had talent, but few could have foreseen the amazing impact he would make at Chelsea after arriving last summer. Playing with a swagger that underlines his confidence, the 22-year-old is blessed with the incredible natural ability to score goals and produce incisive passes that other players could only dream of. His performances so far have been nothing short of phenomenal, and it’s exciting to imagine what he may deliver in 2024-25.

Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United
Dynamic midfielder Sandro Tonali’s all-action midfield performances thrilled Newcastle United fans in the opening weeks of 2023-24, only for the Italian to receive a season-ending ban for numerous breaches of betting regulations.