WITH roughly two thirds of the 2020-21 Premier League season complete, the division’s footballers will be expected to return their ballots for the PFA Player of the Year award in around a month’s time.
There is still time for Kevin De Bruyne to stake a claim for retaining the gong he won last season, with Manchester City’s magnificent midfielder set to return from injury imminently to aid his side’s title push.
It is more likely, though, that the recipient of this year’s award will be a first-time winner. Here, we take a look at five standout contenders for the PFA prize.
Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City
Latest Odds: 7/2
No player has been a greater influence on City’s storming to the top of the Premier League table than the 30-year-old German international.
Gundogan has been a reliable and usefully versatile performer ever since his arrival at the Etihad from Borussia Dortmund in a £20m deal in 2016. But injuries have prevented him from reaching his true potential until now.
City’s top league scorer, all eleven of Gundogan’s goals have come in his last 12 games, with the midfielder shouldering much of the scoring and creative burden in De Bruyne’s absence of late.
And his manager is not surprised by his recent form in front of goal.
“I said many times he could play as a striker, like a false nine, and people laughed,” Guardiola said of the player he has previously hailed as one of City’s greatest-ever signings. “I understood why because he didn't do it here. But he has the sense to arrive at the goal.”
Centre-back Ruben Dias is another City player worthy of mention in Player of the Year discussions, but Gundogan has to be considered the outstanding candidate from the runaway Premier League leaders.
READ MORE: Ryan Baldi: "No player has been more pivotal to City's surge than Ilkay Gundogan"
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
Latest Odds: 5/4
Another midfielder with an outrageous scoring record, Fernandes has been hailed as one of the most impactful signings in Premier League history since his arrival at Old Trafford from Sporting CP in January of 2020.
The 26-year-old Portuguese has scored 19 goals and contributed 10 assists in 35 all-competitions appearances so far this term. His influence over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second-placed side is often illustrated by how bereft of attacking ideas they appear whenever he is not on the pitch.
He might have only been a United player for little over a year, but Fernandes has been credited with a Cantona-esque impact at the club, already their talisman and largely responsible for their emergence as contenders this term.
Top three players for goal involvements in Europe's big-five leagues since Bruno Fernandes made his #MUFC debut in Feb 2020
4⃣7⃣ Messi (26 + 21)
4⃣3⃣ Lewy (36 + 7)
3⃣9⃣ Fernandes (22 + 17)The latest stunner in the Fernandes collection…pic.twitter.com/axEiB4QDg6
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 14, 2021
Jack Grealish – Aston Villa
Latest Odds: 7/1
Grealish’s talent has never been in dispute, but this season has seen the Aston Villa captain produce at a level and consistency that has elevated him into the echelon of the Premier League’s very best players.
Amid reports of interest from Manchester United, the lifelong Villa fan committed his future to his boyhood club last summer, signing a five-year contract. And the stability this brought has allowed Grealish to thrive as not only his team’s best player this year but as one of the most creative, dynamic and entertaining stars in England’s top flight.
Despite playing for a side who narrowly avoided relegation last term, Grealish this season leads the Premier League in key passes (75), is third in successful dribbles (61) and second in assists (10).
Grealish has produced a breakout campaign worthy of recognition when awards season rolls around.
Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
Latest Odds: 9/1
The only player to have registered more assists than Grealish in the Premier League this season is Kane, who has combined his always-prolific scoring output (13 league goals in 21 games) with an improved degree of creativity that has seen him set up 11 goals for team-mates.
When his scoring output dropped in the past two seasons – down to 18 and 17 for 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively, from 30, 29 and 25 the three years prior – there were concerns Kane was declining, the effects of too often being rushed back from injury finally catching up with him.
But this season he has, at age 27, shown an ability to add new wrinkles to his game, dropping deep and facilitating strike partner Heung-min Son’s own prolific return in front of goal.
“Harry Kane is a special player in the history of the club,” Jose Morinho said of his star striker earlier this season. “He will beat every possible record.”
Kane was the PFA Young Player of the Year for 2014-15 and has made the Team of the Season four times, but he has never won the Player of the Year award. He’s making a strong case to correct that this term.
️ games
⚽ goals@HKane is now our second-highest goalscorer of ⭐#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/4CaEHW2V7q— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 12, 2021
James Maddison – Leicester City
Latest Odds: 100/1
Perhaps a less obvious contender for the award than those listed above, Madison has had an outstanding season with Leicester and deserves recognition for his role in Brendan Rodgers’ side’s comfortable seat within the top three.
The 24-year-old has notched double figures in all competitions for the first time in his career, as well as providing six assists for his colleagues.
A hard-working, inventive and athletic No.10 who can threaten opposing defences as both scorer and creator, Maddison’s performances this season are making a strong case for him to not only be included in England’s squad for the European Championships this summer but to start.
“He is an absolutely outstanding young player,” Rodgers beamed recently, “and I am so happy he plays in my team.”
Maddison Young Player of the Year: 20/1
