With the Premier League season finished, let’s look ahead to the 25/26 season and the five players who could make it their year.
The Premier League season has been full of surprises this year, from Manchester United’s catastrophic season to fresh competition for European spots.
However, some overlooked stars took it up a notch this campaign, with the likes of Chris Wood scoring 20 goals, helping Nottingham Forest to a spot in the Europa Conference League.
There was also Brentford’s deadly duo, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa, who scored 39 times between them, and a quietly impressive debut season for Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, who found the net 14 times.
As the curtain falls on the 24/25 season, our attention turns to the five Premier League stars who we think are poised for a breakthrough in the 25/26 campaign.
Omar Marmoush
Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush was signed in the January transfer window after impressing in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he was only second in the goal scoring charts behind Harry Kane.
Marmoush has already been tipped for success next season by pundits, as he has settled in quickly at City, scoring and assisting goals.
Although he will have the competition of Erling Haaland for the number nine spot, Kevin De Bruyne’s departure may open up space for Marmoush to excel from a deeper position, which he’s already proven he can do this season.
Iliman Ndiaye
Former Everton manager Sean Dyche brought Iliman Ndiaye to the Toffees, but it’s been since David Moyes took over that we have seen the real potential of the forward.
A first season in the Premier League was met with a respectable nine goals from Ndiaye, leaving him as Everton’s top scorer for the season.
Next season, Everton are looking to build on the momentum created from their emotional Goodison Park farewell, with Ndiaye potentially at the heart of a new era for the club.
Jack Hinshelwood
Brighton’s youth academy graduate Jack Hinshelwood left the season with a bang, scoring a brace against Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season and a late winner against champions Liverpool.
The versatile youngster has played mainly as a right-back for the Seagulls, but has also featured at left-back and in midfield.
Hinshelwood had his season disrupted for a couple of months in November with a knee injury, and he will be working hard in pre-season to have a strong full campaign in the 25/26 season.
Ian Maatsen
Aston Villa beat competition for Ian Maatsen’s signature when they signed the flying Dutch full-back from Chelsea at the start of the season.
For the majority of Aston Villa’s season, Unai Emery selected Lucas Digne as his starting left-back in the Premier League, with Maatsen playing in cup competitions.
However, Emery opted for Maatsen as his left-back in the penultimate decisive games in Villa’s quest for Champions League football once more.
Maatsen showed his qualities, displaying lightning-quick pace and his attacking threat, and if he secures a regular spot in the starting lineup next season, he has the potential to be one of the most productive full-backs in the league.
Joshua Zirkzee
With Manchester United’s arrival of Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo potentially headed for Old Trafford, Joshua Zirkzee could receive the assistance he is crying out for.
Zirkzee signed for United at the start of the season and has had a lacklustre first season at the club.
However, United’s season as a whole has been disastrous, and with the current state of affairs, it’s unfair to write off any new signings just yet.
The Dutch striker has shown glimpses of what he is capable of, linking up with Bruno Fernandes in sequences, but new signings around him could be the catalyst to his United career taking off.
Time will tell, but we’re confident these five players are taking things up a level next season.
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