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Seven Premier League players to watch out for in 2023/24

Premier League football returns this weekend and fans all over the world are eagerly anticipating the start of a new season.

Each campaign has players who are ready to breakthrough or kick on to new levels and we’ve profiled seven stars who could be set for big campaigns. From returning loanees to emerging stars, here are seven Premier League players to watch out for in 2023/24.

Seven Premier League players to watch out for in 2023/24:

Jacob Ramsey – Aston Villa

Jacob Ramsey has gone from strength to strength since breaking into the Aston Villa team and was a crucial part of the club’s upturn in results under Unai Emery last season. The marauding midfielder can be an effective option for Villa either centrally or roaming in from the left and scored six league goals to win the club’s Young Player of the Season award for a second successive campaign in 2022/23.

Ramsey impressed during the early stages of England’s u-21 European Championship win during the summer, before a foot injury ended his tournament. The issue will sideline the 22-year-old during the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign and Villa will be keen for the academy graduate to return as soon as possible.

Ramsey has all the attributes to earn a senior role with England, a midfielder who possesses power, drive and smarts around goal. He has grown in importance and influence in his career to date, but many at Villa still feel there are several levels still to go.

Simon Adingra – Brighton

The next gem set to shine on the south coast?

Brighton continue to unearth talents rich in potential and Simon Adingra could be the latest who is set to become a household name at the Amex Stadium. Signed from FC Nordsjælland last summer, he spent last season on loan at the Tony Bloom-owned Union Saint-Gilloise and excelled to provide 20 goals and assists in just 26 league starts.

The 21-year-old is direct, dangerous and has made a major impression on the Seagulls pre-season tour of the United States, troubling teams with his enterprising wing-play. He earned his first cap for the Ivory Coast national team in March and could add plenty to his haul if he continues his recent rate of development.

Levi Colwill – Chelsea

Chelsea insisted that Levi Colwill was not for sale this summer despite interest from Premier League rivals, with a successful loan spell at Brighton and strong performances for England’s u-21 side having piqued the interest of teams across the division.

Colwill has since signed a new long-term deal in west London after being granted assurances over his role in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. The left-sided centre-back will form part of a new era at Chelsea, as Pochettino looks to mould an expensively assembled and inexperienced squad into a winning outfit.

Colwill is excellent in the air – he won more aerial duels (45) than any other u21 player in the Premier League last season – and progressive with the ball at his feet, boasting a mix of athleticism and poise which has alerted England boss Gareth Southgate. A natural left-footer, there are many who feel he could have earned a prominent role with the national team by the time next summer’s European Championship rolls around.

Curtis Jones – Liverpool

Curtis Jones’ career at Liverpool appeared to be stagnating during the opening months of last season, with the midfielder starting just once in the Premier League before April despite the Reds’ declining engine room.

Jones was given his chance during the run-in and took it with both hands, performing admirably as Liverpool ended the season unbeaten in 11 league games. The 22-year-old then impressed as England’s u-21 side won the European Championship, scoring the fortuitious final winner against Spain and shining in an unfamiliar deeper role.

It is one he may begin the new season in, with Liverpool lacking a recognised defensive midfielder following the sales of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. As Jurgen Klopp rebuilds the centre of his team, this feels like a pivotal campaign for Jones.

“I’m a kid who just wants to go and play, I wouldn’t care if I was a right-back or a centre-half, I just want to go and play,” he told the club’s official website last month.

“I adapted well (to a deeper role), I did well. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to play in the team. With the team we have now, there’s going to be times when I might have to change roles a little bit to get game time. I’ve shown that I can play in a deeper role as well, so it will help me.”

Cole Palmer – Manchester City

Cole Palmer must have felt frustrated with a sporadic role at Manchester City last season, with the 21-year-old’s two league starts coming after the Premier League title had been wrapped up.

Palmer is a huge talent and has been kept close under the watchful eye of Pep Guardiola, but will feel he is ready for more regular involvement this season. The versatile forward was influential as England u-21s won the European Championship during the summer, with a virtuoso performance in the semi-final win over Israel and free-kick which deflected in off team-mate Curtis Jones in the decider.

Palmer provided another reminder of his class with an eye-catching impact in the Community Shield last weekend, coming off the bench to open the scoring with a superb goal. Palmer has been patient to date, but he will demand more minutes now. He could be the perfect Riyad Mahrez replacement for the treble winners.

Morgan Gibbs-White – Nottingham Forest

This time last summer there was no shortage of criticism aimed at Nottingham Forest’s decision to spend a club-record sum on Morgan Gibbs-White. Forest paid Wolves an initial £25m to sign the midfielder, though the total figure could rise to around £42.5m according to some reports.

Gibbs-White had previously flattered to deceive at the top level, but Steve Cooper was keen to work with a player he knew well from England’s youth sides. His faith was repaid as Gibbs-White shone during Forest’s Premier League return.

The 23-year-old was named as Forest’s Player of the Season after scoring five goals and providing eight assists in the Premier League, though the numbers tell only part of the tale with Gibbs-White’s carry and confidence becoming the centre-piece of Cooper’s team.

A strong summer with England’s u-21 side in which much of the creative emphasis fell on Gibbs-White has added to his reputation and it would be little surprise to see the midfielder move up to the senior squad in the coming months.

Destiny Udogie – Tottenham

Destiny Udogie is expected to earn his chance at Tottenham after spending last season on loan at Udinese.

Immediately loaned back to his former club, the left-back impressed last season with three goals and four assists in Serie A.

Udogie has featured prominently in pre-season under Ange Postecoglou and is set to start the season as first choice, where the Australian will hope his cavalier performances from the full-back can add an attacking option to his new-look side.

He already seems to have formed a fine understanding with Son Heung-min down the left, with the duo dovetailing dangerously during Spurs’ 5-1 pre-season win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Read – Premier League season preview part one – Arsenal to Fulham

Read Also – Premier League season preview part two – Liverpool to Wolves

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