The Brazilian international’s ability to read the game and break down opposition threats made him irreplaceable in the middle of the park, while he can chip in with vital goals thanks to his late runs.
21. Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 5 goals
Bukayo Saka evolved into one of the most exciting and consistent young players in world football last term.
His stellar performances and 14 goals were key to Arsenal’s impressive title charge last season and Mikel Arteta will be demanding even more from the 21-year-old next year as the Gunners look to go one step better.
22. Leon Bailey | Aston Villa | 5 goals
Leon Bailey was somewhat of a slow-burner when he first signed for Birmingham outfit from Bayer Leverkusen, but the Jamaican international thrived under Unai Emery last season, and will look to carry over his form into this campaign.
23.Raheem Sterling | Chelsea | 5 goals
England international Raheem Sterling has had a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge with only six Premier League goals in his debut season last time out.
The tricky winger is starting to flourish in front of goal again this season under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
24. Joao Pedro | Brighton | 5 goals
Joining from Watford for a club-record fee, Joao Pedro has been primed for a move back to the Premier League ever since the Hornets’ relegation in 2022.
The Brazilian endured an underwhelming season with Watford last time round, but has seemingly limitless potential, and and an evident ability to score and create goals with 44 goals/assists to his name at Vicarage Road.
25. Julian Alvarez | Manchester City | 4 goals
Julian Alvarez, who was an integral part of Argentina’s World Cup-winning team and Manchester City’s treble-winning team, has proven to be a real gem for Manchester City since arriving from River Plate.
Known for his aggressive pressing, dynamic scoring ability, technical ability, and clever link-up play, the 23-year-old is emerging as a ideal foil for goal-machine Erling Haaland up front.
26. Darwin Nunez | Liverpool | 4 goals
Liverpool paid an eyewatering transfer fee to secure the signature of Darwin Nunez from Benfica last summer in a record £85m (€100m/$108m) deal.
However, despite the high price tag attached to his name, Núñez failed to truly light up the Premier League in his debut campaign on English shores.
More things are expected from the Uruguayan hitman in the 2023-2024 season now that he’s had time to settle down in English football.
And he already seems to be making the headlines for his clutch goal-scoring exploits.
27. Diogo Jota | Liverpool | 4 goals
Jota had a tough first-half of last season laden with injuries and inconsistent form, however, when back fit, he proved clutch for Liverpool at the end of the season, and will be hoping for better luck with his fitness this time around.
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28. Taiwo Awoniyi | Nottingham Forest | 4 goals
Last summer Forest paid a £17.5m ($29.1m) fee to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin to bring Taiwo Awoniyi back to England after just a year away.
Formerly a Liverpool player, Awoniyi helped Forest fend off relegation scrap last term as he managed to score 10 goals in 27 Premier League games last season. Steve Cooper will be hoping for more of the same from his striker this term.
29. Solly March | Brighton | 3 goals
Never known for his goal-scoring abilities, under Roberto De Zerbi, Solly March has shown a new side to him and has been super-clinical in front of goal, and enjoyed his best-goal scoring season in the top flight for Brighton last season.
Rewarded with a new long-term contract after his contributions, his versatility would be key for the Seagulls, with Europa League campaign on the horizon as well.
30. Kauro Mitoma | Brighton | 3 goals
The Japanese international instantly established himself as one of the best wingers in the league after a real breakthrough season with Brighton.
Renowned for his elite dribbling, sublime close control and splendid technical ability, the left winger weighed in with a very solid seven goals and six assists in 33 matches in all competitions.
31Moussa Diaby | Aston Villa | 3 goals
Aston Villa secured a big coup when they landed the signature of France international Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen in a club-record fee of £50m ($63.4m), with his performances having garnered quite the interest while in Germany over the last few seasons.
Having commanded such a colossal fee, the player has understandably come with quite the pedigree.
Goals, assists, as well as his ability to tear defences to shreds, there’s high expectation from the 24-year-old right-winger.
32. Chris Wood | Nottingham Forest | 3 goal
An aerially dominant old-fashioned target-man striker, Wood has come under scrutiny from some quarters of the fanbase for not making the impact everyone hoped for since joining from Newcastle – at first on loan, then permanently.
The New Zealand international will be looking to change the narrative by bagging some crucial goals in the 2023-2024 season.
33. Carlton Morris | Luton Town | 3 goals
Carlton Morris carved a reputation as one of the most potent goal-scorers in the Championship. His 20 goals helped Luton secure promotion, and they will rely on him as their main striker in the 2023-24 season.
34. Yoane Wissa | Brentford | 3 goals
With Ivan Toney banned until January, Yoane Wissa will be expected to step up fill the gap in the Bees’ forward line. Toney’s level of productivity will be hard to replicate but the absence provides Wissa an opportunity to prove his worth to manager Thomas Frank.
Despite his limited game time, the 26-year-old still managed seven goals in the English top flight last term — the third-most in the Bees’ squad, so he certainly has the tools to be effective up top.
35. Martin Odegaard | Arsenal | 3 goals
Martin Odegaard’s impact at the Emirates has been nothing short of remarkable. The Arsenal skipper has emerged as a key leader and top-scoring midfielder, with a record 15 goals last season.
The Norwegian international operates just behind the centre-forward, in the hole, and is tasked with creating goalscoring opportunities thanks to his gifted creative attributes. He also has a knack for scoring from challenging positions.
36James Maddison | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 goals
James Maddison made his move from Leicester to Spurs earlier this summer, and looks set to become the creative heart of Ange Postecoglou’s new Tottenham.
The 26-year-old is an attacking force by himself, having scored 10 goals and contributed nine assists in 30 Premier League appearances last term, despite playing for a struggling Foxes side that eventually suffered relegation.
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He will likely be the star of the show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the departure legend Harry Kane.
He has the sort of swagger and skill to entertain, while he can certainly strike the ball from distance.
37. Lyle Foster | Burnley | 3 goals
South African striker Lyle Foster is making quite a name for himself in the Premier League, and is earning high praise for his performances. The Bafana Bafana international has been the only bright spark in a dreadful return to the top-flight for Burnley.
38. Luis Diaz | Liverpool | 2 goals
Luis Diaz endured a difficult 2022-23 campaign due to a knee ligament injury. He only appeared 17 times in the league, scoring four goals and providing two assists. However, with a full pre-season under his belt.
The Colombian winger has started off the Premier League season in great form and there is no doubting that his goalscoring form could easily continue.
39. Michail Antonio | West Ham | 2 goals
Michail Antonio has been an effective player for West Ham over recent seasons. He has brought in goals, assists, physicality, work-rate, and versatility up front, but last season was underwhelming from the Jamaican international.
The 32-year-old scored only five Premier League goals last term, and will certainly look to better that tally this season.
40Rodri | Manchester City | 2 goals
Rodri has developed into one of the world’s best midfielders since his big-money move from Atletico Madrid four years ago. Although his primary job is to shield the back four, the Spaniard can come up with clutch long-range bangers in face of adversity, as evident by his game-winning goal in the Champions League final last time out.
41.Matty Cash | Aston Villa | 2 goals
There was speculation Matty Cash could be on his way out of Villa Park earlier this summer, but the 26-year-old’s versatility and ability to bomb up and down the right-flank is an asset for Unai Emery’s side. The full-back has also shown he can chip in fair few goals if needed, with a brace in the opening 20 minutes of his 100th Villa appearance in the victory against Burnley.
42. Cristian Romero | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 goals
The Argentine World Cup winner has experienced the ups and downs of football last season. After the World Cup success in Qatar, Cristian Romero certainly didn’t enjoy a pleasant return to Spurs, after the club failed to qualify for Europe and gradually plummeted down the table.
That said, at 25 years old, the robust central defender is an irrepressible physical presence at the back and is not hesitant to put in a strong challenge. He could well be key to Spurs’ progression under Postecoglou.
43. Simon Adingra | Brighton | 2 goals
Brighton seems to have unearthed another diamond in the rough in Ivory Coast winger Simon Adingra, who was loaned to Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise last season.
In 51 matches across all competitions for Union, Adingra contributed 15 goals and 15 assists, forcing himself into Roberto De Zerbi’s first-team squad in 2023-24. Given Kaoru Mitoma has found incredible success via similar pathway, everything is currently pointing towards Adingra having a breakthrough campaign in the Premier League.
44. Sandro Tonali | Newcastle | 1 goal
Sandro Tonali was considered one of the very best young midfielders on the planet during his time at AC Milan, so for Newcastle to secure his services for a relatively reasonable fee of around £55m ($69.7m) earlier this summer was not only a statement of intent but also a shrewd piece of business in this highly inflated market.
The Italian international’s strength, aggression, pace, vision, creativity, and a mix of top-level experience and flair will be in full display for the Geordies this season.
45.Harvey Barnes | Leicester | 1 goal
Despite Leicester City’s dismal relegation season last time out, winger Harvey Barnes was a bright spot. with 13 goals to his name. With Champions League football at St James’ Park, Newcastle landed his signature for £38m ($49m) to add more firepower to their already decent-looking front-line.
The Englishman is likely to hit the ground running at Newcastle thanks to his emphatic finishing and ball-striking quality.
The Premier League’s set-piece specialist has moved on from relegated Southampton to link up with David Moyes in the off-season, and has already made an impressive start to life with the Irons, with his trademark set-pieces becoming a potent weapon for the Hammers.
47.Emerson Royal | Tottenham | 1 goal
Emerson Royal joined Tottenham from Barcelona last summer, and largely underwhelmed in his debut season. However, right wing-back Pedro Porro’s arrival from Sporting CP during the January transfer window, coincided with some of Royal’s best form. More is expected of the Brazilian defender under the tutelage new boss Ange Postecoglou.
48.Axel Disasi | Chelsea | 1 goal
Chelsea signed centre-back Axel Disasi from French side Monaco following injury to Wesley Fofana, and the France international is off to a positive start with a well-taken equaliser as Chelsea clinched a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool in Mauricio Pochettino’s first Premier League match in charge of the Blues.
49. Bobby De Cordova-Reid | Fulham | 1 goal
The veteran winger provides not only much-needed experience in the squad, but is also capable of chipping in with important goals for Fulham.
50. William Saliba | Arsenal | 1 goal
William Saliba was among the best defenders in the English first division last year. He will have the massive responsibility of marshalling the Gunners’ backline this season as they look to mount another title-charge. Renowned for his recovery pace, athleticism, and ball playing attributes, he is also quite an aerial threat at the other end of the pitch.
A creative, two-footed central midfielder with great technical ability, Gustavo Hamer joined Sheffield United from Coventry in the summer transfer window of 2023 and helped the club reach the Championship play-offs last season.