The new 2022-23 Premier League season is on the horizon, and a new set of stars are ready to emerge.
There will inevitably be a fair number of players who catch everyone by surprise with their brilliant performances. But there are also a handful of players who, based on past performances and overall potential, look primed to ascend and become the league’s next big stars.
So read on below as SBOTOP shares five top candidates to break out in the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
Luis Diaz, Liverpool
Luis Diaz wasted little time in lighting up the Premier League upon his arrival at Liverpool from Porto in January. The Colombian winger had four goals and three assists in just 13 league appearances as he played an important role in keeping the Reds’ incredible quadruple bid alive.
And after providing a brief glimpse of just how good he can be for a third of a season, Diaz looks set to fully break out in the 2022-23 season campaign.
With Sadio Mane moving on to Bayern Munich, Diaz will take over as the full-time starter on Liverpool’s left-hand side. Playing alongside the great Mohamed Salah and new boy Darwin Nunez, Diaz figures to make a host of Premier League 2022 highlights for the Reds this coming season.
Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle United
Unlike Diaz, Bruno Guimaraes did not hit the ground running at Newcastle following his arrival to the Premier League in January as head coach Eddie Howe opted to bed him into the side slowly.
But Guimaraes finally got his chance for more consistent playing time in March, and it didn’t take too long for him to show why Newcastle paid upwards of £40 million to sign him from Lyon.
Guimaraes finished the season in remarkable form, with four goals and an assist in the last seven games. His most impressive performance was against Leicester, where he scored a brace – including the stoppage-time winner – as the Magpies came from behind to win 2-1.
With half a season plus a full pre-season now under his belt, the stage is set for Bruno Guimaraes to break out in a big way in 2022/23 as Newcastle target a top-half finish.
Marc Roca, Leeds United
Leeds United have a massive hole to fill in their midfield with the departure of Kalvin Phillips to Man City. But in Marc Roca, the Whites got themselves a holding midfielder who looks quite capable of taking on the challenge of playing in that crucial midfield pivot position.
Roca, who has been compared to Spanish great Xabi Alonso, will be raring to go after hardly getting a look-in during his two-year stint at Bayern Munich. And he will surely get all the playing time he can handle at Leeds.
The 25-year-old has the skill and composure on the ball that seemingly all top Spanish midfielders have, but he also has that extra bit of aggression and toughness that should help him thrive in the physical Premier League.
Michael Olise, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace was a team full of surprise breakout stars last season. The likes of Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, and Conor Gallagher all exceeded expectations as the Eagles defied the Premier League 2022 odds to finish 12th in Patrick Vieira’s first season as head coach.
And this upcoming season could be even better for Palace if another talented youngster – Michael Olise – can live up to his immense potential.
The 20-year-old midfielder had a fine first season in the Premier League as he made 26 appearances, scoring two goals and providing five assists. But despite his undeniable talent, he was unable to establish himself as a regular starter, in part due to injury issues.
With better health and more consistent playing time, Olise could easily lift the Eagles to another level this Premier League season.
Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool
Liverpool have been spot-on when it comes to their transfer business in recent years, and Ibrahima Konate could be another big hit.
The Reds signed the 23-year-old centre-back last summer for around £36 million, and he came on strong when he was called upon to start over Joel Matip down the stretch in their quadruple quest. Konate ended up partnering Virgil van Dijk in some big games during the Reds’ FA Cup and Champions League runs, as well as their last three Premier League games.
With Matip now in his 30s, Konate looks poised to take on more responsibility in Liverpool’s side this upcoming season. And with the fine form he showed late last season, the young Frenchman seems ready to rise to stardom this season.
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