With only a handful of games played after the midway point of the season, the top contenders for this year’s PFA Player of the Year are slowly starting to emerge.
With Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United pulling ahead of the rest of the teams, it’s highly probable that the winner comes from one of these.
Here’s a list of the top 5 early contenders for the PFA Player of the Year:
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian striker is so far ahead in the top scorers list that he is on course to shatter all-time scoring records.
And while the golden boot is all but destined for Haaland, he could end up sweeping both the awards if City were to win the Premier League.
Martin Odegaard
Arsenal are enjoying their best season in decades and a driving force behind this has been the Norwegian playmaker.
He is Arsenal’s second-highest goal scorer in the Premier League with eight goals, only behind Bukayo Saka and has racked up six assists as well.
If Arsenal were to pip both the Manchester clubs for the Premier League, Odegaard will surely be one of the top contenders.
Also Read: How Brighton’s business model found success in the Premier League
Marcus Rashford
This season, Marcus Rashford has rediscovered the kind of form that made him one of the most promising youngsters when he burst onto the scene.
Having scored more goals than even Erling Haaland after the World Cup, Rashford is the biggest reason United are still anywhere close to challenging for the title.
Bukayo Saka
The young winger has been scintillating ever since he started playing on the right side of Arsenal’s attack a couple of years ago.
He has nine goals and eight assists in the league. Only Haaland and Harry Kane have more goal contributions in the league than Saka.
The winger has also scored some crucial goals over the course of the season, including a long-range effort that helped the Gunners overcome Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Casemiro
United struggled at the start of the season, epitomised by their 4-0 loss to Brentford. The team clearly lacked a backbone, which is why Casemiro was recruited in the summer transfer window.
Ever since coming in, he has turned to club’s fortunes around. They have improved significantly in defence thanks to the CDM.
United will be hoping to keep him fit for the rest of the season to stand any chance of overtaking City and Arsenal, and if they do, he is in with a shout for the best player this year.
