The new Premier League is around the corner and with it 10 months of football action filled with it 380 matches, during which we will witness the rise and fall of teams, players and managers. Which way the wind will blow and which team will surprise us in 2019/20 season is anyone’s guess, and while the same can be said for players, we have gathered a list of few defenders, we believe can surprise us, make a name for themselves and join the group of the best defenders in Premier League.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United)
It would be impossible to forget mentioning Aaron Wan-Bissaka on our list of the biggest talents ahead of 2019/20 season. As of today the 11th most expensive transfer of the summer, Aaron Wan-Bissaka arrived at Manchester United for €55 million from Crystal Palace as a part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plan to reinforce his defensive line. Following his impressive campaign with the Eagles, Wan-Bissaka emerged as one of the most reliable defenders in the league and while it will be hard for him to impress us even further, Wan-Bissaka is a player worth keeping an eye on as he further grows as a player.
Lewis Gibson (Everton U23)
We have to start out by addressing the fact Lewis Gibson is a part of Everton’s U23 team and not a member of their senior squad (yet), nonetheless, he is a player worth mentioning. Lewis Gibson emerged as one of the most promising players in Newcastle when he switched sides to Everton in the summer of 2017. Living up to his potential, Lewis Gibson continued with impressive performances in the defence as he slowly climbed the ranks. While he might not appear in the starting XI this season, we can at least expect him to help Everton in a couple of cup matches and further increase his value as a solid defender.
Max Aarons (Norwich)
Norwich players impressed last season in Championship and will look to do so in the EPL as well. While there were several names who put up superb performances, it’s Max Aarons who took most of the spotlight. The 19-year-old English right-back has shown incredible amounts of quality and proved he got what it takes to play in the top flight. While there are several qualities that make Max Aarons a very interesting young player, his biggest advantage is that he can adapt and play in several roles. Predominantly a right-back, Max Aarons also appeared on the left side in several matches for Norwich and did not disappoint. What will he manage to produce in 2019/20 season is yet to be seen, however, from what he has shown, he has got what’s needed to make a breakthrough.
Oliver Skipp (Tottenham)
Last but certainly not least, we have got Oliver Skipp, an 18-year-old Tottenham defensive midfielder, who does not shy away from proving his worth in the DM position. He got promoted into the Spurs senior team in the summer of 2018 after earning the trust of Mauricio Pochettino, who gave him a chance to play in the Premier League eight times last season. In addition to that, Skipp also appeared in two FA Cup matches and twice in EFL Cup campaign. He might not be the starting XI material yet, but looking at how he performed in his 12 appearances for the Lilywhites, we can safely assume Pochettino will include him in the team again next season.
