Three Players to Watch as the 2026/27 Premier League Begins

As the new Premier League season gets underway, there is plenty that remains unknown. The arrival of a number of new managers has brought fresh ideas, different styles of play and plenty of intrigue surrounding how their approaches will translate to the league. From Xabi Alonso at Chelsea to Marco Rose at Bournemouth, we are seeing an influx of younger managers with plenty to prove, alongside more experienced coaches looking to evolve their tactics after working across a variety of European leagues.

However, the intrigue does not stop in the dugout. The summer transfer window has also brought an exciting wave of new talent to the Premier League. Clubs across the league have strengthened with high-profile arrivals, while several established stars have also made moves between Premier League sides. Although these transfers can highlight the financial gulf and differing levels of pulling power between the traditional ‘Big Six’ and the rest of the league, they also create new rivalries, storylines and narratives that make every season feel different from the last.

Among the many new arrivals and established stars, there are a handful of players who I believe are poised for a particularly significant campaign. These are the players I expect to make a major impact and potentially emerge as this season’s next breakout star.

Mamadou Sangare

The first player to speak about is one of the most tenacious midfielders in the league: Brentford’s Mamadou Sangare. The Malian midfielder is a machine in the centre of the pitch, putting in the hard yards at both ends and proving himself to be just as effective defensively as he is in attack. He is the epitome of a box-to-box midfielder, combining an exceptional work rate with the ability to contribute in almost every aspect of the game.

Before his move to Brentford, Sangare spent five years in Austria. He initially joined RB Salzburg, spending time out on loan before eventually moving to Rapid Wien. It was there that he really began to establish himself, enjoying an impressive run in the Conference League. His performances earned him a €13 million move to Lens, where he spent just one season but quickly made a huge impression. Sangare was pivotal in helping Lens finish second in Ligue 1 and secure their first-ever Coupe de France, while his individual performances also earned him a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season.

That outstanding campaign ultimately led to a club-record €48 million move to Brentford, highlighting just how highly the midfielder is regarded.

Last season in Ligue 1, Sangare recorded three goals and four assists, although those numbers barely scratch the surface of his overall influence. Offensively, he averaged 1.47 key passes per 90 minutes (0.5 above the league average) while completing 83% of his passes in the opposition half and producing 2.9 accurate long balls per 90. After just one league appearance for Brentford, we have already seen a glimpse of his attacking quality, with Sangare registering an assist following some excellent one-two play.

Defensively, however, is where he truly stands out. He averaged 3.3 tackles per 90 minutes, 1.8 above the league average, alongside 1.55 interceptions per game (an incredible 1.44 above average). He also won 8.54 duels per game, (two more than the league average), while making 7.1 ball recoveries per 90. When all of these numbers are combined, it becomes clear why he earned his place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season and ranked in the 99th percentile among league midfielders for defensive output.

While €48 million is undoubtedly a significant fee, when compared with the €60–80 million being spent on other midfielders, Sangare could already prove to be something of a bargain. Following his Man of the Match performance against Tottenham, the early signs are extremely promising, and if he can maintain this level of performance, Brentford may have secured one of the league’s most complete midfielders

Christos Tzolis

Tzolis is, for me, the most exciting attacking signing of this transfer window, joining Arsenal from Club Brugge for €40 million. Not only does that represent a significant underpayment given the current state of the transfer market, but it is also an obvious signing given Arsenal’s weakness, and the quality Christos Tzolis brings to the side.

Whilst he hardly set the world alight during his time at Norwich, Tzolis went on to enjoy a very successful spell at Fortuna Düsseldorf in the German second tier, followed by an even more impressive period at Club Brugge. Across 101 appearances for the Belgian side, he produced 41 goals and 38 assists, establishing himself as one of the most prolific and direct attacking players in Europe.

His final season at Club Brugge was particularly impressive. Tzolis registered 40 goal contributions in just 36 games, whilst outperforming every other attacking player in the

league across almost every key attacking metric. To put his importance into context, Club Brugge scored 91 league goals throughout the season, with Tzolis directly contributing to 44% of them. He was the main attacking outlet for the two seasons he spent in Belgium and earned himself a starring role for the Greek national team, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.

As highlighted in Figure 2, his numbers demonstrate just how complete his attacking profile has become. He possesses the creative spark Arsenal can sometimes lack from the left, whilst also providing the direct goal threat that has occasionally been missing from their attack.

Since joining Arsenal, Tzolis has started both the Community Shield and the opening league game of the season, and it is safe to say he has impressed in both. He provided two assists in the Community Shield before producing another top-level performance in the first league game. Throughout both matches, he was direct, unselfish and frequently the focal point of Arsenal’s attacks.

His creative influence was particularly evident through his three key passes in each game, demonstrating his ability to orchestrate attacks from the left. However, against Coventry, he also showcased his own threat in front of goal. He registered four shots, two of which were on target, and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet. If these early performances are anything to go by, it feels less a case of whether Tzolis will score his first Arsenal goal, and more a case of when.

Nilson Angulo

Nilson Angulo is the final player on my list, although statistically, he can be a difficult player to make a strong case for. During his time at Sunderland, consistency has been an issue. Last season was particularly frustrating, as an unfortunate injury kept him sidelined for around two to three months. As a result, he made just eight appearances and failed to register a goal or assist.

Fortunately, Angulo recovered in time to represent Ecuador at the World Cup. While he

again struggled to truly establish himself, his performance against Germany offered a glimpse of exactly what he is capable of at his best. With Ecuador under pressure to get a result in their final group game after Germany opened the scoring early, Angulo stepped up, producing an excellent performance and equalising with a superb long-range strike, drilled across goal and into the bottom-right corner.

The goal was the highlight, but it was far from the only impressive aspect of his display. Angulo completed four of his six dribble attempts, carried the ball 70 metres up the pitch and consistently proved to be a thorn in Germany's side. It was an almost perfect demonstration of the qualities he possesses, and the level Sunderland will be hoping to see more consistently following his €17 million move from Anderlecht.

His first appearance of this season may not have been his most convincing, but once again, he provided a moment of genuine quality with an outstanding free kick that was worthy of the showreel. It was another reminder of the technical ability he possesses and a sign that the Angulo who enjoyed such a successful final season at Anderlecht could still emerge at Sunderland.

That final year in Belgium provides plenty of reason for optimism. Across 22 games, Angulo contributed six goals and five assists, averaging a goal contribution every other match. He also created nine big chances and averaged 2.1 key passes per game, demonstrating that he can offer much more than simply carrying the ball and taking on defenders.

There is still plenty to be desired from the Ecuadorian winger, particularly in terms of consistency and product. However, Sunderland's lack of alternative options out wide should provide Angulo with the regular game time he needs. If he can stay fit and build on the flashes of quality he has already shown, there is every chance he can develop into the player Sunderland believed they were signing.