Premier League Preview: Top 10 Candidates to Lead the EPL in Assists This Season

The English Premier League season is just a few weeks away and the anticipation is building.

Predictions are flying in left, right and centre, scores of fans are setting up their fantasy teams and everyone craves the very first day of the season to come around just a little faster.

With that in mind, Bleacher Report continues its previews of the new domestic season, and this article contains the 10 most likely candidates to finish with the highest number of assists.

David Silva

"Merlin" topped the assist charts last year with a staggering 15 and looks poised to continue where he left off.

He's a sure-fire starter for Manchester City whenever he's fit and plays an influential role in their attacks. He is leaned upon to retain possession when City approach the opposition's area and produces wonderful, inventive passes.

His movement is simply exceptional—a trait which often allows him to find gaps others can't. Just ask Patrice Evra.

Samir Nasri

Despite turning in a relatively disappointing season for Manchester City last year, Samir Nasri still mustered five goals and nine assists.

He and David Silva were often seen to be stepping on each others' toes, but as the campaign wore on, the fluency improved.

If Nasri gets off to a quick start, he has every chance of breaching the 10-assist mark.

The movement of Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero make it easy for City's midfielders to slip through-balls into channels, so Nasri has plenty to aim at.

Eden Hazard

Chelsea's new £32 million acquisition should play a pivotal role in Roberto Di Matteo's attacking revolution this season.

He grabbed 16 assists for Lille last season, and while Ligue 1 is no English Premier League, his talents are very much transferable.

He has requested to play as a No. 10 role for Chelsea.

Judging from the preseason friendlies, Hazard can be a crucial link between the front three and back six, carry the ball and use his body superbly to retain the ball.

I preview here where he can do damage.

Juan Mata

While many expect Eden Hazard to become the new poster boy of Chelsea, Blues fans will be quick to remind you how good Juan Manuel Mata still is.

Mata topped Chelsea's assist charts last season with 13 in total, becoming one of the very few bright sparks under Andre Villas-Boas' reign.

His bit-part role for Spain during Euro 2012 helped many forget his talents, considering the arrivals of Hazard and Oscar, but Mata is still a strong candidate to finish high up in the assist charts.

Mata will likely utilise an advanced midfield role and swap frequently with Oscar, Hazard and Marin. 

Stephane Sessegnon

Stephane Sessegnon played all sorts of roles last season as he fought to become Sunderland's saviour. At one stage he was keeping Steve Bruce's side above the relegation zone, whilst under Martin O'Neill he turned on his mercurial best.

Typically speaking, he lined up in the attacking midfield role of a 4-4-1-1 behind Nicklas Bendtner and roamed from side to side.

He was incredibly effective to be fair, recording seven goals and nine assists in a team not playing well for a large portion of the season.

He will again be the focal point of Sunderland's creativity and attacks and, providing O'Neill finds another good striking partner, Sessegnon may surprise a few again.

Adam Lallana

Nigel Adkins' Southampton play some of the best football in England and have been rightly rewarded with a chance to shine in the English Premier League.

Should Adam Lallana stay clear of the constant niggles that hinder his potential, he has the opportunity to break out and stake a claim for an England spot.

He is the go-to guy in Southampton's lineup, so their best attacking creations will stem from him. He is fearless, confident and enjoys playing football—all the ingredients necessary for a top-quality player.

Santi Cazorla

On the condition that he does join, which, according to the BBC appears highly likely, Santi Cazorla will be to Arsenal what David Silva is to Manchester City.

Described as a "false winger"—a Silva or Samir Nasri-esque player who drifts inward from a starting wide position—Cazorla will slot straight into Arsene Wenger's system.

His end product trumps both Theo Walcott and Gervinho's by miles, so the Gunners' new striking options will be looking forward to playing another Spanish midfield maestro.

Whatever happens, signing Cazorla will be a phenomenal piece of business by Wenger.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale took the most shots of any midfielder in the English Premier League last season, recording a substantial figure of 136.

Don't let that disguise the fact he was also a great provider, though, as a tally of 10 assists shows he's a good provider as well as a finisher.

Bale will be granted an even more attacking role this season in Andre Villas-Boas' 4-3-3 formation, playing as the left forward in an attacking, expansive side.

With regard to his regular starting position on the pitch, he'll be further forward than ever before in his career. This, surely, can only mean even more involvement at the business end of the field.

Shinji Kagawa

Eight assists for Borussia Dortmund last season saw Shinji Kagawa, in the absence of Mario Gotze due to injury troubles, become the Bundesliga champions' greatest creative outlet.

Playing "in the hole" behind the striker and drifting between the midfield and defensive lines, Kagawa ran riot as he constantly supplied Robert Lewandowski with ammunition.

According to WhoScored?, Kagawa accumulated a whopping 55 key passes for the domestic season and an average of 1.9 accurate long balls per game.

Playing alongside Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck will award him with a plethora of passing options, while the diminishing chances of Lucas Moura joining him in red will help him take centre stage (via London Evening Standard).

Antonio Valencia

Antonio Valencia led Manchester United's assist charts with 13 last season.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson has recruited Shinji Kagawa this summer, his trusty Ecuadorian remains one of United's best creative players in terms of natural talent, effort and consistency.

Valencia is an old-fashioned winger who will always succeed—his crossing is so good he was the unsung hero of Wayne Rooney's brilliant headed-goal-scoring streak in 2010.

He will always be productive, and thus threatens once again to top both the Red Devils' and English Premier League's assist charts next season.