Most Important Player at Every Premier League Club Next Season

The 2013-14 Premier League season is drawing ever closer, with the announcement of the new season's fixture list on Wednesday.

Clubs all over the country will be eagerly eyeing up their opening day challenges, finding the points in the season where they might have a good run of form, and looking to see where the toughest runs of games could fall.

All the while, transfer plans are being drawn up or acted upon already, with managers looking to build their squads around their most important players—not always the best ones on the ball.

But who are those most important players for each side? And what makes them so important? Read on to find out...

While it is possible that some of these players have been linked with moves away from their present clubs, the assumption is that the team holds onto their better, or most important, members of the playing staff to build around them this season.

Arsenal

Arsenal will be hoping their main man Jack Wilshere is finally fit and ready to fire on all cylinders next season.

The attacking midfielder managed 25 league appearances last term, but they were broken up by a few knocks and niggles, understandable after his longer-term absence last summer.

The Gunners might be spending big in the transfer window this time around, but they will be looking to add quality who can play with and alongside their flagship academy graduate Wilshere. Better movement in the final third, more quality on the ball and a reliable goal threat will all see the best of the young Englishman brought out.

Aston Villa

Christian Benteke was Aston Villa's standout performer in 2012-13, helping the side stay afloat at times as they battled relegation.

He scored 19 goals in his debut Premier League campaign and though there will be interest in him over the summer, Villa will hope to add to their squad to increase his chances of hitting the back of the net more often rather than cash in on him at this point.

A team's best player isn't always necessarily the most important, but it might be the case with Benteke and Villa next term.

Cardiff City

Cardiff City have been promoted to the Premier League for the first time, so top-flight experience is a must in their squad.

In Craig Bellamy they have a player who has played for a host of top sides, knows what it takes to win games and of course is still a threat in the final third of the pitch.

They'll have plenty of defensive work to get through during the campaign of course, but at the other end of the pitch they need to be spot on too if they hope to stay up. Bellamy could have a big role to play for one more year in the Premier League.

Chelsea

Chelsea have Jose Mourinho back in town, and that means they'll be aiming as high as possible—in other words, for the Premier League title.

Mourinho teams typically feature a heavy emphasis on a fast, creative, skilful attacking midfielder who can make and score goals, so expect Eden Hazard to play a vital role next season at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, his talent dictates that he'd be in the side anyway, but he is the type of player that the manager could just build his side around for two or three seasons. Hazard could be one of the most effective players in the league next term.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway knows from his time at Blackpool that he'll have to spend some serious money to help his side stay in the Premier League for more than one season, but he'll also need his team to put in plenty of the effort and endeavour they showed last season in the Championship.

More quality is certainly required, but one who provides the heart and aggression in the middle of the park is captain Mile Jedinak.

The Australian isn't the most cultured, refined or creative of midfielders but he will ensure Palace are combative and competitive in midfield next season, traits they'll have to show week in, week out to stand their ground alongside the established clubs of the top flight.

Jedinak will need to lead by example, and Holloway will have to find the technical quality in the transfer market to go along with his attitude and grit.

Everton

Everton will be a hugely interesting team to watch next season, after a decade of being under the guidance of David Moyes came to an end this summer.

Roberto Martinez is the new boss and the former Wigan manager favours an attacking outlook from his sides, with creative attackers likely to be paramount in his set-up.

Kevin Mirallas had a more than passable first season in the Premier League last year but there is still much more to come from him and Martinez could be an ideal manager to set the Belgian loose in a big way. He's capable of hitting double figures in both goals and assists, and whether he plays from the flank or in a more central role, he could be a pivotal man for the Toffees.

Fulham

The best player isn't always the most important for a team, but for Fulham that arguably is the case.

Dimitar Berbatov is a class above many of his teammates at Craven Cottage and his continued excellence will be key to Fulham improving on last season's 12th-place finish.

The Bulgarian forward is a source of chances for others as well as being the club's top scorer last term, and though Fulham should be active in the transfer market, it's not likely they'll bring in too many who can reach Berbatov's level of quality.

Hull City

Like Crystal Palace, Hull City will have to spend in the transfer market to boost their squad, but they do have a few key players in place who will be relied upon to show their best form in the top flight.

James Chester is a central defender who came through the Manchester United youth system and he proved one of the top centre-backs at Championship level. Now, two years after leaving the Red Devils, he'll get to test himself in the Premier League finally, and Hull will hope he is capable of stepping up.

Hull will need a very organised defence as the base of their intentions to improve enough to survive relegation, and Chester will be key to that improvement.

Liverpool

In January, Liverpool found a new starlet to build their side around.

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho joined the Reds from Inter Milan and almost immediately made himself one of the first names on the team sheet with a series of creative, consistent and exciting displays.

Whether Luis Suarez stays or goes is still open to debate, but it's unlikely he'll play in his best positions even if he remains. Instead, the Reds have to focus on supplementing the abilities of Coutinho, namely getting plenty of players in advanced positions with good movement, because the No. 10 will certainly find them with a pass.

Liverpool's attack was much better in the second half of last season and Coutinho was a big part of that. Expect him to be in the running for Young Player of the Year.

Manchester City

Manchester City were far from their best last season, collectively and individually, yet they still came second in the Premier League with some comfort.

A change in management and in some personnel will hope to galvanise them enough to aim for the title again, and the first thing they'll have to do is get their strikers firing again. Sergio Aguero is the best they have, and capable of scoring the most goals when fully fit and in form.

If Manuel Pellegrini can get the best out of him, the Argentine striker could fire City to another league title.

Manchester United

And, on the flip side, Manchester United already have their goalscorer in top form.

Robin van Persie was the Premier League's top goalscorer in his first season at Old Trafford and another campaign like the last one will already put United partway toward another piece of silverware.

Will he have the same impact and consistency under a new manager? That remains to be seen, and the same goes for the rest of the squad. But van Persie's quality is evident and regardless of tactics or personnel, if he's in the team, United have a chance of winning.

Newcastle United

Newcastle United have work to do to restore some pride and confidence, after a dreadful season saw them battling relegation until the final weeks.

Key to their hopes of doing so will be French midfielder Yohan Cabaye, clearly Newcastle's most impressive player and one they will look to to find far more consistency and quality on the ball next term.

Cabaye will be the target of a few clubs this summer, but Newcastle don't appear under any pressure to sell at present, and indeed they need to find themselves a couple more players with a similar level of quality to Cabaye.

Norwich City

Norwich City's best player over the course of last season was midfielder Robert Snodgrass, and the left-footer will have to be similarly impressive next season to help the Canaries become both more consistent and get the best out of any summer signings.

Snodgrass has terrific delivery from set pieces and wide areas, but can also link play very well more centrally and is a hard worker—all traits his team will require next season.

Can Snodgrass be one of the players to help the likes of Ricky Van Wolfswinkel show his best abilities? Norwich have to get the best out of their big-money signing to find more goals than last year, but Snodgrass in midfield will likely be important in many more than just one single area of play.

Southampton

Southampton are one of the Premier League teams expected to improve significantly this close season, after their players adapted very well after promotion from the Championship and manager Mauricio Pochettino made a good impression after arriving in January.

They will play an impressive, attack-minded brand of football which aims to get the ball, and plenty of support, forward quickly. Jay Rodriguez is one of their attackers who can most be counted on to break beyond the midfield line, pick up possession in the final third and even support beyond the striker to be a threat on goal.

His runs off the ball will prove vital for Southampton's way of playing at their best next season.

Stoke City

Stoke City dispensed with long-serving manager Tony Pulis in summer, replacing him with Mark Hughes, so we can expect a gradual change in personnel and approach over the coming seasons.

In the more immediate term, though, Stoke could easily face difficulties in being effective in transition and final third phases of play, with the squad deeply ingrained in the methods and preferences of Pulis.

Given that they were hardly at their best at either end of the pitch last season anyway, it seems certain that they will have a certain amount of defending to do, so expect goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to be the most important member of the team, certainly early in the campaign.

Sunderland

Steven Fletcher started the 2012-13 season by scoring six goals in his first five matches, but only managed a further five goals in the rest of the Premier League season.

In part this was due to Sunderland's huge ineptitude for the majority of the campaign, where they were slow and unimaginative in the buildup and lacking in presence and confidence upfront.

The Scottish striker then missed the last two months of the season with an ankle injury as they avoided relegation without him.

Next season, manager Paolo Di Canio's first full campaign in charge, Fletcher will be expected to lead the line and be far more consistent in front of goal (half a dozen initial matches aside) with more support and a higher attacking line helping him out. If he fires, Sunderland have the ability to push far higher up the table.

Swansea City

Another forward now and one of the real success stories of last season, Swansea City's most important player next year will again be Michu.

The Spanish forward will have to be helped out in terms of goalscoring and being the focal point of the Swans' attack, but his movement and goalscoring ability is unlikely to be bettered.

Swansea have enjoyed a few fantastic seasons, so progress for them could easily be merely securing another top-half finish in the Premier League, and to do that, they'll need Michu at his best—and at the club, of course.

Tottenham

Any player managing 20 or more goals from midfield, albeit attacking positions, is going to be an important part of a team, but Gareth Bale is central to how Spurs build most of their attacks.

His pace from wide areas allows them to break quickly and attack with numbers, while his versatility last season saw him excel in a central role on many occasions.

Rumours will follow him until he publicly commits his future to Spurs, but the assumption for now should be that he remains in place. Spurs' charge for the top four, should that be the case, will be entirely built around Bale's ability to find goals from all sorts of ranges and provide chances for others by drawing defenders away from his fellow attackers.

Bale has to be as good or better for Spurs to take the step into the top four again.

West Brom

James Morrison is a simple but effective attacking midfielder, combining good movement with an exemplary work rate and no shortage of quality on the ball.

He is a reliable source of chances for his West Brom team and can play in a variety of positions across that attacking midfield line. For manager Steve Clarke he'll continue to be an important piece of the side which is still growing.

Morrison was the top scoring midfielder for West Brom last season and made more key passes than anyone else in the squad too.

West Ham

Having finally completed the signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool on a permanent basis on Wednesday, West Ham United will base their season and their building around the powerful England front man.

Carroll scored seven times on loan last season during a campaign which was broken up by injury, and the Hammers will hope to get him completely fit for the entire year this time.

His link up with Kevin Nolan in particular is an impressive aspect of the team's attack, while he perfectly fits the profile of a striker in Sam Allardyce's teams.

Carroll will be expected to be more prolific last season, but six goals in a run of 10 games toward the end of the season gave an indication that he could be the all-round front man that West Ham need.

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