20 Players to Watch in the Premier League This Season

It's one of the world's best leagues and it naturally boasts some of the world's best talent. This weekend it all begins.

Over the next nine months, 20 clubs will compete for the English Premier League title. Among the hundreds of players on display, there will be compelling stories, tales of redemption, moments of controversy and everything in between.

Choosing just 20 players to watch over the coming season was a difficult process, but I've made my selections based on such factors as skill, reputation, potential (both for brilliance and controversy) and expectations. This list should by no means be considered exhaustive, but rather a primer ahead of the new campaign.

Agree with my choices? Disagree? Let the conversation—and the new season—begin.

Juan Mata

Position: Midfielder

Club: Chelsea

Age: 25

Let's start at the most appropriate place—the Premier League's best player.

With apologies to Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale (more on them momentarily, too), that title currently goes to Chelsea's Spanish playmaker Juan Mata.

In rating Mata the EPL's best overall footballer ahead of the new season, B/R's Sam Tighe writes:

"

As No. 10s go he is the cream of the crop, with his vision and ability to pick the unbelievable pass every time escalating him to the very top of our rankings.

Mata is the undoubted talisman of Stamford Bridge, and despite the presence of other stars such as Eden Hazard and Oscar, comfortably shines brightest in the eyes of the fans.

"

Hard to argue with that. Or this.

Robin Van Persie

Position: Deep-lying forward

Club: Manchester United

Age: 30

After scoring a league-best 30 goals with Arsenal in 2011-12, Dutch striker Robin van Persie joined Manchester United last summer and promptly played a leading role in the Red Devils' title triumph.

His 26 goals last season led the league again and earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year.

With RvP's world-class talent atop the formation, United will challenge for the title again this season. And, as we all know, the Dutchman is always capable of creating something jaw-dropping.

Luis Suarez

Position: Deep-lying forward

Club: Liverpool

Age: 26

Whether he stays with Liverpool or caps off his interminable transfer saga with a move to Arsenal, Luis Suarez will have to serve out the rest of a 10-match ban at the start of the Premier League season.

All controversy and uncertainty aside, Suarez is a world-class forward who can change a game at any moment. Before being banned near the end of last season, the Uruguayan tallied 23 league goals with eight assists.

He can play behind a striker, as a false-nine or on either flank—and he's lethal no matter where he goes. And as we've seen already during his tumultuous tenure with Liverpool, his skills aren't the only reason to watch.

Gareth Bale

Position: Midfielder

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Age: 24

This selection requires qualification: If Gareth Bale plays for Tottenham Hotspur this season, he'll certainly be one of the league's top players. Again.

Last season the Welshman produced a breakthrough campaign, scoring 21 league goals—seemingly always at crucial times—as Spurs pushed Arsenal all the way before falling just short of fourth place. For his efforts, Bale was named PFA and FWA Player of the Year.

Over the summer, though, Bale has been linked incessantly with a world-record transfer to Real Madrid. So, will he stay or will he go?

If he leaves, the Premiership would be losing one of its best players.

Wayne Rooney

Position: Deep-lying forward

Club: Manchester United

Age: 27

Just as with Gareth Bale, the question concerning Wayne Rooney is simple: Will he stay or will he go?

The difference is he's likely to stay in the Premier League either way.

Last season Rooney, a veteran England international forward, reportedly fell out with legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson has since retired but, under new manager David Moyes, Rooney's future remains uncertain.

More recently, Rooney has reportedly expressed confidence in a transfer to Chelsea and as the Telegraph's Alan Hansen argues, such a move could have a profound impact on the title race.

Rooney might not be the player he once was, but he remains influential enough to affect the race for the Premier League title.

Marco Van Ginkel

Position: Midfielder

Club: Chelsea

Age: 20

Imagine you were a 20-year-old footballer with a tough choice on your hands. What would you do?

Would you remain with Vitesse in Holland, where you have a guaranteed first-team spot and Europa League football?

Or would you move to England, join Chelsea and try to break into a midfield that's packed with talent?

That was the choice facing Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel this summer. He chose Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho has said he'll play.

So will he? And more to the point, is he good enough to break into the title favorites' first team? We're about to find out.

Wilfried Bony

Position: Striker

Club: Swansea City

Age: 24

Speaking of Vitesse, the Dutch club also lost centre-forward Wilfried Bony this summer, with Swansea paying £12 million for the Ivorian.

That figure represented a major investment for the Welsh club but Bony could turn into one of the best signings of the season.

Last season Bony scored 31 goals in 30 Eredivisie starts for Vitesse and he's already forming a solid understanding with Michu, who was among the league's best signings a summer ago.

If both are on form this season, expect big things from the Swans and manager Michael Laudrup.

"

I'm calling my #BPL player to watch. Wilfried Bony of Swansea. £12m. Huge £ 4 Swans. Bags of goals in Holland,can he step up? Laudrup shrewd

— Arlo White (@arlowhite) August 11, 2013"

Leroy Fer

Position: Midfielder

Team: Norwich City

Age: 23

Box-to-box midfielder Leroy Fer nearly signed with Everton for £8.6 million in January but failed his medical, causing the Toffees to pull out of the deal.

This summer the Dutch international instead signed with Norwich City and the Canaries might have found themselves quite a bargain at £4.5 million.

The 23-year-old can fill multiple roles in central midfield and boasts superior physical traits such as speed, size and aerial ability. He impressed with Holland at the European Under-21 Championships this summer and at Norwich he'll likely serve as the provider for new striker signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Together, those two could show Norwich supporters plenty to like this season.

Wilfried Zaha

Position: Winger/forward

Club: Manchester United

Age: 20

Wilfried Zaha, a 20-year-old English starlet, signed for Manchester United last season but spent the rest of the season loaned back to selling club Crystal Palace.

With Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, he became the legendary Scot's last signing for United.

That fact alone should be reason enough to keep an eye on Zaha this season. But a quick viewing of his highlight clips should provide any extra incentive necessary.

Writing on Zaha at the end of last season, B/R's Will Tidey projected big things for the youngster:

"

Should Zaha produce on his potential next season, Moyes may have the beginnings of a new United foundation.

If that happens, England manager Roy Hodgson will no doubt be thinking the same and Zaha will be headed for Brazil with a mountain of expectation on his shoulders.

"

That's a lot of pressure for a 20-year-old but Zaha has the talent needed to fulfill the hype.

Christian Benteke

Position: Striker

Club: Aston Villa

Age: 22

Christian Benteke's first season in England was a stunning success. After joining Aston Villa from Genk last summer, the Belgium international bagged 19 league goals and helped Villa avoid relegation.

That led to a dramatic summer that saw Benteke sign a new contract after reportedly submitting a transfer request. Meanwhile, manager Paul Lambert has brought in some exciting new talent including defender Jores Okore.

But Benteke's goals will still be key for the Villans, who could be targeting a return to mid-table after a couple of lean years. And the Belgian will be keen to show he's no one-hit wonder.

Simon Mignolet

Position: Goalkeeper

Club: Liverpool

Age: 25

Liverpool signed Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for an initial fee of £9 million this summer from Sunderland, a move that hastened the departure of Pepe Reina and his suddenly unjustifiable wages.

So were the Reds right to cut ties with Reina in favor of a younger alternative? Was the unpleasantness that followed worth it?

To find out, keep an eye on Liverpool's goalkeeping situation this season.

Jesus Navas

Position: Winger

Club: Manchester City

Age: 27

Title contenders Manchester City have been abundantly busy this summer and to reflect that fact, we're devoting the next four slides to new manager Manuel Pellegrini and his team.

The first signing we'll focus on here is perhaps the most important. In signing winger Jesus Navas from Sevilla, City addressed a glaring deficiency from last season's failed title defense—a lack of width—and gained a top-class player at a decent price.

Simply put, that makes Navas a superb signing for City. As such, his arrival could be a key moment in this season's title race.

Stevan Jovetic

Position: Deep-lying forward

Club: Manchester City

Age: 23

Montenegrin international Stevan Jovetic is a deep-lying forward with excellent technical skills and an eye for goal from long range.

Having cost Manchester City £22 million, his injury history could be a concern, but with 13 Serie A goals in 31 appearances last season, he'll help City fill the holes left in the attack by the departures of Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez.

Fernandinho

Position: Midfielder

Club: Manchester City

Age: 28

How badly did Fernandinho want to join Manchester City? He paid £4 million of his own transfer fee so that the deal would not collapse.

After that personal investment, City ended up paying £30 million, the type of sum normally associated with flashy strikers. Now the Brazilian midfielder must go about justifying it.

Other questions to pose: Will Fernandinho fit in with Yaya Toure in City's midfield? Was he right to shell out so much of his own cash to secure a move to City? And can he leverage a successful campaign into a spot on Brazil's World Cup roster?

Alvaro Negredo

Position: Striker

Club: Manchester City

Age: 27

Even for a club of Manchester City's resources, Alvaro Negredo's price tag of £28 million was steep.

That said, the Spaniard scored 25 goals for Sevilla last season in La Liga and he'll benefit from the presence of Jesus Navas—also signed from Sevilla—on the wing.

What's less certain is playing time in Manuel Pellegrini's squad. City also signed Stevan Jovetic this summer and the Montenegrin is already forming a strong partnership with Edin Dzeko. In addition, Sergio Aguero remains from the title-winning 2011-12 squad and will contend for first-team minutes.

Paulinho

Position: Midfielder

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Age: 25

Paulinho has yet to play a single minute in the Premier League but already his stock is soaring.

Following a 2012 FIFA Club World Cup title with Corinthians, Paulinho stood out in Brazil's midfield as the Seleçao won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. In the latter tournament, he formed half of Brazil's double-pivot defensive midfield with Luiz Gustavo but he has also played as a No. 10 with Corinthians.

As a versatile, talented midfielder, Paulinho promises to make a mark on the Premier League in his first season. The main question seems to be exactly where on the field he'll play.

Coutinho

Position: Midfielder

Club: Liverpool

Age: 21

In 21-year-old Brazilian Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool have an exciting No. 10 who possesses creativity, vision and touch.

As B/R tactical analyst Sam Tighe writes, Coutinho needs only to perform consistently and the Reds "could be in for a series of cricket scores."

Whether or not Luis Suarez stays, Anfield will host a top-class, creative attacking talent this season.

Andre Schurrle

Position: Deep-lying forward

Club: Chelsea

Age: 22

German international Andre Schurrle scored 11 goals and added seven assists last season as Bayer Leverkusen finished an impressive third in the Bundesliga, just one point behind UEFA Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund.

He joined Chelsea over the summer in an £18 million deal, apparently after speaking with former Chelsea and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack.

The question for Schurrle—as it tends to be with Chelsea's signings—is how and where he will find playing time. But at just 22 years old, Schurrle has already proven in the Bundesliga and international game that he has the tools needed to succeed.

Laurent Koscielny

Position: Centre-back

Club: Arsenal

Age: 27

A surprising footnote from the 2012-13 season, in which Arsenal struggled mightily to finish fourth and secure Champions League qualification, was the Gunners' defensive record.

Despite suffering from defensive lapses at various points in the season, Arsenal finished the campaign on form and conceded only 37 goals all year—second-best in the league behind Manchester City.

French defender Laurent Koscielny was probably the biggest on-pitch reason for that. With his outstanding match-reading, tackling and tracking, Koscielny became the Gunners' best defender in 2012-13 and reportedly attracted interest from Bayern Munich.

Arsene Wenger's team will be aiming for a top-four finish—at least—again this season and Koscielny's form will be crucial.

Jozy Altidore

Position: Striker

Club: Sunderland

Age: 23

American striker Jozy Altidore failed to make an impact in his first tour of the Premier League with Hull City in 2009-10.

Now, though, he's coming off a wildly-successful season in Holland with AZ, for whom he scored 23 league goals last season.

Highlights of the last campaign included three hat-tricks and the winner against PSV in the Dutch Cup final. And after struggling for years to recreate his form at international level, Altidore bagged four goals for the U.S. in June alone.

Altidore has both improved and matured since his first stint in the Premier League. Expect him to show it this season with Sunderland.