PFA Awards 2017: Schedule, Odds and Predictions for Top Nominees
N'Golo Kante is the comfortable odds-on favourite to win the 2017 PFA Player of the Year award on Sunday, while Dele Alli enjoys the same status in the running for PFA Young Player of the Year.
Kante is joined by Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku in the running for the senior gong, per the PFA:
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Meanwhile, on the shortlist for the Young Player of the Year, reigning-winner Alli is competing alongside Kane, Lukaku, Jordan Pickford, Leroy Sane and Michael Keane:
The Premier League Team of the Year has already been announced, with a number of nominees featuring:
The awards ceremony will take place at Grosvenor House in London on Sunday, April 23.
Here are the latest odds, courtesy of Oddschecker:
| N'Golo Kante | 1-8 |
| Eden Hazard | 9-2 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 20-1 |
| Romelu Lukaku | 28-1 |
| Harry Kane | 40-1 |
| Alexis Sanchez | 50-1 |
| Dele Alli | 1-10 |
| Romelu Lukaku | 5-1 |
| Harry Kane | 10-1 |
| Michael Keane | 30-1 |
| Jordan Pickford | None available |
| Leroy Sane | None available |
Predictions
As outstanding as every nominee has been this season, it's hard to argue with the favourites, Kante and Alli.
The former played a crucial role in Leicester City's stunning Premier League title win last year and his impact on Chelsea this season—coupled with the Foxes' struggles without him—have cemented his place as one of, if not the most influential player in the entire division.
That would normally be a bold statement to make about a player for whom goals and assists aren't a key facet of their game—and they're certainly not part of Kante's, who has one of each in the league this season.
Indeed, that Kante is favourite to win the award, which has not been handed out to a defensive-minded player since John Terry won it in 2006, is a testament to just how good he's been.
According to Squawka, the Frenchman has won 72 tackles and made 74 interceptions this term. As Squawka Football further demonstrated, Kante is adept at winning the ball while pressing other teams further up the field:
His reading of the game is tremendous, which allows him to make so many interceptions.
ESPN FC's Liam Twomey hailed a recent example of his uncanny ability to anticipate opponents' passes:
With his outstanding ball-winning skills married to his near-superhuman endurance and drive to cover every blade of grass the level of protection he offers Chelsea's defence is unmatched, and he was a key factor in the Blues going on long unbeaten runs in the Premier League this season.
He's not just a ball-winner, though. He has technical ability, too, having completed 89 per cent of his attempted passes—a higher accuracy than every Chelsea team-mate to make more than five appearances—and completed 34 take-ons at a 74 per cent success rate.
What Kante also boasts ahead of several of his fellow nominees—specifically Ibrahimovic, Lukaku and Sanchez—is consistency.
Ibrahimovic and Lukaku's performances have varied between excellent and woeful, while Sanchez's form has largely suffered since Arsenal's season imploded in February. However, Kante has performed to an exceptional standard each week.
Hazard has been close to his effervescent best for much of the campaign, but Kante is the deserving winner overall.
So too should Alli take the gong of Young Player of the Year for the second year running.
The 21-year-old did have to grow into the season after a slightly lacklustre start, but his form for much of the campaign has been nothing short of incredible.
For starters, he has been highly productive in front of goal, per Squawka Football:
He's scored a variety of goals, too, from cute finishes to thumping long-range efforts, and his continuing maturity has helped him become a more intelligent and effective player in the final third.
That has helped him not only continue to develop his fruitful partnership with Kane but also fill in impressively when his team-mate has been injured
Indeed, his efforts were probably deserving of a nomination in the senior category too.
Pickford has had the thankless task of keeping goal for Sunderland this season and been one of the few positives in the Black Cats' otherwise miserable campaign, but ultimately Alli is the rightful and most likely winner here.
