ROSS BARKLEY (CHELSEA)
Plenty of Chelsea fans raised an eyebrow at the signing of Barkley for £15million last January – and so far they have been proved right.
The former Everton midfielder was plagued by injury problems during his last six months on Merseyside and the trend continued following his move south.
Barkley missed more than three months with a hamstring problem and made only four appearances in all competitions, failing to stand out in any of them.
With the man who signed him, Antonio Conte, no longer in charge, the 24-year-old has set about impressing Maurizio Sarri in pre-season, but he must stay fit to stand any chance of getting his floundering career back on track.
JACK WILSHERE (WEST HAM)
Another player to have struggled with serious injuries in recent years, Wilshere finally took the plunge and left boyhood club Arsenal permanently this summer.
He turned down lucrative moves abroad to stay in England and sign for the club he supported as a kid on a free transfer, but now needs to repay West Ham’s faith.
Wilshere played 38 times for the Gunners last term, which suggests that he may well be over the physical issues with have cost him plenty of appearances over the years.
But the majestic midfield performances he often put in as a youngster have been far too rare and that must change if he is to help his new club aim for better than mid-table mediocrity – and break back into the England squad.
PAUL POGBA (MANCHESTER UNITED)
When it comes to up-and-down seasons, not many players can compete with Pogba and his 2017-18 campaign.
The Manchester United man endured a frustrating year for his club as poor displays and a rift with Jose Mourinho overshadowed any positives, but he then starred for France as they lifted the World Cup.
The challenge for Pogba now is to recapture the form he showed in the final against Croatia and win back the trust of the manager who paid £89m to sign him in 2016.
Getting Mourinho back on side will not be an easy task if United’s pre-season is anything to go by, but the 25-year-old showed in Russia that he has the talent to still be a hit at Old Trafford.
MESUT OZIL (ARSENAL)
After months of speculation regarding his future, Ozil committed himself to Arsenal by signing a new deal worth £350,000-a-week in February. The jury, however, remains out.
The German has long divided opinion in north London and last season was no different as Arsene Wenger’s men failed to win a trophy and dropped out of the Champions League places.
Ozil enters the new campaign with Germany’s World Cup failure and his subsequent international retirement hanging over him, but with the promise of a fresh start under new boss Unai Emery.
Although he is set to play a key role in the Spaniard’s system, Ozil still has plenty of critics to silence and he will only do that by earning his place and returning to his creative best.
DANIEL STURRIDGE (LIVERPOOL)
Sturridge appears to have been handed another reprieve by Jurgen Klopp after some lively displays in pre-season, but it is likely to be the last one he gets.
The former Chelsea striker became a forgotten man at Anfield last term and was shipped out on loan to West Brom in January, making only six appearances for the Baggies following yet more injury trouble.
However, he has been fit and firing so far this summer and has an opportunity to challenge Roberto Firmino for the central berth in Liverpool’s all action attack.
With Champions League fixtures and the domestic cups to contend with too, Sturridge could get more minutes than some might expect – if he can stay fit.
BENJAMIN MENDY (MANCHESTER CITY)
Mendy made a flying start to life at Manchester City following his £52m move from Monaco last summer and quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite with his displays and fun-loving behaviour across social media.
But a serious knee injury suffered in late September cruelly disrupted the Frenchman’s debut season in England, leaving him on the sidelines until April.
He looks set to be Pep Guardiola’s first-choice left back next season after returning to full fitness, but must turn his early promise into a consistent campaign as City look to defend the title and win the Champions League for the first time.
Strong performances and light-hearted Instagram posts go well together, but he must ensure Mendy the comedian doesn’t outshine the player.
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (TOTTENHAM)
Once a mainstay of Tottenham’s defence, Alderweireld faces a big season whether he stays in north London or moves elsewhere before the window closes.
The Belgium star fell out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino last term and has so far refused to sign an improved contract, despite many of his team-mates committing themselves to the club long-term.
Manchester United are among Alderweireld’s suitors and should he move to Old Trafford, he will need to become the rock Mourinho desperately needs in his back four.
But with another season at Spurs looking the most likely, the former Southampton man must now focus on working his way back into Pochettino’s starting XI.
MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN (EVERTON)
After quickly finding his feet at Goodison Park following a move from Manchester United in January last year, the 2017-18 season soon became a nightmare for Schneiderlin – and many of his team-mates.
The Frenchman’s performances were emblematic of Everton’s problems under Ronald Koeman, David Unsworth and Sam Allardyce as he struggled to even get the basics right.
Frustrated fans turned on Schneiderlin and he was left out of the squad after an apparent disagreement with Unsworth during a training session at Finch Farm.
The ex-Southampton man showed some glimpses of form towards the end of a disappointing season, but must do more if he is to impress new boss Marco Silva.
JONNY EVANS (LEICESTER)
Despite playing 31 times in all competitions for relegated West Brom last season, Evans found himself with plenty of admirers as the transfer window opened.
He opted to join Leicester for £3.5m after they triggered his release clause, with many observers regarding it as one of the best value deals of the summer.
But although the Baggies’ demotion to the Championship was due to much more than Evans’ performances, the Northern Ireland international will be determined to show that he is capable of playing for a club with European aspirations.
At Leicester he has the opportunity to do exactly that – and banish the memories of West Brom’s miserable 2017-18 campaign in the process.
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE (CRYSTAL PALACE)
Benteke’s record for Palace last season reads as follows: 31 appearances, three goals. Put simply, it just wasn’t good enough for a striker who cost £27m two years ago.
The big Belgian was a regular under Roy Hodgson and, although his style is about more than just goals, his lack of killer instinct undoubtedly contributed to their struggles at the wrong end of the table.
Benteke also apologised to his manager and team-mates after missing an injury-time penalty in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in December, despite regular taker Luka Milivojevic still being on the pitch.
As the club’s main striker – and with Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend supplying him – Benteke must do better when the new season gets underway.