5 Premier League players who will look to prove their critics wrong next season

A host of Premier League players will have intentions of coming back strong next season.

Football is a game that very often involves silencing people who are confident in venting their judgements early. Players often thrive on proving their mettle and doing the same to show the world their true abilities. Those who fail to do so often fade away and go down as forgotten figures in the game or at the club itself.

Much like any other season, a lot of players were criticised for not living upto their level and hype, be it after the club spent a big transfer fee or after failing to do as well as most would expect them to. With the new Premier League campaign now on the horizon, these players will be handed the golden opportunity to prove doubters wrong and get their careers back on track.

We run the rule over Premier League stars who will be desperate to prove their critics wrong next season.

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#5 Jordon Ibe

Jordon Ibe’s sale to Bournemouth came as a real surprise to Liverpool fans, who were expecting the youngster to become a star for them in the future. The move though, didn’t turn out to be too good.

Ibe could make only 13 starts in the Premier League, as the Cherries finished ninth in the table. He couldn’t find the back of the net even once and despite showing only brief sparks, nothing could substantiate into fire. Eddie Howe’s men shelled out a record £15 million for him, but it could never work out.

The new season will allow the 21-year-old to make a fresh start to things and he will look to prove that he still can live up to the hype that surrounded him as recent as last season.

#4 Olivier Giroud

With Lacazette's arrival, Giroud will have a point to prove

Despite having become an important goalscorer for Arsenal in the past three seasons, Giroud has never been a fan-favorite at the club. And now, with a move on the horizon, he'll will be out to prove a point.

The Frenchman fell out of favour at the Emirates due to Alexis Sanchez’s usage up top, but still managed to score 12 times in the Premier League. Often criticised for being slow, Giroud will have the opportunity to prove his worth that won’t be as big as Arsenal, but the forward will have a regular presence up top.

Everton are seeing Giroud as a replacement for the departed Romelu Lukaku, with the likes of Lyon and Marseille also said to be in his pursuit.

#3 Anthony Martial

Will Martial replicate the form of his debut Premier League campaign?

Someone who did silence a lot of critics during his first season at Old Trafford, young Anthony Martial will have to do so again next season under Jose Mourinho after having endured a tough 2016-17 campaign at Old Trafford.

Last season, Martial struggled for regular game time and could only make 18 Premier League and could only find the back of the net four times. There were glimpses of brilliance, but the former Monaco man’s inability to work as hard as Mourinho wanted saw him fall down the pecking order.

With the new season now beckoning, the French superstar would look to make an impact once again. He has done well in the pre-season friendlies and with United set to challenge on four fronts, he is likely to play more often.

#2 Moussa Sissoko

Moussa Sissoko flattered to deceive last season

When Moussa Sissoko joined Tottenham Hotspur from Newcastle United on deadline day for a £30 million, eyebrows were raised and many questioned whether the Frenchman was the right signing for Mauricio Pochettino’s men so late in the transfer window.

Since then, Sissoko became the worst Premier League signing of last season and never really got going, despite Spurs finishing second behind title winners Chelsea. The 27-year-old couldn’t score even once for the North London based club, hardly breaking into the first team line up and becoming a bit part player under Pochettino.

It’s still unclear as to whether he’ll be offloaded or not, but he’ll have to come back strong and capture some of his old form. With Spurs in the Champions League again, Sissoko would have to live up to his billing, finally.

#1 Claudio Bravo

Claudio will have to work hard and get back the bravado

Many expected Claudio Bravo to prove his true credentials of being a top class goalkeeper by doing well in the Premier League, but the former Barcelona star turned out to be a disappointment.

He always looked vulnerable in situations where the demands were physical and stiff, be it a punch or a strong parry away. He couldn’t impose his presence in the box and looked very frail against attacks that comprised of burly players. Due to that, Willy Caballero was drafted into the side and the Argentine did well in goal, keeping Bravo out of the side.

With Caballero now a Chelsea player and City having signed Ederson from Benfica, Bravo will have a task at hand to prove his worth once again.