Premier League 2019/20: Ranking the top 10 playmakers heading into the new season

#1 Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

De Bruye was the inaugural winner of the Premier League Playmaker award

There really could only be one player to top this list, as Kevin de Bruyne is the quintessential definition of what it means to be a playmaker.

Indeed, it was fitting that the Belgian international was the first ever recipient of the newly created Premier League Playmaker award, as it was just reward for the extraterrestrial level he has performed at over the years.

Having been discarded by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea at a young age, De Bruyne went on to star for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, prompting a return to the Premier League with Manchester City in 2015.

When it comes to playmaking, there is arguably no one better than De Bruyne (although Messi would have something to say about that), but proof of the Belgian's greatness lies in the fact that in the five years between 2013 and 2018, no one had more assists than De Bruyne in Europe's top five leagues (including Messi).

Adept in the use of both feet, possessing both long and short range passing ability, blessed with vision and the skill to pick out teammates effortlessly, while also having a tireless work ethic that sees him track back to help out with defending; 'KDB' as he is fondly called is almost the embodiment of a complete modern midfielder.

Indeed, he was essentially given a free role as Manchester City embarked on their one-horse race to the 2018 Premier League title, which is saying something, as Pep Guardiola is notoriously meticulous in his preparations and has an assigned role to the last detail for every player in his team.

Only the best of the best (read Messi) are given free roles in Guardiola's teams and for Kevin de Bruyne to have operated in this role is indicative of the premium placed on him by Pep.

For visual representation of what it means to be a playmaker of the highest quality, just browse through de Bruyne's catalogue of 18 assists during City's run to the 2018 title. The number 14 was virtually unplayable at times, and had all manners of assists and passes in his bag that season.

Injury robbed him off playing a key role in City's blitz last season, but having returned to full fitness, KDB would be raring to go and remind everyone just who the king of playmaking is in England.