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#3 Pascal Struijk
Liam Cooper, Leeds United captain, believes Pascal Struijk has every quality to become one of the best centre-backs in world football in the future. The 22-year old has had his struggles with injury this season, but has still managed 16 Premier League appearances.
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On every occasion that he has played, Struijk has been extremely impressive and has shown versatality by playing as a left-back and in defensive midfield as well. He has a great leap which helps the player win a lot of aerial duels.
While isolated one-on-one against the attackers, Struijk has shown that he can hold his ground extremely well too. The Premier League demands a certain physicality and the Dutchman has shown he is up for the challenge. The Leeds defender is extremely composed with the ball at his feet and is a great passer.
This attribute allows him to actively get involved with his team's pressing tactics despite playing in the rearguard. Struijk boasts a success rate of 39.9 per cent when he applies the press and has 97 successful attempts at pressing in the Premier League.
#2 Grant Hanley
Norwich City are the bottom-placed side in the Premier League and seem destined for a drop to the Championship this season. They have only managed to gather 17 points from 25 games.
Captain Grant Hanley is the commander-in-chief of the rearguard that has the worst goal difference in the Premier League (-38). They have conceded 53 goals so far in the English top-flight.
While the club's overall stats are abysmal, the captain has done his bit to help the team and help his own reputation.
The 30-year-old has made 20 appearances in the Premier League and also scored in Norwich's 2-1 victory against Southampton earlier in the season. The Scot is among the most successful players when it comes to pressing with a success rate of 40.1 per cent. From his 167 attempts at pressing the opposition, he has been able to convert the pressure 67 times.
Dean Smith has steadied the ship since taking charge of the Canaries, but saving them from relegation is a different ball game.
#1 Mohamed Salisu
Mohammed Salisu is finally getting to show his quality in the Premier League and has emerged as a colassal figure in the Southampton backline. He arrived at the English club in 2020 from Real Sociedad but suffered serious injuries that limited him to only 12 appearances in the English top-flight.
The Ghanian has sustained his fitness this season and has only missed one Premier League game so far. Salisu is at the top of the charts when it comes to creating pressure and boasts a 40.3 per cent success rate. He has attempted 243 presses and has converted 96 times for his team.
The centre-back has emerged as a rock at the back and has established a reputation as a tough tackler. This is not the only list he tops.
Salisu has made the most interceptions (58) in the English top-flight as well. The defender has been extremely successful so far and stands out while marking his man.
He suffocates the space and gives very little freedom to the attackers. The Saints are heading towards a top-half finish in the Premier League and Salisu deserves as much credit as anyone else in that team and even more. The question is, for how long will Southampton be able to keep him in their ranks?
