Top 5 early contenders for PFA Player of the Year | Premier League 2019-20

1. Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne has become the first player in PL history to provide 15+ assists in three different campaigns

Manchester City’s assist-master Kevin de Bruyne has taken this Premier League season by storm, single-handedly bailing out Pep Guardiola’s men on many occasions. The Belgian superstar currently has an incredible 15 assists to his name, along with 7 goals, which means that the 28-year-old has the most number of goal contributions by a single player this season.

The record for most number of assists in a single Premier League season is currently held by Arsenal’s legendary striker Thierry Henry (20). De Bruyne needs only five more assists in the next 14 games to match that feat, which was set back in the 2003-04 season. And nobody in their right mind will doubt his capability to set a new assists record come May.

De Bruyne’s remarkable double at the Emirates Stadium, his crucial strike against Chelsea at home and fantastic display against Leicester have been some of the highlights of what has been a phenomenal season so far for the former Wolfsburg man. He has created the most number of chances in the league (82) and is also joint-highest in terms of through balls provided (17).

De Bruyne won the Premier League Playmaker of the Year award last to last season

Guardiola and Manchester City have been incredibly unlucky with injuries this season, with key players like Leroy Sane, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Aguero and Rodri all sidelined for significant portions at some point. De Bruyne himself was victim to a long-term knee injury last season which meant that he only featured 19 times in the league after a stellar 2017-18 season which saw him spearhead the Blues to a record-breaking 100-point season.

The attacking midfielder lost out to a red-hot Mohamed Salah for the Player of the Year award that season, however, he was rewarded with the Playmaker of the Season award for his unmatched tally of16 assists. De Bruyne has reinvigorated himself this season and could be on course to win that award again, but his incredible consistency could see him bag a first of many PFA Player of the Year awards.