The new Premier League season is drawing closer and this week we are examining which players have a point to prove in 2017/18. In the fourth of our five-part series we pick out five men in the spotlight, from Raheem Sterling to Eden Hazard.
Raheem Sterling
The Manchester City forward made a promising start to life under Pep Guardiola, scoring five goals before the end of September. Indeed, he was not on the losing side until the following month. But the goals dried up as City stuttered and his place in the team is under threat.
Will the £49m man kick on in 2017/18 or will Gabriel Jesus’s capacity to play wide, coupled with the arrival of Bernardo Silva from Monaco, curtail his opportunities to impress? Sterling will need to make the most of the chances he gets – adding more goals and assists – if he is to succeed.
Eden Hazard
For the second time in three seasons, Hazard’s genius was widely regarded as a key factor in Chelsea winning the Premier League title. The brilliant Belgian scored 16 goals under Antonio Conte, the best haul of his career, and has the capacity to score even more in 2017/18.
However, history is not on Hazard’s side. Last time that he was heralded as the league’s star man, he endured a miserable follow-up campaign – failing to find the net in the Premier League until late April. He will surely avoid a repeat of that this time around.
Jay Rodriguez
In the current climate, Rodriguez’s £12m move from Southampton to West Brom could be considered something of a bargain for a 27-year-old England international forward who once scored 15 goals in a Premier League season. But that was some time – and one major injury – ago.
There are still concerns whether Rodriguez is capable of recapturing his best form since that cruciate ligament injury of 2014. But there is no questioning his work rate and, with the ability to play in various forward positions, expect Tony Pulis to count on his new signing.
Vicente Iborra
Leicester’s 2016 transfer work was largely disappointing but their activity this summer has been more encouraging and the arrival of Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra looks a positive move. The 29-year-old Spaniard adds experience and quality to the Foxes midfield.
His previous visit to the King Power Stadium was not a pleasant one – beaten 2-0 as Sevilla were knocked out of the Champions League – but he has at least had a taste of the unique atmosphere at the ground. Iborra will now be hoping he can be the catalyst for more nights like that one.
Manolo Gabbiadini
Gabbiadini certainly hit the ground running following his January move to Southampton, scoring six goals in his first four appearances for the club. That included two in the EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester United – only denied a third by a poor offside decision.
But the Italian failed to find the net in his eight subsequent appearances (albeit six of them coming against top-six opponents) and fans will be wondering whether he can recapture his initial form in 2017/18. Gabbiadini will need to start well if he is to answer those doubts.
Euro Soccer Bonus
Our fantastic Euro Soccer accumulator offer gives you the chance to earn a bonus of up to 100% on accumulators on the top domestic leagues in Europe along with the group and knockout stages of the Champions League.
This offer applies to returns on pre-match accumulators of 3 or more selections on Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga 1 or UEFA Champions League.
The maximum bonus that you can receive is €100,000 or currency equivalent. The bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based .on the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is edited .using our Edit Bet feature. The bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply. Double Chance bets or combination bets with bonuses. Such as Lucky 15’s or Lucky .31’s do not apply for this offer.
If your bet is successful, we will add the following bonuses to your returns:
Bet Type Bonus
14-folds and upwards 100% bonus
Terms and Conditions
Applies to straight pre-match accumulator bets on the Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga .1 or Australian A-League matches. Maximum bonus €100,000 or currency equivalent. Euro Soccer Bonus does not apply to Double Chance bets or combination. bets with bonuses such as Lucky 15’s, Lucky 31’s etc.
If any selections are postponed/void then the bonus will still apply, but the percentage bonus added will reflect the actual number of winning selections. For example, an 8-fold accumulator with 7. winners and 1 postponed match will receive a 30% .bonus to returns.
The bonus part of your returns will be added to your account within 24 hours of your final selection having played.
This bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based on the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, the bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply.
Where any term of the offer or promotion is breached or there is any evidence of a series of bets placed by a customer or group of customers, which due to a deposit bonus, enhanced payments, free bets, risk free bets or any other promotional offer results in guaranteed customer profits irrespective of the outcome, whether individually or as part of a group, bet365 reserves the right to reclaim the bonus element of such offers and in their absolute discretion either settle bets at the correct odds, void the free and risk free. bets or void any bet funded by the deposit bonus.
In addition bet365 .reserve the right to levy an administration charge on the customer up to the value of the deposit bonus, free bet, risk free bet or additional payment to cover administrative costs. We further reserve the right to ask any customer to provide sufficient documentation for us to be satisfied in our absolute discretion as to the customer’s identity prior to us crediting any bonus, free bet, risk free bet or offer to their account.
All bet365 offers are intended for recreational players and bet365 may in its sole discretion limit the eligibility of customers to participate in all or part of any promotion.
bet365 reserves the right to amend, cancel, reclaim or refuse any promotion at its own discretion.