3 players who could breakout in the 2021/22 Premier League season
By A. Aden
Crystal Palace – Jean-Phillipe Mateta
The FC Mainz talisman made his hotly anticipated switch to South London at the beginning of 2021 and has found himself with limited minutes in his first months in red and blue.
Another of the young players who I admired watching in the Bundesliga. His prowess in and around the box coupled with a respectable frame at 6’2 allows, whoever is to become the Crystal Palace manager, to deploy a variety of playing styles to fit his many facets of skill.
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His breakout comes at a time where higher-ups in Crystal Palace are faced with a difficult decision in which the recent hot streak of Christian Benteke coincides with his expiring contract.
Already on a mammoth 6 figure p/w deal, Palace should be adamant in lowering the already inflated wage bill. A decision to extend the stay of the big striker should ultimately come with a decision in which playstyle the new manager decides to field.
His success comes with the team playing quality crosses in his path, crosses that weren’t there in previous seasons and should be thanks to the emergence of fullback Tyrick Mitchell, midfielder Eze and forward Andros Townsend hitting a respectable run of form.
The departures of Batshuayi and Wickham this summer will have the number of natural striking options dwindle to just 3 (Ayew, Mateta, Zaha) with the latter still looking undecided on his future at the club.
With this, should Mateta get the chance to spearhead the team, I do feel as though Mainz’s 3rd-most expensive departure will hit the ground running and Parish will be a happy man.