One player every Premier League side cannot afford to sell in the transfer window
After disappointing seasons for the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, plenty of cash is set to be spent
The return of the Premier League season is edging closer and, as ever, the summer transfer window is still providing fans with plenty of entertainment.
Although the new Merlin ball is yet to be kicked, all 20 sides in the English top-flight are still anxiously hoping to improve their squad.
Thus far, Manchester United have been the most aggressive side in the market. After capturing Daniel James from Swansea City for £15million, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer went big and parted with £50m to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace.
Of course, there are no shortage of potential departures from Old Trafford this season.
Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba have both been linked with lucrative moves this summer, with the Belgium international seemingly set to move to a Serie A side.
And while the sales of both men would see a sizeable injection of cash pumped into Old Trafford, it begs the question as to how important they both are to United.
This is a question a number of Premier League sides are asking after seeing some of their star players also linked with moves away.
Wilfried Zaha is undoubtedly adored at Crystal Palace, but if you travel to south London and find Eagles fans who would not sell him for an extortionate price to Arsenal, they are probably in the minority.
Similarly, West Ham United sold Marko Arnautovic to Shanghai SIPG earlier this week. But fans in the East End remain optimistic about their prospects for the upcoming season.
So which players can be considering genuinely unstoppable for their sides? Scroll down to see the one player marvelbet369.com believes your Premier League side cannot afford to sell in the transfer window.
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AFC Bournemouth - Nathan Ake
Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser are arguably Bournemouth's two most important players. Going forward, the duo looked unstoppable at times last season.
But 24-year-old Ake is the main man at the Vitality, make no mistake about that.
Eddie Howe's side have traditionally suffered dips of form throughout the season, but it is the fortitude of Ake which helped see them through last year.
Averaging 6.1 clearances a game, the Netherlands international is a classic example of what a good centre-back should be.
Arsenal - Alexandre Lacazette
Upon signing for Arsenal in 2017, many fans believed Lacazette was simply brought in to score goals. After all, he had managed to net 129 times in 275 games for previous side Lyon.
But the France international has a vast array of redeeming features which have endeared him to Arsenal fans.
His hold-up play, determination and willingness to play anywhere for his team were key factors behind the fan's decision to award him the Player of the Year Award.
With 13 Premier League goals to his name last year, the Gunners striker is vital to the way Unai Emery wants to play.
Aston Villa - Jack Grealish
It's not very often modern day fans get to see a real-life Roy of the Rovers story played out, but Grealish is doing just that.
The boyhood Villa fan thought he was signing for Tottenham last summer due to the club's financial struggles, but the owners came in and locked him down to a new deal.
He then struggled with a shin injury, but lead the Villans to 13 wins out of 16 in the Championship to lead them to the Play-Offs.
The 23-year-old is expected to retain the captain's armband when the Premier League season kicks off and will be crucial to their survival chances.
Brighton and Hove Albion - Lewis Dunk
When Chris Hughton was surprisingly given the sack at the end of last season, a stunned silence must have fallen over the Amex Stadium.
The Seagulls had just secured a third consecutive season in the Premier League and Hughton is recognised as being one of the nicest men in football.
Given Brighton are now experiencing an overhaul under new boss Graham Potter, the last thing they can afford to do is lose their captain.
The England international has helped Brighton keep 17 clean sheets since arriving in the Premier League, maintaining a tackle success rate of 54 per cent as well.
Burnley - James Tarkowski
Michael Keane's move to Everton threatened to send Burnley spiralling back into the Championship, but the stoic Sean Dyche dug his heels in and the Clarets are still a Premier League side.
Perhaps no player better epitomises that spirit than Tarkowski. The 26-year-old was promoted after Keane's move to Merseyside and has worked hard to keep his place.
Now an England international, the centre-back is thriving at Turf Moor. Averaging 6.7 tackles and 1.6 clearances per game, Tarkowski is Burnley's most important player.
With Harry Maguire potentially leaving Leicester, Dyche has been quick to slap a £40m price tag on the former Oldham Athletic defender.
Chelsea - N'Golo Kante
Of all the players to suffer under Murizio Sarri's reign at Chelsea, Kante was perhaps the one who bore the brunt of the Italian's rigid tactics.
Played in a more advanced midfield role, the France international struggled to produce the calibre of performances fans have begun accustomed to. But you don't win back-to-back Premier League titles and then the World Cup if you're a bad player.
Despite Kante's indifferent season, Frank Lampard simply HAS to keep the midfielder and play him in his strongest role.
On his day, there are few better defensive midfielders in the world. During the 2016/17 season, Kante made 127 tackles, 82 interceptions and a staggering 275 recoveries.
Crystal Palace - Luka Milivojevic
A deadline day signing from Olympiacos in 2017 under Sam Allardyce, few Palace fans knew just how influential Milivojevic would become.
The Serbia international has since become the first-choice midfielder, the designated set-piece taker and now Eagles captain.
Strong in the tackle and an excellent reader of the game, the 28-year-old is unerringly consistent and so reliable. He averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.9 interceptions a game, whilst maintaining an 80 per cent pass success rate.
With Zaha seemingly off, Palace will need Milivojevic's leadership abilities to steady the ship at Selhurst Park.
Everton - Gylfi Sigurdsson
A £45m signing from Swansea City, Sigurdsson is finally getting the recognition he deserves at Everton.
The Iceland international may not possess the pace of modern day attacking midfielders, but his technical ability is impressive.
Last season, he scored 13 goals and registered six assists as the Toffees enjoyed a comfortable season under Marco Silva.
But the Portuguese boss will want to push on and with Andre Gomes signed on a permanent deal, Sigurdsson's role at Goodison Park has become even more vital.
Leicester City - Wilfred Ndidi
While it would be terrible to lose Harry Maguire to either Manchester City or Manchester United, there are question marks about how much further the England international can develop.
Already an outstanding ball-carrier as well as a solid defender, the 26-year-old is nearing his prime years. And while he is already fantastic, Ndidi could be exceptional. He made 143 tackles in the top-flight last season - more than any other player.
It is almost scary to think the midfielder is only 22 years of age, he was a regular starter for Nigeria at the World Cup last summer and appeared in every Premier League game for the Foxes in 2018/19.
Tenacious in the tackle and averaging 52.2 passes per game, the youngster is exactly what a manager wants from a holding midfielder. If they lose him, there are very players in world football with as much potential they could afford to get.
Liverpool - Virgil van Dijk
Perhaps the easiest name to put on this list, Van Dijk is one of the best players in the world and is set to become the first defender to win the Ballon d'Or since Fabio Cannavaro since 2006.
Statistically, the Netherlands captain was superb; no-one has completed a dribble past Virgil van Dijk in any of his last 64 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool. While Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are important, Van Dijk is irreplaceable.
So even if a ludicrous bid comes in for the 27-year-old, Liverpool simply cannot afford to sell him. Not just because of his on-pitch performances, but for the message it sends to the rest of the world.
After winning the Champions League, bowing to the financial pressure of a Real Madrid or a Barcelona suggests the Reds are weak. Keeping Van Dijk transcends football, it is a power move to reject any and every offer which finds its way to Anfield.
Manchester City - Bernardo Silva
When the little Portuguese rocked up at the Etihad in 2017, many felt he would sit on the bench and play a bit part role for a few years until his namesake David decided to call it a day.
However, the 24-year-old has established himself as one of, if not the most important player in Pep Guardiola's well-oiled City machine. He epitomises the type of football the Spaniard wants to play.
Silva made 1.4 tackles per game on average in the Premier League, but also managed to keep an exorbitantly high 86.1 per cent pass success rate, which for an attacking is sensational.
With seven goals and seven assists last season, the relentless Guardiola will expect more from a player whose pattern of growth seems exponential.
Manchester United - Paul Pogba
Perhaps the most divisive figure in world football at this time, everyone has an opinion on Paul Pogba.
Talented, yet temperamental, the France international wants out of Old Trafford. But it seems like a huge mistake to get rid of him.
Statistically speaking, Pogba was unmatched at Old Trafford. The 26-year-old scored 13 goals and got nine assists, more than anyone other Red Devil.
But, as with Van Dijk at Liverpool, selling Pogba would be a decision which transcends football. He is a marketable asset and letting him go suggests United can no longer keep, nor attract the best players in world football. He is the last genuine star in that squad.
Newcastle United - Fabian Schar
Newcastle United are in danger of free-falling out of the Premier League trap door and tumbling into the Championship.
Back in May when rumours of a wealthy investor began to circulate, odds began to shorten drastically on the Magpies signing Kylian Mbappe. But the rumours proved to not be true, with Rafael Benitez quickly plotting his escape route to China.
If relegation is to be staved off, the club MUST hold on to the quality players they have in the squad, with Schar the first.
The Switzerland international was Newcastle's best player according to , with a rating of 7.30. His no-nonsense defensive style is complimented by a knack of scoring important goals too.
Norwich City - Tom Trybull
Daniel Farke's revolution at Carrow Road is nothing short of spectacular, taking an average Canaries side from finishing 14th in the Championship to winning it in spectacular style.
And Trybull's emergence from Alex Tettey's shadow to become a first-team regular is testament to Farke's ability. He will be crucial to Norwich's chances of staying the division, especially considering they are unlikely to enjoy as much possession in the top-flight as they did last year.
A regular amongst the German youth teams, the midfielder seemed destined for mediocrity until he took his chance in East Anglia. According to Norwich’s Sporting Director, Stuart Webber, Trybull’s new coach had fought hard for the midfielder to come to Carrow Road.
He said: “He is lucky he has an outstanding coach who believes in him. Daniel fought for the opportunity for Tom. He came through very much on Daniel’s advice. I like people who are brave and willing to put themselves out of their comfort zone and pretty much beg for an opportunity.”
Sheffield United - John Egan
A club-record signing from Brentford, Egan has the potential to follow in the footsteps of former Blades hero Harry Maguire.
Egan endured loan spells with Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Bradford City and Southend United, and has represented Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.
He was released by Sunderland at the end of the 2013–14 season, and signed a 2-year deal with Gillingham in July 2014.
But now, he has established himself as a crucial member of Chris Wilder's' defence and his willingness to put his body on the line (as illustrated by his red card at Millwall) will be invaluable to securing a second Premier League season.
Southampton - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
A former Bayern Munich midfielder, Hojbjerg made the decision to join Southampton in 2016 after being convinced by Claude Puel.
Now working under his THIRD permanent manager in three years, the 23-year-old has taken over the captain's armband and diligently carries on in midfield.
It is this behaviour which the Saints desperately crave and will need throughout the season. After having some of their best talents ripped from the south coast, Hojbjerg's single-mindedness and determination is exactly what the club needs.
As illustrated by Mario Lemina, the upheaval at St Mary's can unsettle players. But Hojbjerg's unerring consistency will give fans hope of genuine progression in years to come.
Tottenham Hotspur - Heung-Min Son
For several years, the former Bayer Leverkusen attacker was touted as just an 'underrated' option up front for Spurs.
But Son is much more than that, his pace and trickery make him a constant threat for 90 minutes, but it it his consistency and the addition of goals which makes him so special.
Harry Kane has shown a pattern of breaking down throughout the course of a season, perhaps linked to his importance for both club and country. In his absence, the South Korea international has led the line superbly.
Stats last season suggested Spurs actually won more games and scored more without Kane in their side, but with Son leading the line.
Watford - Abdoulaye Doucoure
Watford enjoyed a terrific season last time out under Javi Gracia, reaching the FA Cup final. Although they were thumped by Manchester City, the season can still be classed as a success.
Much of that can be attributed to the presence of Abdoulaye Doucoure at the base of the Hornets' midfield. Gracia was able to play a diamond in midfield which, thanks to Doucoure, meant Will Hughes and Roberto Pereyra flourished further forward.
Even from a deeper position, the 26-year-old managed to record six assists and chipped in with five goals. His strengths lie in winning the ball back and driving forward, maintaining a 83.5 per cent pass success rate and averaging 1.5 shots per game from a deeper position.
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly still interested, with Liverpool also in the frame. The Frenchman wants to play Champion League football, but the Hornets must retain their star man if they want to build on their 11th-placed finish.
West Ham United - Declan Rice
For those who watched West Ham regularly last season, you will understand the hype around Rice.
A centre-back by trade, Maneul Pellegrini moved the 20-year-old into the heart of the midfield and he has not looked back, making his England debut later in the season.
He made more tackles than any other West Ham player (98), was second in passes (1,518) and third in interceptions (52).
Quite simply, he is the defensive shield Manuel Pellegrini needs in order to play the attacking brand of football he is famed for. Without Rice at the base of midfield, West Ham lost their opening four games of last season in convincing style.
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Diogo Jota
Ruben Neves is a superstar and Raul Jimenez is also an integral member of Nuno Espirito Santo's squad, but Jota quickly showed he had the quality to become the main man.
Aged just 22, the versatile forward embodied all that was good about Wolves last season. Fearless and not afraid to attack, Jota scored nine goals and five assists in his debut campaign.
But what is more important is the calibre of opposition he scored against. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all conceded against the Portuguese star.
He picked up 11 yellow cards which, although suggests a lack of discipline, is also an indicator of how he is willing to get stuck for his team and even make the necessary cynical fouls when tracking back to stop the momentum of the opposition.