Ruben Dias, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne amongst the favourites to lift accolade
Manchester City are on the brink of lifting their third Premier League title in four years as Pep Guardiola's men enjoy another stellar domestic campaign.
With eight league fixtures left to go, the Cityzens hold a staggering 14-point lead on second-placed Manchester United and are on course of retrieving the title from Liverpool, and a lot of this has to do with Guardiola’s approach.
Guardiola can be nothing but proud of his team's performance following a stuttering start to the season. City are the overwhelming betting favourites with bookmakers from all over the world including those betting at Realcasinoscanada for the Premier League and the Champions League this year, and are the odds-on favourites for completing an unlikely quadruple. For those betting on City, they are also the favourites for the EFL Cup (in the final) and FA Cup (in the semifinals).
Unlike the last Premier League campaign, the Spaniard has overseen a tremendous contribution from some unexpected sources.
As tradition dictates, the one individual will get to claim the flattering award for the best player in the Premier League.
In addition to the always-present figures in the shape of Ederson, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, there have been two X-factors to navigate City to the top.
Ruben Dias
Guardiola's decision not to purchase a replacement for Vincent Kompany came back to haunt him last season as Liverpool swept City aside in the title run-in.
However, the Spaniard has learned from his mistakes and earmarked £61million to snatch Ruben Dias away from Benfica in the summer transfer market.
It has proved to be the smartest money Guardiola has spent on a defensive player since arriving at the helm in 2016.
The 23-year-old centre-back has immediately adapted to a new environment, single-handedly turning City's shaky backline into a rock-solid unit and helping City put on a spectacular 21-game winning streak this season.
It is enough to say that the runaway Premier League leaders have conceded more than once in just two of 25 league matches with Dias in the starting line-up.
Additionally, the stability and confidence he has brought to City's defensive department have helped get the best out of John Stones.
Before Dias' arrival, the Englishman was on the verge of leaving the Etihad on the back of a disappointing string of displays.
The ex-Everton man's resurgence coincided with his newly-established partnership with the Portuguese ace, turning him into a defender Guardiola was hoping to obtain when dished out £47m in 2016.
It is safe to say that Dias was a missing link last season and a catalyst to tip the scales in favour of City this term.
Ilkay Gundogan
Despite boasting intimidating firepower in the front third, Guardiola has seen many vital goals this season come from an unlikely source.
Ilkay Gundogan, who has spent most of his career creating chances for his teammates, has soaked up the limelight as City's top-scorer this term.
A true maestro as he is, the Gelsenkirchen native has largely assisted De Bruyne in orchestrating the team's attacking maneuvers.
In addition to a pass success percentage of 91.1% (WhoScored), he has averaged 1.5 key passes per game and has rarely put his foot wrong.
But playing in a more advanced position, the former Borussia Dortmund star has discovered a virtue he was not aware of.
Gundogan has tallied 12 goals in the Premier League and added three more in the Champions League.
Most recently, he unlocked Everton's stubborn defence in the FA Cup quarter-final before De Bruyne put the game to bed.
Indeed, the 30-year-old German has been nothing short of remarkable this season and deserves much of the credit for City's inexorable march towards the Premier League title.
Kevin De Bruyne
The first name to come to mind when talking about City is De Bruyne.
Guardiola has entrusted his headline performer with the responsibility of carrying his side forward, and the former Chelsea flop has been up to the task week in, week out.
Indeed, the Belgian playmaker is a pillar upon which the Cityzens' domestic success rests.
De Bruyne's unparalleled vision and pinpoint delivery are off the scale in the Premier League.
No other player in English top-tier football has come nowhere near to replicating his impact, with the 29-year-old guiding City to the top with his typical high-octane performances in the final third.
A tally of five goals and 11 assists means De Bruyne has been directly involved in 25% of City's Premier League goals this team, more than any other player on the roster.
He is a mastermind behind City's good doings in front of goal and is irreplaceable in terms of conducting the play and setting up his teammates.
Our Pick
City scoring at will is not a novelty - it is a near-certainty.
However, 16 clean sheets in 30 Premier League matches is something the supporters could not have imagined in their wildest dreams.
Dias is responsible for making Guardiola's side a genuine competitor for a coveted quadruple and should be crowned the team's best player this season.
With all due respect to Gundogan and De Bruyne, the Portuguese defender's presence has been a season-changer compared to 2019/20.