Sports Mole Writers' Awards: Premier League Midfielder of the Season

Another Premier League season is now in the history books, and 2020-21 will go down as perhaps the most unique yet having been played during a global pandemic, mostly behind closed doors and very briefly amid a Super League storm which threatened the very future of the competition.

Here, the Sports Mole team select who they believe should be the Premier League's Midfielder of the Season.

Barney Corkhill, Editor: Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)

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Bruno Fernandes would perhaps be most people's favourite for this award, and it would be difficult to argue against that given his tally of goals and assists.

However, it was Ilkay Gundogan who stepped up more than anyone else during the most important part of the season - Man City's 15-game winning run which saw them leave any title rivals behind with the type of consistency which was severely lacking throughout the rest of the division.

The German scored 11 goals and assisted two more in a 12-game spell, 11 of which Man City won, and ended the campaign as his side's top scorer - something you would have got long odds on at the beginning of the campaign.

Dan Lewis, Senior Reporter: Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)

Fernandes has been Man United's standout player since arriving 16 months ago, while De Bruyne has been his usual impressive self either side of some injury problems, but no midfielder has scored more goals than Gundogan this term when discounting penalties.

It's not just that, though - the German can pick a pass, keep hold of the ball and generally get his side going in their time of need.

Matt Law, Football Editor: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

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This is an incredibly strong category, and the likes of Declan Rice, Kevin De Bruyne and Tomas Soucek all deserve special mentions, but it just has to be Fernandes.

The 26-year-old played a key role in Man United securing second spot in the table, providing 18 goals and 11 assists in 37 league appearances.

The Portugal international is a leader in every sense of the word and has been a wonderful signing for the club.

Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Understandably the obvious choice for this award, Bruno Fernandes makes Manchester United tick and has been involved in a staggering 45 goals across all competitions this term.

Finishing the season with a Europa League winners' medal would be a fitting end to the campaign for Fernandes, who will certainly be eyeing bigger prizes for 2022 and beyond.

Darren Plant, Senior Reporter: Tomas Soucek (West Ham United)

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With Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden starting just 23 and 17 games respectively, Tomas Soucek gets my vote in this category.

Not only did many of his 10 goals come at decisive moments, he proved invaluable in the air, winning double the aerial duels than any of his teammates.

If David Moyes could mould a midfielder to his liking, Soucek would be the end result, and he has got everything out of the Czech star this season.

Brett Curtis, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Ilkay Gundogan is my overall Premier League Player of the Season, and therefore number one midfielder, but it would feel somewhat harsh not to acknowledge Bruno Fernandes's insane attacking output since joining Manchester United.

Granted, half of his 18 league goals this season have been from the penalty spot, but 12 assists on top of nine goals from open play is very impressive.

United need to find a way to become less reliant on him, but it's credit to Fernandes's quality and leadership that they've found themselves in that position in the first place. Who knows where they'd be without him.

Oliver Thomas, Reporter: Phil Foden (Manchester City)

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At just 20 years of age, Phil Foden has had a fantastic 2020-21 season, recording nine goals and five assists, as well as adding a third Premier League title to his lengthy list of accolades.

This campaign has seen Foden's development elevate to another level, transforming into not just a first-team regular but a key player that Pep Guardiola can rely on in the big matches.

The talented midfielder – now a fan favourite at the Etihad Stadium – has a bright future ahead of him and will be one to watch for England at Euro 2020.

Jonathan O'Shea, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Even aside from his 18 league goals and endless creative contributions, the Portuguese playmaker's charismatic will to win has embodied the spirit so absent from Manchester United in recent years, taking his club a step closer to their former glories.

Francis Buchanan, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

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Bruno Fernandes is just built different. The simplest way of understanding what the Portugal international brings to the side is by watching a game where he starts on the bench and comes on later in the game – the result of which is completely disastrous for the opposition.

He just makes United tick and he makes it all look effortless too. United paid a lot of money to acquire Fernandes and, to be honest, he has been worth every penny.

Olly Allen, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Probably the player I enjoy watching the most in the Premier League because of the way he floats around the pitch and has such a big impact on the game.

To register 30 goal involvements (18 goals and 12 assists) is a superb achievement and he arguably would have had a bigger case for Player of the Year had his numbers not dropped off towards the end of the campaign. A very special player.

Sam Varley, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

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Manchester United's Portuguese talisman continued to deliver in the final third this season, inspiring his side to a strong second-placed finish, with only Harry Kane topping his 30 combined goals and assists in the top flight, while his defensive efforts also do not go unnoticed in Manchester.

Marvelous Adepoju, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Only Harry Kane (37) was involved in more Premier League goals than Bruno Fernandes (30) last term as the Portuguese picked up where he left off in his second year at Old Trafford.

Whether it be scoring goals or creating them, he was always in the thick of things for Manchester United.

Joshua Ojele, Reporter: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

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After his sensational half-season performance following his January move from Sporting Lisbon last year, Bruno Fernandes put on a clinic in his first full campaign in the English top flight.

The Portuguese international scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists to help Manchester United finish second in the standings, while also guiding the Reds to the Europa League final with five goals and four assists in eight outings.