REUTERS/David Klein
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has already decided who he thinks will win the 2026-27 Premier League Player of the Season award. The new campaign gets underway on Friday night as reigning champions Arsenal host newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the Gunners boasting a world-class team, though, with many - including the supercomputer - believing they are favourites to retain their title, Keane has snubbed all of Mikel Arteta's squad when naming who he thinks will be the standout player of the new season.
That could be an insight into a baffling prediction that the north Londoners fail to live up to the hype and surrender their grip on English football in an unlikely scenario given the rest of the traditional big six navigate transition periods, or rather a reflection of the fact Arsenal doesn't rely on one standout player to achieve more silverware.
Either way, Keane's latest guesswork could cause a bit of a stir - though that should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with a pundit who would much rather criticise unless he sees something particularly special.
Roy Keane's Prediction For 2026/27 Premier League Player of the Season
REUTERS/Toby Melville
There is still a lot of uncertainty around Man United heading into the campaign. While Michael Carrick has done an incredible job at plastering over the cracks left behind by the likes of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim to guide the Red Devils back into the Champions League with a third-placed finish.
Juggling more than just one match a week could cost the retired midfielder this time around as the honeymoon period gives way to a much more serious leg of his managerial career. One constant, however, will be that of captain Bruno Fernandes and his ability to perform in a team of any level and still be the hero, with Keane tipping him to win Player of the Season once again. Watch his full predictions below:
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice celebrates winning the 2025-26 Premier League title
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice celebrates winning the 2025-26 Premier League title
During the segment with The Overlap podcast, he also says he thinks Arsenal will win the league, Erling Haaland will inevitably win the Golden Boot, Newcastle and Fulham will struggle, and Tottenham will overachieve after a summer of huge spending.
He had to be asked twice about who will earn Player of the Season, but eventually turned to the Red Devils' captain, though perhaps through gritted teeth, while mentioning that the Portugal international should do well if United can keep their defence in check - a nod towards the fact Fernandes had to track back a lot last term when he's primarily a forward-thinking player.
Bruno Fernandes Looking To Replicate Record-Breaking 2025/26
via Reuters
Last season, Fernandes smashed the Premier League's assist record by registering 21, beating Thierry Henry's previous high of 20. It was his best output campaign, but it came without any trophies to show for it. This time around, with a more settled squad, many believe he could find yet another gear to smash the record again.
Over the last two terms, no other player has come anywhere near competing with his 224 chances created, but now it's over to the rest of his teammates to get on his level if Carrick's side are to turn their promising start and turn it into a new golden era. Rome wasn't built overnight, and there are no doubt still some cracks at Old Trafford.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha will be expected to up the ante in attack, new signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans will be tasked with making sure Fernandes isn't working overtime in the coal face of the engine room, while the defence must stiffen up.