The English Premier Competition is Nigeria's most popular football league, with fans following their teams with fervor. The big four-Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea-do not currently have any Nigerians in their ranks, but there are certain players-old and young-who are looking to make a statement and silence the critics, while others simply require consistency.

Here is a list of 11 Nigerians compiled by Premium Times that we need to keep an eye on as the Premier League season begins off on Friday, August 13 with Frank Onyeka's Brentford taking on Arsenal, and Folarin Balogun looking to reclaim his place at the top table.

Folarin Balogun (20) - Arsenal.

This Anglo-Nigerian is another Super Eagles talent who was in high demand in Europe when he refused to sign a new Arsenal contract. Balogun, who has been with the club for years, showed flashes of his talent in the Europa League when he appeared five times and scored once while also providing two assists. On the transfer market, he is valued at €4 million.

Frank Onyeka (23) - Brentford.

Onyeka has had a fantastic start with Brentford, scoring in a 2-1 friendly win over Valencia. Last season, the powerful box-to-box midfielder showed off his abilities in the Champions League, helping FC Midtjylland advance to the group stages. In the UEFA Champions League, he appeared in 10 games, scoring once and assisting once. Onyeka has only been capped once by Nigeria, but his efforts for the Bees will help him earn more. On Transfer Market, he's worth €5 million.

Eberechi Eze (23) - Crystal Palace

The Nigeria Football Federation's president, Amaju Pinnick, has not given up on Eze, which is why he is on this list. The midfield dazzler had a good season, providing some outstanding moments of talent. He scored four goals and added six assists in 34 games for the Eagles. He was hurt in May, and there is no timetable for his return to training or playing under Patrick Vieira, the new manager. On the transfer market, he's worth $24 million

Alex Iwobi (25) - Everton

If there is a pivotal season, a make-or-break time for Iwobi, this is it. After seven seasons in the Premier League, the Arsenal youngster has matured into a mature man. Last season, Iwobi struggled to make an impact under Carlo Ancelotti's management, and their relationship devolved into innuendos and rebuttals at one point. He has a second shot under Rafa Benitez, but he can be confident that as soon as his rating drops, he will be a perpetual bench warmer. Iwobi made 30 league games in the 2020/21 season, scoring once and assisting twice. His shot accuracy was a dismal 20%, implying that he will have to put in a lot of work on the practice field to increase his conversion percentage. On the transfer market, he's worth $26 million

Wilfred Ndidi (24) - Leicester City

It's intimidating to watch Ndidi play because he's so good and humble. For the previous three transfer windows, many EPL fans have tipped the defensive midfielder to join one of the big four, but the leggy player begins his sixth season at Leicester, seeking to prove once again that he is good enough for any top-four side in Europe's top five leagues. Ndidi was at the heart of the Foxes' defense and midfield last season, and he played a key role in the club's first-ever FA Cup success. He was outstanding in the season opener against Manchester City last Saturday, as Leicester added the Community Shield to their list of achievements over the last five seasons. With 96 tackles in 26 outings, Ndidi ranks fourth in the EPL. He also had four assists and one goal for a fifth-place finish at the end of the season. On Transfer Market, he is valued at $70 million.

Kelechi Iheanacho (24) - Leicester City

Kels, a senior player, was the focus of all eyes last Saturday when he came off the bench to win a penalty and score to help Leicester City win the Community Shield for the second time. Last season, Iheanacho was his team's leading scorer. The U-17 World Cup winner was on fire from February to May, proving his inclusion. This season, he will have to compete not only with Jamie Vardy for a starting spot but also with the addition of the fast Patson Daka. Will he be able to keep scoring despite his limited playing time, or will Brendan Rodgers eventually put his faith in him to make him the Foxes' first-choice striker? He's worth $24 million according to Transfer Market.

Nathan Tella (22) - Southampton

Another of Pinnick's and his NFF's bright prospects, the 22-year-old all-rounder saw more playing time at the conclusion of the season. He appeared in 18 games as a winger, deep midfielder, and striker, scoring once and assisting once. He is valued at $2.3 million on Transfer Market.

William Troost-Ekong (27) - Watford.

One of the key members of Watford's promotion-winning squad from the Championship, and a dream come true for the Dutch-born defender. The former Udinese defender will have a big role to play if the Hornets are to stay in the EPL. He appeared in 32 games last season and scored one goal. He is valued at $4.7 million on Transfer Market.

Oghenekaro Etebo (25) - Watford.

Etebo's game has slowed, but he now has an opportunity to reclaim the attention of many who were enthralled by his efforts for the Nigerian U-23 squad in the Rio Olympics. He bounced around from Stoke City to Getafe and then Galatasaray before being turned down at the end of last season. He's worth $3.7 million according to Transfer Market.

Isaac Success (25) - Watford

How much longer will Isaac be unable to succeed? In the Championship, the strong, agile, and powerful forward only appeared in 10 games and scored one goal. For the U-17 World Cup winner, this may be a season to remember. As his worth continues to decline, he may not have many more chances at 25. He was worth around $7 million in December 2018, but according to Transfer Market, he is now worth only $2 million.

Emmanuel Dennis (23) - Watford.

Will Dennis be able to settle down at Watford? Will he show off his incredible talent versus Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2019? He scored 0 goals in 18 league appearances last season, first at Club Brugge and then on loan at FC Koln. On Transfer Market, he's worth around $6 million.

Kindly encourage the boys via the comment section below and hit the follow button for the latest sports updates. Thanks.

Source
NEW EPL SEASON: 11 Nigerian Youngsters To Watch Out For In The EPL

Related News
CHELSEA NEWS: Tuchel Speaks On Why Chelsea Are Not Title Favorites And What Made Them Sign Lukaku

Chelsea’s Super Cup Victory: Five Things To Take Away From The Game

Check Out The Top 10 Premier League Teams With The Most Losses In History

Opinion: PSG Might Line Up With Messi Using This 3 Following Ways

"I Got A Lot Of Calls From Many Clubs" - Messi Says As He Joins PSG

It is only Ndidi and Kelechi that sound promising, although they are all on the same platform to showcase what they are up to, which is left to them to live up to expectation by working hard to ensure improvement in their performance

Michael olise is conspicuously missing

Where is Samuel Edozie of Manchester City?

Reading

KosiGee:
Where is Samuel Edozie of Manchester City?

Sorry we cudnt mention all as that will make it a very very long list