Who will top Premier League clubs retain if they had an IPL-style auction?

Retention

Though Pep Guardiola’s seemingly all-conquering City are leading the charts with every player looking flawless, there are still a significant few who even the mastermind Guardiola wouldn’t replace. The retention choices for the bosses at the Etihad would be Ederson, Sergio Aguero, and Kevin de Bruyne.

After bottling it up big time with Claudio Bravo last season Guardiola would have to stick his No. 31, Ederson. The Brazilian has one of the safest pairs of hands in the league with an average claiming success of 80% and has been covering 87% of the distance with impeccable passing. de Bruyne would be the first player on every club’s retention list and Pep surely thanks his stars every game night that he came to City with the midfield maestro at his prime. Since joining City, de Bruyne has scored a staggering 30 goals and 49 assists in 118 games, and he is just 26. Aguero is still City’s biggest hope up front. In one of his poorer seasons, he still has managed 13 goals so far and despite all his reported rifts with the manager, Aguero is Guardiola’s first-choice by miles.

New recruit Bernardo Silva would be City’s second right to match option. Though he is still getting used to the pace of football in England, the Portuguese international has electrifying pace and brilliant sense of positioning and could better Raheem Sterling in the coming years.   

Choosing United’s main three wasn’t as difficult as Mourinho finds on game weeks. They are Paul Pogba, David De Gea, and Anthony Martial. The towering Frenchman will be the obvious choice, not only for the price but also for United’s style of play. Mourinho’s counter-attacking play needs someone who could collect the ball with his back towards opponents’ goal, not be shaken by the incoming physicality, run with it to the opponents’ half and then pass it to the most suitable person to score. While most teams would find two, three players to execute that properly, United were quite surprised what £89.3 million could do. Pogba can do it all and quite surprisingly much more. He has played just 12 matches for United so far, and was directly involved in 10 goals in them. And at 24, Old Trafford is looking at him for next many years. He has also created 23 chances this season so far, which were easy enough even for someone like Romelu Lukaku to convert.

The third choice would be Anthony Martial. Though United’s golden boy, Marcus Rashford has given him a run for his money on the left flank of late, it has managed to bring the best out of him. Mourinho has taken more time to get the best out of him compared to Louis Van Gaal, Martial is finally getting back his rhythm with seven goals and three assists this season already. The 22-year-old’s ability to go past players without compromising on his pace also makes him irreplaceable at United.

One of Mourinho's star recruits last season, Bailly, has been really unfortunate with his injuries so far. He has managed to play 33 games in two seasons getting sidelined for 174 days so far. However, this doesn’t take away the fact that the Ivory Coast international is very good at interceptions and times his tackles to perfections, almost always. United would sincerely hope he shakes off his affinity towards injury fast but at the same keep their options open.  

Chelsea would retain Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, and N’Golo Kante. The Belgian custodian has helped the Blues lift two titles since returning from his loan stint with Atletico de Madrid three years ago. Chelsea’s gloomy season in 2015-16 where they finished 10th saw Courtois sidelined mostly, with injuries. He came back for another full season last year and Chelsea were the champions again. He unsettled Petr Cech’s long-standing position at Stamford Bridge and at 25, Chelsea will be looking to keep him for almost another decade.

Though N’Golo Kante looks to lose his shine as the season progresses with Chelsea’s game play no more exuding his brilliant impact that had single-handedly won them the league last season, the French midfielder still retains unparalleled stamina which is very rare. Chelsea’s decision to replace Matic with Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater has also been a major reason for his drops his impact. But, the 26-year-old is definitely a long-term prospect for Chelsea

After speculations linked Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea for most part of last summer, Alvaro Morata was more of a panic buy for the Blues with United scooping in for the Belgian striker. The former Real Madrid man, though has scored 10 goals in the league so far, has been tremendously error-prone in his finishing. Chelsea’s last game against Arsenal was evident of it and although it is too early to gauge his adaptability in the league, there is a big doubt if he will be Chelsea’s main player down the line.

Liverpool was pretty much the easiest to pick among the lot. For a side that has only been comfortable when on the offensive, they would go for three of their dangerous four - Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, and Mohammad Salah. Liverpool don’t seem to breathe without the Egyptian at the moment, who has created a storm in the league with 17 goals and six assists in 21 games. Given how comfortably he has changed gears between Serie A and Premier League, he is definitely not a one-season wonder.

The last one has to be Coutinho. Though the constant speculation surrounding his exit from the Anfield has been a factor in him the third player on the list, there is no doubt that Liverpool would want to lock him up and never let him leave. The midfielder possesses one of the most lethal right foots in the league and ability to pick top corner from yards out makes him a mainstay in their side. He has scored 54 goals and provided 46 assists since joining in 2013 and has never scored less than 25 goals till now except his debut season. 

The last retention will definitely not be a defender, in case you were wondering. There was a slight imbalance between Emre Can and Adam Lallana for the last one before we obviously decided to go with the player having Southampton pedigree. Apart from his ability to play both in the midfield as well as wings Lallana has the reputation of pressing the shit out of players and consistently, something that Klopp would opt for.

Harry Kane will the first one with eyes closed. The striker has been the greatest player Spurs have produced in their history and he is worth every penny the club could spend to keep him. His ability to finish, both from long and short range, hold the ball under tremendous pressure and ability to drop back in need and distribute the ball ahead, makes him the most complete striker in the league at the moment. He has scored 123 goals for Spurs in 190 games, becoming PL’s top scorer twice and he is just 24.

Toby Alderweireld personifies Mauricio Pochettino’s calm and composed build-up from the back by being a centre-half, who has superior ball control, can read the game well and can pick players through the eye of a needle. 

Arsenal

In Sanchez, Arsenal actually have someone whose abilities are very rare and obviously hard to replace. He can be pretty much a one-man army up front on his day with extraordinary ability to chase and press defenders, and he can win you games. Though he can be frustrating at times by giving away balls attempting his tricks and turns, there is hardly a player in world football who can replace him with similar effect.  

Right to Match

Arsenal would try retaining only FOUR players if given a chance, for the frugal minded man at the helm would surely want to save some pennies in this slim window of opportunity.