1- ANDRIY LUNIN: Ukrainian custodian Lunin begun the season as the third choice behind Thibaut Courtois and Kepa Arrizabalaga. He has seen off the competition from the Spaniard to emerge as the undisputed number one in Courtois’ continued absence through injury. His 10 Liga Santander clean sheets and penalty saving heroics in Los Blancos’ Uefa Champions League quarterfinal victory over Real Madrid make him my most improved keeper. Arsenal’s David Raya must be content with a place on the bench.
2-JEREMIE FRIMPONG: Dutch wingback Frimpong has improved beyond recognition and is a vital cog in Xabi Alonso’s Invincibles. His 13 goals and ten assists dictate he is the first of four Bayer Leverkusen players to earn a place in this line up. To serve as Frimpong’s understudy is Chelsea right back Malo Gusto, a rare success story in a wretched campaign.
3- ALEJANDRO GRIMALDO: This Spaniard arrived on a free transfer from Benfica but he has been monumental for Bayer Leverkusen by contributing 11 goals and 20 assists across all competitions in Die Werkself’s march to an unlikely treble. He’s in my most improved team instead of Barcelona’s 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi who is earning rave reviews for his performances with Blaugrana.
5- JARRAD BRANTHWAITE: Along with Jordan Pickford, this 21-year-old has been central to Everton keeping 12 clean sheets that provided them with the platform on which to survive relegation despite a points deduction. Branthwaite takes his position instead of Arsenal’s William Saliba who was almost just as good last season.
5 – JONATHAN TAH: It’s not often for a player to undergo a metamorphosis as profound as the one Tah has undergone at 28. Bayer Leverkusen’s skipper in their all conquering march to a treble hasn’t set a foot wrong and has the highest pass completion rate of any player in this season’s Bundesliga. He is in this line up instead of Arsenal’s Gabriel Marghalaes.
6- KOBBIE MAINOO: 18-year-old Manchester United starlet Mainoo is a rare victory for manager Erik Ten Hag’s belief in youth. An academy product, Mainoo is blessed with the maturity reminiscent of former Azzuri Andrea Pirlo. Barring any late setback, he should be in Gareth Southgate’s squad in Euro 2024. Bayern Munich’s Aleksandr Pavlovic, 18, comes a close second in improvement stakes.
7- LAMINE YAMAL: 16-year-old Spanish winger Lamine Yamal is perhaps the revelation of the season anywhere in Europe. His 7 goals and 5 assists have been spread across four different competitions for Barcelona and Spain. Lamal is in this line up before another teenager, Paris Saint Germain’s Warren Zaire Emery who has nailed down a starting slot in a competitive midfield as PSG retained Ligue One and reached the last four in Europe.
8- JUDE BELLINGHAM: The £86m Real Madrid paid for English star Jude Bellingham appears like a steal when you examine his impact on the soon to be crowned Liga Santander champions. Bellingham’s 21 goals – including 17 in the league and four in the Uefa Champions League have provided a platform for Los Blancos’ latest assault on a double. The affable Three Lion beats Granit Xhaka to a place in this side
9- SERHOU GUIRASSY: An injury while training for Guinea prevented this French born striker from bettering his personal best haul of 25 Bundesliga goals after 31 match days. For comparison sakes, last season, he only bagged 11 goals for Stuttgart. He is in this line up ahead of Girona’s Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk who leads the race for the Pichichi with 19 Liga Santander goals. For the record, in 2022/23 Dovbyk scored 44 goals in 71 appearances for Dnipro-1.
10- FLORIAN WIRTZ: Bayer Leverkusen’s playmaker Wirtz is a strong contender for the Bundesliga player of the season gong. His 18 goals and 19 assists across all competitions have been instrumental in Die Werkself’s 45 match unbeaten run which delivered the first Bundesliga title in the club’s history, a place in the Europa League semifinals and slot in the German Cup final. He beats Phil Foden to this XI on account of his phenomenal transformation.
11- COLE PALMER: Chelsea player of the season Palmer has been the shining star in an otherwise trepid season for the west London club. Before 2023/24, the Etihad Stadium academy product had never scored a single Premier League goal. By press time, he had already netted a cool 20 goals and added 9 assists. Pound for pound, he’s the division’s most improved player. Palmer is in this line up ahead of Feyenoord’s 19-year-old Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh, whose 9 goals in 25 appearances helped his team to second in Eredivisie and the Dutch Cup.