The indispensable 7: This lot must be kept by their clubs in the summer

Every Premier League fan will be preparing for a summer transfer window in which their side will likely spend fortunes on some of the most exciting talents in world football. But while there’ll be plenty of talk surrounding potential arrivals, for some priority is keeping holding of their current stars.

We’ve compiled a list of players who are absolutely indispensable to sides currently in the top seven. Keeping hold of them could be the key to future success, while losing them could be the start of a slippery slope.

We’ll start with the league leaders…

Chelsea – Eden Hazard

It goes without saying that Chelsea would be much worse off without their Belgian superstar.

Granted, he had a poor campaign last time out, but he’s certainly back to his best now. And of course, that’s attracted the interest of Europe’s heavyweights, including Real Madrid who are 8/11 favourites to be Hazard’s next port of call.

But the Blues should be looking to build their side around the 26-year-old. It’s one thing dominating the Premier League, but to enjoy success in the Champions League, you need a player like Hazard in your squad – it’s as simple as that.

Tottenham Hotspur – Harry Kane

And if we’re talking about a club building a team around one player in particular, then that’s exactly what Spurs should do with Kane.

At this rate, he’ll become Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League by the end of next season – and that’d be after just four full years with the club. Dele Alli is a close second here, but keeping hold of their deadly striker is crucial.

Manchester City – Kevin de Bruyne

Having already played for four top sides in Europe despite being just 25-years-old, it’s important De Bruyne makes City his home for the next few years so as to establish himself as one of the best attacking players in world football.

It never quite worked for the Belgium international at Chelsea, and he’d be wise not to be tempted into a potential move to a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Instead, he should stay with Man City and let his current boss Pep Guardiola – who is a huge fan – build the team around him.

Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho

In short, Liverpool should learn from 2014, where they allowed their key man, Luis Suarez, to move to Barcelona.

Granted, they had very little control as the player wanted out, but since then they’ve finished sixth and eighth in the league. They took a huge risk by sanctioning Suarez’s exit and it’s yet to pay off. And one of the only shining lights in a miserable couple of years for the Merseyside outfit has been the emergence of Coutinho as a genuine world-class talent.

Jurgen Klopp has to keep hold of him.

Manchester United – David de Gea

The return to the transfer market of Real Madrid will leave plenty of Man United fans biting their fingernails this summer – as De Gea could finally be about to leave Old Trafford for the Bernabeu.

And that would certainly stop the Red Devils in their tracks as they attempt to re-establish themselves as challengers for both domestic and European titles.

There’s arguably no one better than De Gea on the planet in between the sticks right now, meaning a move for a replacement were he to leave would be a step in the wrong direction.

They’d get plenty for him, but Jose Mourinho and co shouldn’t be tempted by a potential boost to their transfer funds by letting the Spaniard go.

Arsenal – Alexis Sanchez

This is another case of a player who the team should be built around.

There are only a couple of clubs in world football who would refuse Sanchez a place in their starting XI, meaning demand is of course high.

But players like this don’t come around all that often, and it’s unlikely the Gunners would be able to add anyone similar were the Chilean to leave this summer.

This would be two giant leaps back for the north London outfit if they were to sell Sanchez – especially if he left for another Premier League outfit.

Everton – Romelu Lukaku

Things are going so smoothly for Everton right now, supporters must be worrying about when the time will come that it all goes wrong.

And the way Lukaku is playing right now, their answer could be this summer. It’s no surprise to see the 23-year-old is attracting interest from a whole host of top clubs in Europe.

But if the Toffees are to challenge for a top four spot in the next year or so, they need a figure like Lukaku spearheading their attack.

We’ve had our say, but what do you think? Let us know the most indispensable player to your club in the comments section below!

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing