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EPL: Predicting the top 15 Prem players in FIFA 17

By Tom Bogert

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David De Gea of Manchester United and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in discussion during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David De Gea of Manchester United and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in discussion during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Manchester United’s Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan controls the ball during the pre-season friendly football match between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United at the DW stadium in Wigan, northwest England, on July 16, 2016. / AFP / JON SUPER / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read JON SUPER/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan controls the ball during the pre-season friendly football match between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United at the DW stadium in Wigan, northwest England, on July 16, 2016. / AFP / JON SUPER / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read JON SUPER/AFP/Getty Images) /

11. Henrikh Mkhitaryan /// Man United /// Predicted FIFA 17 rating: 86 /// FIFA 16 rating: 85

Manchester United boosted their attacking ranks mightily by signing Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund. The Armenian will be a huge upgrade on Memphis Depay after his comprehensibly disappointing maiden season at Old Trafford.

Mkhitaryan’s numbers took a huge jump last season from two years ago. Two seasons ago, Klopp’s last season at the club who Mkhitaryan has been critical of, he scored just 3 goals and assisted 4. Last season? His numbers exploded, scoring 11 and assisting 15 in 28 Bundesliga starts.

After an output like that, Mkhitaryan has to grow in FIFA from an 85 to an 86. At United Mkhitaryan will up their expected goals and chances created exponentially. He’ll be important for Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford.

The midfielder moved to Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk after three successful years at the Ukrainian club. In his final season, he scored 25 goals in just 29 appearances, sparking the move.

In Mkhitaryan’s three seasons at Dortmund he scored 41 goals in 137 matches. Now, after a rumored £30million deal, he’s in the Premier League.

The only potential roadblock with his move is that Dortmund played high-octane, high pressing, attacking football on the front foot. Jose Mourinho, erm, hasn’t particularly been known to do that. Juan Mata was a great attacking player as well, but Mourinho didn’t fancy him because he didn’t do enough defensive work.

That shouldn’t be much of a problem, though. There’s too much attacking talent in the team to sit back.

Next: 10. Cesc Fabregas

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