Di big questions wey Africa dey ask for new Premier League season

A composite image showing four players - Thomas Partey, Mohamed Salah, Yankuba Minteh and Pape Sarr - in vertical sections

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Thomas Partey, Mohamed Salah, Yankuba Minteh and Pape Sarr go wan try to make impression or recapture dia best form as di new Premier League season kick off

Afta a busy period wey involve di European Championship, di Copa America and di Olympics, football fans across Africa dey once again turn dia attention to di English Premier League.

Di new season go start on Friday wen Manchester United go host Fulham for Old Trafford (19:00 GMT).

Senegal forward Iliman Ndaiye, Ghana winger Ibrahim Osman, and Morocco defender Chadi Riad dey among di new players from di continent wey go play for di world most-watched league.

BBC Sport Africa dey look some of di big questions wey go get answer for di next nine months.

How Salah go fit into Liverpool new regime?

Mohamed Salah fit tok say im be di greatest African wey don play for England top flight.

But by di Egypt captain high standards, last season no be im best, as e include late-season drop wen Liverpool title challenge no work.

Eighteen Premier League goals – five wey come from penalty spot – na im lowest total since e join di Reds for 2017, although e still get 10 assists.

Na injury make di 32-year-old miss most of di 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and parts of di domestic campaign, and im frustration show well for April wen e and boss Jurgen Klopp get one touchline quarrel.

As Klopp don comot and just one year remaining for Salah contract, pipo dey speculate say di player and Liverpool fit go dia separate ways, and dem say na Saudi Arabia be im likely destination.

But Salah tok say e go “fight like hell” to make tins right afta Liverpool end last season witout any trophy.

Di question now be say, how Salah go perform under new boss Arne Slot?

Change from Klopp high-intensity pressing style to Dutch total football system fit suit im aging legs, but e go likely focus more on building from di back to feed a central striker, wey fit deny Salah di space wey e like to speed into.

Di Anfield side neva sign any new player and Salah still be dia talisman, but weda Liverpool go extend di Egyptian King reign beyond next May, we go see.

Minteh worth £30m?

Brighton forward Yankuba Minteh bin celebrate a goal for pre-season friendly by making claws wit im hands and roaring towards a camera

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Yankuba Minteh bin dey on di scoresheet for Brighton during di club tour of Japan and e don catch di eye during di pre-season

One of di summer surprise transfer battles involve Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh, wey spend last season playing for Feyenoord under Slot.

Di 20-year-old bin join Newcastle from Danish side Odense for June last year for fee wey dem tok say e be around £5m, but dem immediately loan am out.

Afta 10 goals in 27 Eredivisie appearances, Everton, Lyon, and Borussia Dortmund show interest, but na Brighton pay £30m for di “lightning quick” winger.

“I dey veri happy say e go on loan to Feyenoord,” Tom Saintfiet, di man wey give Minteh im international debut at di age of 18, tell BBC Sport Africa.

“Dis na learning season on di highest level for am and if Brighton support am, give am time, and let am grow, I sure say later for di season e go accelerate and show im real potential.”

Accelerate be like di optimum word, as Saintfiet describe Minteh as “impressive talent” wit “huge speed” and “fantastic dribble” alongside goalscoring ability.

Brighton fans go hope say e go start well.

How important Partey dey for Arsenal?

Wen Arsenal spend £45m ($57.8m) on Thomas Partey for October 2020, expectations high say e go bring power, guile, and stability for dia midfield.

But even wit di 95 Premier League appearances across four seasons, di Ghanaian contribution dey up and down becos of many injuries.

“I no sure if Partey na still di first name on di team sheet,” James Cook from di Same Old Arsenal podcast tell BBC Sport Africa.

“E dey look a bit slower, not as fit as bifor. And dat one na real worry.”

But Arteta go agree?

Last season, Arteta bin start 31-year-old Partey for di final five games of dia title challenge wey no succeed. Di Gunners win all five games.

“I tink say Arteta wan make di midfield strong,” Cook tok – e believe say di club need to strengthen dat area.

“You no fit depend on Partey to stay fit for all di season.”

Wit one year remaining for im contract, if e fit help Arsenal win di title for the first time in 21 years, e go be fine way to say goodbye.

Dis na Sarr season to shine?

As Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou settle down last season, e clear say Senegal midfielder Pape Sarr dey vital for di team engine room.

Despite injury and mid-season break for Afcon, di 21-year-old start 27 Premier League games for 2023-24.

So, Sarr wey dem consider one of im kontri greatest talents of im generation, fit step up and help Spurs dominate games?

“Wen e decide to join Tottenham, many pipo dey doubt about im physique and di demands of di Premier League,” BBC Afrique’s Babacar Ndaiye Faye tok.

“But im first season under Postecoglou reassure evribodi. E suppose get more confidence for im offensive qualities and especially use im great quality of strike.

“If Sarr fit get confidence, Spurs go get one magnificent player.”

A regular for di Teranga Lions, e go dey interesting to see how loud Sarr go roar for north London.

Who fit help di new boys stay up?

A composite image showing three players - Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo and Sam Morsy - in vertical sections

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Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi, Southampton’s Joe Aribo and Sam Morsy of Ipswich go all dey aim to help dia teams avoid relegation

Last season na only di second time since di Premier League start for 1992 wey all three newly-promoted teams go straight back down.

Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton go hope say dem fit succeed wia Burnley, Luton, and Sheffield United fail.

Leicester dey most reliant on di African influence for dia squad, and di Foxes go happy to tie experienced Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi to new contract.

Zambia star Patson Daka and Ghana forward Abdul Fatawu dey regular for attack last season but dem only get 13 Championship goals between dem.

Ipswich, wey don return to di top flight afta 22 years, go dey captained by combative Egypt midfielder Sam Morsy, while DR Congo defender Axel Tuanzebe dey dia squad too.

Southampton African talents dey operate for di oda end of di pitch, and Nigerian attacking midfielder Joe Aribo dey most likely to feature.

Saints boss Russell Martin recently call Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, wey spend last season on loan for Trabzonspor, a “different beast” afta a full pre-season.

But Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana neva shine well for im 18 months for di club and e don already dey ruled out of dia opening game sake of injury.

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