Peter Crouch reveals player of the season, talks Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane to Manchester United

The final mailbag of the season gives PETER CROUCH a chance to discuss the great and good of a dramatic eight months.

From departing Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero to this summer’s bidding war for wantaway Tottenham talisman Harry Kane, there is plenty to discuss once again.

But for starters, Sportsmail‘s columnist wants to crown the campaign’s outstanding performer…

One of the items on the agenda this week is the tricky summer facing Tottenham's Harry Kane

Sportsmail‘s Peter Crouch has answered more questions, including on Harry Kane’s future

Who is your player of the season?

Oliver James via email

The easy thing, Oliver, would be to say Ruben Dias. He has transformed Manchester City’s defence, but Ilkay Gundogan is the reason they became champions. There was a spell from the middle of December to the middle of February when he scored 11 goals in 12 games.

It was at a time when Sergio Aguero was out and Gabriel Jesus had not stepped up as many hoped he would, but Gundogan took the initiative and those goals – particularly against Liverpool – carried City away from the chasing pack. He is a brilliant footballer and deserves to be recognised.

The strange thing, though, is that Gundogan is not the City player I have enjoyed watching most: that tag goes to Riyad Mahrez. He is a beautiful footballer and I’m not sure it is appreciated how good he is.

He misses the ultimate accolade by a whisker.

Ilkay Gundogan is Peter's pick for why Manchester City won the Premier League title

Ilkay Gundogan is Peter’s pick for why Manchester City won the Premier League title

Give a positive for the season…

Ashsmi via Twitter

I’m a positive person, Ashsmi. But, like everyone, there have been moments in the past 12 months when I have not really been able to enjoy football and found it hard work.

Still, your question has sparked something and, ever the optimist, I’m going to say this: we have got through a year of the Premier League without cancellation and can you imagine how tough life would have been without football?

And let’s look back over the last couple of weeks. We have fans back in stadiums, the way of life we knew is gradually coming back and next month there will be crowds at Wembley for the Euros roaring England on. That is more than enough for me to be positive. I hope it is for you, too.

Supporters being back in grounds is a reason to be positive after a difficult past 12 months

Supporters being back in grounds is a reason to be positive after a difficult past 12 months

Which club made the best signing?

Mark Jacko via email

City’s signing of Ruben Dias was crucial, Mark. It was a £64million club-record deal but he has been outstanding. 

He has brought the whole defence together and been a class act. 

It would be fitting if he could go back to Portugal next week and crown his year by winning the Champions League. City bought him to make the difference in those kind of games.

City's signing of Ruben Dias was key as the defender has been outstanding this term

City’s signing of Ruben Dias was key as the defender has been outstanding this term

Do you see any newcomer going on to be a Premier League great?

Jade Craddock via email

Thanks for all your questions this year, Jade –  they have always made me think. I don’t want to give an obvious answer so I’m going to pick out three players and explain why they have made such an impression.

The first two are at West Ham: Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek. They were proper old-school transfers, arriving here as relative unknowns for not a lot of money but developing under David Moyes’s expert guidance to become huge figures in their push for Europe.

I also want to pick out Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace. My friends who support QPR were going on about him for ages and told me to follow him when he got to Selhurst Park. I have loved what I have seen and if Wilfried Zaha happens to leave at any point, Eze will take his mantle.

Tomas Soucek (centre)and Vladimir Coufal (right) have been inspirational buys for West Ham

Tomas Soucek (centre)and Vladimir Coufal (right) have been inspirational buys for West Ham

Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace (right) deserves a mention as one of the best newcomers

Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace (right) deserves a mention as one of the best newcomers

Which unknown has come on to your radar and impressed you?

Daniel Martin via email

When I heard Leicester had paid more than £35million for Wesley Fofana, Daniel, I looked at how old he was and thought that was a huge fee for one so young.

But I have worked on a lot of Leicester games this season and, my goodness, what an impression he has made. He is good in the air, reads the game, he is quick and strong and tackles well.

A lot of clubs are going to be looking at him with envy because he has everything in his locker to be a top player for a long time.

If anyone wants to sign him, they’d best be prepared to come with an open chequebook.

Do not, however, read that as me trying to sell him. He is at a brilliant club and I will express my admiration for Leicester again. They have a top manager, have just made history by winning the FA Cup and are going places. Fofana will be at the heart of it.

Wesley Fofana has made a superb impression at Leicester this term and he will be a top player

Wesley Fofana has made a superb impression at Leicester this term and he will be a top player

What’s the biggest thing you were proved wrong about this year?

Terry Pipe via Twitter

Terry, I have an incredible knack of changing my views at the last minute to make sure I’m on the right side of the fence! Surely you don’t think I’m going to hold my hands up?

In all seriousness, however, I would say I misjudged Aston Villa’s potential. Given how difficult they found it last season, I worried about them, but they bought well and Ollie Watkins has been outstanding, along with Jack Grealish.

They fell away a bit but they have had a great year.

Crouch says he misjudged Aston Villa's potential after a strong finish for Jack Grealish and Co

Crouch says he misjudged Aston Villa’s potential after a strong finish for Jack Grealish and Co

A lot of youngsters have stepped up this season, so how excited are you about the generation coming through?

Sean Patrick via email

I’m very excited about England’s future, Sean, for two reasons in particular: Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. I keep doing double takes with Bellingham because a kid of his age should not be playing with such maturity and influence in the Champions League. He is 17 going on 27.

Then there is Foden. He is a bit older at 20 and I know we have known about him for a long time but the moment I felt he was something out of the ordinary was in the Champions League semi-final, second leg.

He carried City to the final that night against Paris Saint-Germain. He was outstanding and fearless and made you get out of your seat. Foden has come of age and he looks to be a once-in-a-generation talent. He will be getting many more positive words in years to come. 

Starlet Phil Foden carried City to the Champions League final against PSG and has come of age

Starlet Phil Foden carried City to the Champions League final against PSG and has come of age

Could this be the first season we see a goalkeeper win goal of the season?

Mick Fitz via email

I hope so, Mick! I would absolutely love it if that happened! I had a look through the list of past winners and they have all been dribbles or volleys or shots from ridiculous distances. Wouldn’t it be brilliant if a goalkeeper came up trumps with a header?

I spoke about it briefly in last week’s column but I was blown away by Alisson Becker’s technique and timing to score at West Brom, especially given the circumstances. 

Let’s not even make this a debate; let’s just give him the award now.

It would be brilliant if the header from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was the goal of the season

It would be brilliant if the header from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was the goal of the season

Sergio Aguero has said goodbye to Man City – how great has he been for the Premier League?

Sharon Jones via email

He has been outstanding, Sharon. Sergio Aguero did not just give Manchester City the best moment in their history, he provided the outstanding moment of the Premier League era when scoring that title-winning goal against QPR.

To record the amount of goals he has done, to get into the vicinity of Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney in terms of all-time scorers, is incredible. If he hadn’t suffered with injuries, he would have threatened Shearer’s haul of 260.

There is more to it. He comes from Argentina, he has based himself in Manchester in a climate that wouldn’t be what he is used to and has just thrived, without causing a moment’s problem. He was never PFA Player of the Year but his c.v. is impeccable. He deserves the tag ‘legend’.

Manchester City ace Sergio Aguero fully deserves his 'legend' tag as he gets set to move away

Manchester City ace Sergio Aguero fully deserves his ‘legend’ tag as he gets set to move away

Where will Harry Kane start the opening day of next season?

Tim Thomas via email

Harry Kane is in a very complicated situation, Tim. Daniel Levy will not want to sell him to any club in England unless the transfer fee is as long as a telephone number. There will not be anything smooth about the next couple of months.

A move abroad would not be something that appeals to Harry because he wants to break Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals.

If he stays in England – Manchester United need him more than anyone – whoever signs him becomes favourites to win the title. He is that good.

And on that note, I wish you a happy summer. Until our next meeting, stay safe and well.

Whoever signs Harry Kane this summer will become favourites to win the title next campaign

Whoever signs Harry Kane this summer will become favourites to win the title next campaign

Signing Kane would turn anyone, including Manchester United (above) into title favourites

Signing Kane would turn anyone, including Manchester United (above) into title favourites