As the season approaches its closure, one player will be crowned as the best performer of the current 2012/2013 campaign, here we take a look at individuals who are most likely to win the award.

Robin Van Persie

The most likely winner is the Dutch talisman Robin Van Persie, having made a surprise multi million pound move from Arsenal at the beginning of the campaign the striker has seamlessly adjusted into a highly competitive Manchester United side.

While his strike partners Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck have misfired at times, the Dutchman showed superb consistency in the first half of the season driving his team ahead. He was labeled by many as a waste of money, given United’s prolific striking options, many regarded him to be a one season wonder, but the former Feyenoord man has defied all odds and is currently the best striker at the best team in England.
 
 
 
He has scored 19 goals so far in the league for United, only three behind Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, the forward has also assisted eight of United’s goals and is always a threat from set pieces. He has an incredible goals per minute ratio and notches the ball in the net every 117 minutes.
 
His importance to the team can be judged by the fact, that he has scored the decisive goal in five matches, this includes goals against Liverpool, Southampton, West Ham, Reading and derby rivals Manchester City, this accumulates to 15 points altogether and it is by 15 points that United lead second placed Manchester City. 
Van Persie is also known to be a big game player at least in England, of his 19 goals seven have been scored against Premier League heavyweights including all the teams in the top seven.
 
In short Van Persie has definitely been a revelation at the theatre of dreams, whereas fans were crying out for a midfielder or a defender to be signed in the summer transfer window, Sir Alex Ferguson pulled of another tactical master class by buying a striker good enough to win them the league.
 
Van Persie is experiencing a goal drought currently, and has not scored in the last six games for the Red Devils, but he is still a strong favourite to win the coveted award and if he successfully does, he will become the third player to have won back to back player of the year awards after Cristiano Ronaldo and Thiery Henry.
 
Luis Suarez
 
The Uruguayan has single handedly carried Liverpool ahead, and it would be frightening to imagine where Liverpool would be without the former Ajax man. The forward tops the scoring charts, with 22 goals this season and there are surely more goals to come from him this season.
 
The striker has been in impeccable touch this, his trickery and quick feet have given defenses nightmares. He is a tireless player who works very hard for the team all over the pitch, not is he just a prolific goal scorer but repeatedly tracks back to help his team defend when needed.
 
The striker’s reputation has however been highly tarnished following accusations by United full back Patrice Evra who accused Suarez of racially abusing him. The flamboyant forward has since then acquired a reputation of a villain. 
He did his reputation no good after punching Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara in the face while playing for Uruguay during the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.
 
The striker has in the past been involved in more controversies, after he purposely handled the ball in the World Cup 2010 Quarter Finals against Ghana which denied the African giants a clear goal scoring opportunity and also resulted in them being ultimately knocked out of the tournament.
 
He might lose a lot of votes because of his stained reputation but in words of his club captain Steven Gerrard, if Suarez does not win the award this season he will be the "the best player ever not to win an award."
 
Gareth Bale
 
The Welsh wizard continues to grow from strength to strength every season and is currently one of the hottest properties in Europe, being tracked by one of the finest clubs in the world.
 
The Tottenham man does deserve all the allocates for a commendable display this season. After the departure of Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, many had predicted a Tottenham slump, but the former Southampton product rose to the occasion and has carried his team forward with some very mesmerising displays.
 
Tottenham have won a massive 79% games in which Gareth Bale has scored, the winger who is currently third in the scoring charts with 16 goals has managed a goal every 146 minutes which is not near to that of Persie’s or Suarez’s, but is a brilliant scoring rate for a midfielder.
 
His performances have ensured that Spurs keep fighting for the top four spot and his side is currently fourth, ahead of their arch rivals Arsenal. It was Gareth Bale’s opener against Arsenal at White Hart Lane which set the tone of the game, and allowed Spurs to gain an important win over Arsenal and thereby earning a seven point lead over the Gunners.
 
However Tottenham have dropped points in the last two games, following consecutive defeats to Fulham and Liverpool and much has been down to Gareth Bale not being at his best. His team has been over reliant on him, and it is very important that the Welsh star gets back to his best to help Spurs earn a Champions League berth.
 
There are injury concerns over the Welsh star, after he was withdrawn at half time in a world cup qualifying game against Scotland, but he is expected to make the cut as Tottenham prepare for an eventful encounter against Swansea.
 
The three players have been instrumental to where their teams currently stand, Van Persie is the best striker in the best team in England and will claim he is most deserving of the award if United manage to win their 20th Premier League title this season.
 
Luis Suarez on the other hand tops the scoring charts and has done remarkably well in a team which has altogether been very mediocre. And Gareth Bale has scored some timely and important goals to help his team climb up to the table to the fourth position, and Spurs should be thankful to him if they do earn the Champions League spot.
 
It is hard to decide which of the three players is more deserving given their incredible performances this season, which player in your opinion is most worthy of the PFA player award this season?