Top 10 EPL players who need a summer move – Part 2
Taking a look at the last ten teams in the Premier League, we identify a player from each team who should or could look for a move away in the summer
After running down the first ten Premier League teams from Arsenal to Man City, we take a look at the remaining ten teams in the league and reveal one player from each side that could do with a summer move.
The players who get mentioned could either need a move because things aren’t working out at their current club or it could be if there is interest from other teams or a chance to move to a ‘bigger club’ or if they need to rejuvenate their career.
If you haven’t seen the first article which looks at players from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City who should leave, then click here.
Let’s get into the final ten Premier League teams!
1. Man United – Matteo Darmian
Darmian has only managed to feature 16 times in all competitions for the Red Devils so far this season and that is down to the form of some of the other defenders around him. There are several players at Old Trafford who can play in the same left-back and right-back positions as Darmian and it has meant that the Italian has struggled to find much league action of late.
In addition, the 27-year old hasn’t been able to find the form and perform in a way that would keep him in the first-team. His best displays have arguably come when he has been deployed as a right-back but with Antonio Valencia doing exceptionally well on that right-hand side this season, it has kept Darmian out of the team.
United then could be willing to let the Italy international leave the club in the summer, in a move that could be beneficial to both parties. United would be able to get a reasonable fee off an interested club for his services and the player himself would be able to establish himself as a regular first-team player elsewhere. He can do a solid job in defence and there would be a number of teams willing to sign him.
One good move could be to West Ham. The Hammers could use a right-back, with Michail Antonio preferring to player further up the field in a winger-type role and apart from the former Nottingham Forest man, there isn’t a whole lot of other choice for Slaven Bilic’s side in that position.
Darmian could provide some solid defensive stability in that right-back role and allow Antonio to play further upfield. He wouldn’t cost too much either but he would certainly be able to do a job. If not the Hammers, then potentially a move to Italy could be good for him.
Potential club to move to – West Ham or a move back to the Serie A.
2. George Friend – Middlesbrough
Friend has long been a commanding presence on the left-hand side of the field for Middlesbrough and played a key part in helping the side finally get promotion back to the Premier League. He’s become a fan favourite with the Boro fans and he’s also won numerous club Player of the Year awards because of his performances.
In the top tier of English football he has continued to impress in the left-back spot for the club. However, he is now having to compete with Fabio, who has come into the side this year and begun to impress in defence himself.
The two of them are currently battling it out to claim that left-back spot as their own – and both are neck-and-neck when it comes to appearances for the club this year – and Friend could decide to relinquish the spot to Fabio and search for a new team where he can become the main left-back.
Friend isn’t the youngest player at 29-years old and soon entering his thirties but he is certainly talented. His dribbling ability is exceptional and, as previously mentioned, he is able to command the left-hand side of the pitch in the games that he plays.
He can bomb forward and set up goals and get the ball into dangerous areas for his teammates or he can drop back and put in a defensive shift to save his side from conceding. He is a valuable asset for any club to have and he could be available for a decent price too.
He could easily make a swift transition to another Premier League side if he was to leave or, if he wanted to help another side clinch promotion, he could drop back down into the Championship. However, I feel Friend is a proven Premier League player now, he’s a good left-back to have and a move to another Premier League side where he can become a permanent fixture would be a good move.
Potential club to move to – Swansea could be a good move if they survive the drop or a team like Watford could use him well.
3. Virgil Van Dijk – Southampton
Van Dijk is extremely in-demand right now. The defender has lit up the Premier League for Southampton since his move to the club from Celtic back in 2015 and his consistently brilliant performances have caught the eye of some of the league’s biggest teams like Man United and Liverpool.
The defender has been linked with a move away from the Saints for a good while now and perhaps this summer could be the time for it. With several top sides all looking for new defensive recruits, he is likely to be in demand once again.
Southampton would be losing a key player but his stock has never been higher and selling him on now could get them a huge amount of money.
Van Dijk would also benefit as he would be able to try and challenge himself in the Champions League again if he secures a move to a top four team.
Liverpool are particularly desperate to bring in new defenders but may not fork out a large fee. Man United are another, more likely, destination. They have a number of good defenders already but as injuries this season have proven, another solid centre-back wouldn’t hurt.
Potential club to move to – Man United seems the top option. Or, if Liverpool can secure a top four spot then they too would be a good choice.
4. Shay Given – Stoke
Shay Given may be 40-years old now but he’s certainly still capable of doing a good job in goal for another season. He hasn’t been used too often at Stoke, with the club having Jack Butland at their disposal.
Given could, if he decides he wants one last season of first-team football, drop down a level or two to help a Football League team because, as previously mentioned, he is still capable of doing a good job despite his age.
His wealth of top-level experience would be a huge boost to any team that wants him.
Or, he could move to his homeland and enjoy a final season plying his trade over there.
Potential club to move to – A team in the Football League like Nottingham Forest or Rotherham, who have conceded a lot of goals so far this season or a move to the Republic of Ireland league.
5. Lamine Kone – Sunderland
Lamine Kone has quickly impressed everyone with his showings with the struggling Sunderland side since his move to the club last year. If Sunderland do end up going down to the Championship, then the player could look to leave.
He has already shown he is more than capable of doing a good job in the top league of English football and therefore if the Black Cats end up being relegated, then a move away would be something he should consider.
There would be no shortage of teams wanting to sign him, so he could pick and choose which top level side he wants.
Liverpool, as mentioned earlier in the article, could use any defenders they can get to help bolster their backline so could use Kone in their side. A team like West Ham or Stoke could also use him and guarantee more regular football.
Potential club to move to – Liverpool need defenders and Kone could be a good option. or, alternatively, West Ham or Stoke would also benefit from him moving to them.
6. Jefferson Montero – Swansea
Montero has been extremely under-utilised at Swansea since his move. He has only featured 12 times for the Swans in all competitions so far this season and another team could play him regularly and benefit from him instead.
Swansea would seemingly be okay with letting him leave, as he hasn’t been given much chance to play and impress and he could therefore be a cheap but good option for a number of other English sides.
He could choose to drop into the Championship and help a top side in the second tier, someone like Reading or Huddersfield who are battling for promotion or he could leave to join a side battling near the bottom in the Premier League like Crystal Palace or Leicester.
Any of these teams would surely be given a boost from Montero’s wing play, which is superb at times.
Potential club to move to – If he didn’t mind dropping down a league to help a team battle for promotion, he could be alright joining Reading or Huddersfield. Alternatively, he could help a side like Crystal Palace or Leicester escape the drop.
7. Erik Lamela – Tottenham
Lamela is another player who has not been used as much as he probably should.
He has featured just 14 times for Spurs so far this season and boss Mauricio Pochettino has preferred other players over him throughout this campaign so far, meaning that Lamela has been confined to the bench and to sporadic appearances here and there.
The 25-year old though is certainly talented and if given a regular run at another side, he could continue to grown and develop into a top player. There would be a number of teams willing to give him more of a chance elsewhere.
Spurs are doing okay without using him frequently at the moment, as they finished in the top four last year and are currently second in the table. Therefore, they could sell him on for a reasonable fee and use the money to improve other areas and Lamela could find more gametime elsewhere.
A return to Italy could be a good move for him, as it is in the Serie A where he managed to establish himself. Or, if he wanted to stay in England, Everton could be a good career move for him or to Pochettino’s old team Southampton.
Potential club to move to – Everton could be a good move as they could use a player like Lamela or Southampton could sign him too. A move back to Serie A is another possibility.
8. Costel Pantilimon – Watford
He has only made five appearances in all competitions so far this season for Watford and for a goalkeeper who is more than capable of doing a dependable job inbetween the sticks, he should leave the club.
Although he provides a good backup option for the Hornets, he could be better used by another team that could actually give him regular action.
He’s been linked with moves away in the past only for nothing to materialise. However, this summer could provide an opportune time for him to finally find a new club.
There are a number of Championship level sides who could use his pair of safe hands in goal or he could instead make a move over to France if he fancied a move away from England. Marseille or Nantes could perhaps use a new goalkeeper.
Potential club to move to – If he wants to stay in England, a drop down to a Championship team like Reading or Derby could be a good move, as he would get more action. Or, if he fancies a move abroad, Marseille or Nantes could use his services in France.
9. James McClean – West Brom
McClean has been linked with a move away from the Baggies on several occasions and after two years at the club it could be time for him to move on in search of a new and different challenge.
He’s featured 26 times for the club this year but most of those have come off the bench. He’s shown though that he is a good player to have, as his showings on the left hand side of the field when given the chance from the start have proven.
A team like Derby or QPR in the Champinship could both afford him and use him well to help them try and challenge at the top end of the table. At either of those sides, he’d get much more gametime.
He could also choose to stay in the top tier, as teams like Bournemouth or West Ham could perhaps use a player like him.
Potential club to move to – A team like QPR or Derby could use his excellent dribbling and defensive ability to help them climb the Championship table or he could move to another Premier League side like Bournemouth or West Ham.
10. Diafra Sakho – West Ham
Sakho has only featured twice for West Ham this year and with no signs of more first-team action in the future, a move away in the sumer could be good for him.
In those two appearances this year so far, he’s bagged one goal, which is impressive considering his little gametime. Sakho is capable of providing a good threat up front for whatever team he plays for and with the Hammers unwilling to use him, moving on could be a wise choice.
West Ham could sell him and use the money elsewhere and Sakho could begin to play regularly again.
A good move for him could be to another team in the Premier League that is in need of a few more goals in their side – a team like Middlesbrough or Hull who are struggling at the bottom of league and haven’t scored many goals could be good.
Or, a move abroad for a new challenge could be a good idea. A Bundesliga team like Wolfsburg, who have struggled for goals and wins this year could benefit from a new striking threat.
They haven’t had the greatest season and someone like Sakho could help them improve next season if he bangs in the goals.
Furthermore, he’d also be available for fairly cheap.
Potential club to move to – Middlesbrough or Hull could benefit from a new striker who could provide goals or a move to Wolfsburg could greatly help both the player and the team.