While Liverpool have been crowned the champions of England after what has been 30 years of excruciating pain felt in every section of their passionate fan-base, there is something that they share in common with every other club in the league. Players that have been either an absolute let down or possess bags of talent, only for it to be used to warm the bench. And some possess incredible talent and end product but are not there at the right place. Here are 18 Premier League players that desperately need a move.
18 Premier League Players that Desperately Need a Move
1. Xherdan Shaqiri– It wasn’t a long time ago when Shaqiri gained a mean reputation at Anfield when he announced himself with his arms folded, in a game that saw him sink Manchester United, their staunch rivals, with a brace after coming off the bench. A moment like that was thought to a new beginning for Liverpool. While it was the resurrection of Liverpool, it was the beginning of a series of disappointments as a result of injuries. While he’s 28 and has won a few big titles with Liverpool, it might be time for the Swiss International to move to cement a starting place.
2. John Stones– A player signed for a hefty fee from Everton, was known for his incredible ball-playing abilities. Such a talent wasn’t going to be overlooked by Pep Guardiola whose love affair with such centre-backs dates back to his time at Barcelona when he built a team with players like Gerard Pique to conquer Europe. The Englishman was seen as a symbol to keep the back tight but has often let his eye slide off the ball, costing Manchester City a lot of games. And as a result, the minutes are very hard to come by for the former Evertonian these days and will surely consider his future this summer.
3. Jesse Lingard– A former Manchester United youth product burst onto the scene and was touted to have a big future at the club. His name was slapped across magazines when he took the responsibility to step up during big games, like the FA cup final winner in 2016. But in recent times, Jesse Lingard has seen minutes hard to come by due to poor form and must secure a move to this summer.
4. N’golo Kante– The World Cup winner, while being one of the best holding midfielders in the world, saw his preferred position gifted to his Chelsea counterpart Jorginho under Maurizio Sarri last season. The appointment of Frank Lampard was thought to be the catalyst of the Frenchman’s return to his preferred role. However, injuries took away precious time from the team, and this resulted in him falling down the pecking order, causing doubts about his future. N’golo Kante has come a long way from his time in the lower divisions of France, and maybe now at the age of 29, it’s probably his last chance to seal the long-awaited move to Real Madrid or Barcelona.
5. Kepa Arrizabalaga– Kepa’s move was met with a lot of stares across the Premier League community who felt that the prospect of signing a player on the back of one good season at Bilbao, for a huge fee was preposterous. Since then Kepa has done very little to prove his haters wrong. To add insult to injury, his attitude has rubbed people the wrong way within the club. Maybe, it’s time for him to move on.
6. Mitchy Batshuayi – Cited as a player in the making for years, Batshuayi is past his young age now and is in his prime at 26. His inability to command a place in the Chelsea starting eleven is as a result of his inconsistencies and the rising quality of players in the Chelsea squad. With Marseille showing interest in the Belgian international, this summer should very well be the end of the Batshuayi experiment at Chelsea.
7. Raul Jimenez – The Wolves’ hitman has had a career full of people doubting his ability, but in the last few years, he has been the most important factor in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ success. At 29, he’s showing no signs of stopping. With goals raining left, right, and center this summer is his last chance to prove himself at a massive club.
8. Tanguy Ndombele – The former Lyon man has had a season to forget in North London. His initial displays got the fans frenzy but since then the performances have dipped and the injuries have taken over his career. An alleged falling out with the new boss Jose Mourinho has seen him on the bench in recent weeks. It’s probably the beginning of the end for the Frenchman who only signed with Spurs a year ago.
9. Jan Vertonghen – An Ajax graduate with the ability to operate both as a left- back and as a centre- back has been nothing sort of phenomenal during his tenure at Spurs. However, the lack of trophies has put a dent on his resumè, and with Inter Milan interested, it should be his best chance of winning something before his impending retirement.
10. Harry Kane – Spurs’ prolific no.10 has been the story of every summer for years now. His reluctance to depart North London for another club has put him in a pickle. Having scored over 30 goals in 3 of his last 6 seasons at the club, the two- time golden boot winner will consider his options this summer, despite the club’s recent resurgence under the new boss Jose Mourinho.
11. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang has been the only shining light in Arsenal’s plight for the last two and a half seasons. The former Borussia Dortmund striker penned a deal with Arsenal with a promise that Arsenal were going back to the top. While Aubamayeng lived up to his end of the agreement of scoring goals, the club has failed him. With the time not on his side at 31, it’s probably time for him to capitalize on those Barcelona or Real Madrid links.
12. Mesut Ozil – It was the final day of the summer in 2012 when Arsene Wenger had a sadistic grin on his face when he was asked about the Mesut Ozil transfer links. The smile was a sign of things to come, as Ozil signed with Arsenal on the back of an incredible season at the Bernabéu. Aside from his first few seasons, his time has been nothing short of depressing. His work-rate and his attitude is a testament to the fact that he needs to move on.
13. Wilfried Zaha– The Ivorian is a player too good for Crystal Palace and his prolonged move to a top club may never materialize unless it happens this summer. If his stats are anything to go by, it could make for a very difficult audition but his talent cannot be overlooked.
14. Jack Grealish– A Boyhood Aston Villa fan, he sprung on to the scene for a fairly underwhelming Aston Villa that were sure to go down. His flair and ability to carry the ball freely even during a lot of pressure lit up The Villa Park and brought them back to the Premier League. This season has seen the Aston Villa captain inspire the team as a leader, to keep them alive in the Premier League
15. Nathan Ake– Another player who’s been around at a club for quite a while. His role has been underrated and overshadowed by Bournemouth’s form. With Bournemouth going down Ake will have to leave so his talents aren’t wasted in the Championship. While clubs have finally started taking notice of his talent, this summer should be the end of Nathan Ake‘s tenure at the Vitality stadium.
16. Todd Cantwell – No one imagined a kid of about 21 at the time, to make a big impact in the Premier League this season for Norwich City, especially after a not so noteworthy campaign in the Championship last season. His strikes against Manchester City and Manchester United in the FA Cup have seen him linked to the champions of England, Liverpool. Todd Cantwell is showing no signs of stopping and looks too good to be playing for Norwich City, who are now, once again, a Championship side.
17. Emiliano Buendía – The Argentinian took a long time to register his first goal in the Premier League, with his first strike coming against a lackluster Watford side. Such a stat is often frowned upon, but in his case, he’s been more of a playmaker than a goalscorer, and this can be evidenced by the fact that he has created the third most chances in the Premier League, only behind Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne. Having drawn comparisons to Liverpool’s No. 9 Roberto Firmino, Carrow Road could see another one their top stars depart this summer.
18. Ismaïla Sarr – A record signing for Watford from Rennes. He turned down offers from Barcelona for regular game time, and it’s a gamble that paid off big time. A brace against the Champions of England helped Watford become the first team to beat Liverpool in the Premier League this season. His goal-scoring exploits, unequivocally, is worthy of a team in the top 10 of the Premier League.
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