For a number of years now, when a team is relegated, the Premier League vultures begin circling around their star players. So, on the face of it, Swansea City, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion fans might have a bit to worry about.
Of 2016/17’s relegated clubs, Hull City lost the likes of Andy Robertson and Harry Maguire, Sunderland made £30 million on Jordan Pickford, and Middlesbrough, well Middlesbrough didn’t really lose anyone to the Premier League, but Marten de Roon went to Atalanta so we’ll go with that.
Here are our 7 best players from the relegated PL clubs
7. Alfie Mawson – Swansea City
First up in this seven is Alfie Mawson, who was playing non-league football four years ago, and League One football only a couple of years ago. Swansea brought Mawson to the Liberty Stadium in a deal worth £5 million following his impressive form at Barnsley, and if they do sell him this summer, you can be sure they’d turn a hefty profit. He was in fine form earlier this season, and was called up for England duty for the first time in March, although he didn’t manage to get on the pitch. Mawson’s form has wavered, along with the rest of the Swansea side as the season played out, but he is still being linked with the likes of Tottenham – and he’s also only 24.
6. Nacer Chadli – West Brom
Nacer Chadli of West Bromwich Albion battles for the ball with Cedric Soares of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s…
Nacer Chadli has played more games for Belgium than West Brom this season, having been restricted to just 2 appearances for the Baggies in all competitions this term. The campaign got off to a bad start for the big winger, who fell out with manager Tony Pulis after apparently refusing to go on a pre-season tour. The former Tottenham man, who had an impressive debut season at the Hawthorns, has since had problems with both his hamstring and his calf. Despite his lack of appearances this season, Chadli is still a highly-regarded and dangerous left winger, who will be among the most sought after players at the three relegated clubs. He has already been linked with a move to Serie A, with title challengers Napoli mentioned.
5. Lukasz Fabianski – Swansea City
The second Swansea City player in this seven, Lukasz Fabianski was deservedly named as the Swans Player of the Season at their recent end of season awards. Nicknamed ‘Flappy-Handski’ during his time at Arsenal, when the Polish international was in and out of the team, never able to find any real consistency or rhythm, he has shown his class at Swansea City. He has displayed smart reflexes and handling, and the Welsh side would have been relegated weeks before were it not for some of his heroics. He is yet to have been linked with any other club, but it would be some feat if Swansea were able to keep hold of him this summer.
4. Jonny Evans – West Bromwich Albion
Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion is challenged by Joshua King of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West…
Much like Nacer Chadli, it is past successes rather than this seasons form that will see teams eyeing up a move for West Brom defender Jonny Evans. It wasn’t long ago that the Northern Irish international was being linked with Manchester City and Arsenal, with the Baggies even turning down a couple of supposedly ‘derisory’ bids for the centre-back. The fees bandied about at the time are wildly above what West Brom can expect to receive now, especially since the 30-year-old is believed to have a £3 million release clause. That kind of money is pocket change to Premier League clubs these days, and we expect someone to pick Evans up this summer.
3. Joe Allen – Stoke City
A star of the Welsh national team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, Joe Allen joined Stoke City that same summer for £13 million. Despite the Potters struggles, Allen has impressed in his two seasons at the Bet365 stadium, with his high work rate and good technique proving a rare bright spark in the middle of Stoke’s midfield. Aged 28, it’s a near-certainty that Allen will have left Staffordshire when Stoke begin their next campaign in the Championship. Stoke had barely been relegated five minutes, and five clubs have were linked with the former Swansea City man, including West Ham, Wolves and Sevilla.
2. Jack Butland – Stoke City
Jack Butland talks to the press at St Georges Park on May 22, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England.
England international Jack Butland has been talked about as potentially being Gareth Southgate’s number one for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, although he’ll most likely be second choice to Jordan Pickford now. Still only 25, and practically just a boy in goalkeeping terms, there’s surely no way he’ll be playing in the Championship next season. Clubs like Watford, West Ham – and even Liverpool – could well be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper in the summer, and you’re likely to get a decade of quality service out of Jack Butland, making him prime pickings.
1. Xherdan Shaqiri – Stoke City
The top three in this seven all play for Stoke City, and with the right management, the Potters never should have been relegated this season. Arguably their best player – and certainly their most talented attacking player – is Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri. The former Inter Milan and Bayern Munich winger is among the most dangerous players outside the Premier League’s top six, with 8 goals and 6 assists in the league this season. That’s a better combined tally than Mesut Ozil at Arsenal, Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace, and Wayne Rooney at Everton.
Short and stocky, Shaqiri can explode out of his 5 foot 6 inch frame with a frightening burst of acceleration, quick feet and his ever-dangerous wand of a left foot. He has a World Cup with Switzerland to look forward to, but also a summer transfer and no doubt a greatly improved pay packet.
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