The forgotten men at YOUR Premier League club who could move on

SEVEN former England internationals, a £72MILLION signing, a Football Manager wonderkid and American superstar… the forgotten men at your Premier League club who could be moving on this summer

  • Premier League have begun planning how to improve ahead of the new season
  • Every club may, however, have to shift players to go big in the transfer window 
  • Here, Sportsmail runs you through some of those figures at your respective club

Premier League clubs have already begun planning ahead of next season as they look how to improve or rebuild their squads.

All 20 clubs will likely be looking to do some form of business in the transfer market, but most will need to move players on, in order to help funds signings or clear the wage bill to make drastic changes.

Sportsmail takes a look at each club’s forgotten about men that might be targeting a move elsewhere for more game time this summer. 


Premier League clubs have already begun planning ahead as they look how to improve their squads, which could see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) and Dele Alli (right) move on

Arsenal 

Nicolas Pepe

The Ivory Coast winger will be keen for a move away from the Emirates after falling down the pecking order under boss Mikel Arteta.

Pepe had high expectations when he arrived in north London for £72million back in the summer of 2019 from French side Lille. 

The 27-year-old started just five Premier League games this season and has contributed just one goal and one assist during his 23 domestic outings.

Pepe has been playing second fiddle to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli. 

He has even hired a new agent, which appears to suggest he wants to find a way out of Arsenal, in order to revive his career.

The Ivory Coast international has made just five starts in the Premier League this season

Pepe had high expectations when he arrived for £72million back in the summer of 2019 

Aston Villa 

Bertrand Traore

Traore joined Aston Villa on a four-year deal from Lyon in 2020 and scored seven goals with seven assists from 36 Premier League in his debut season, but his second term at Villa was a disappointment.

The 26-year-old winger made just 10 appearances this campaign, failing to score or make an assist while amassing 277 minutes of playing time.

He once appears to be a key figure for Dean Smith’s last season, but under Steven Gerrard’s he doesn’t seem part of the plans, especially given the new manager opting against wingers in his formations. 

The question is more whether or not there will any suitors to sign the former Chelsea youngster for around £16.5million, which Villa paid just two years ago. 

Bertrand Traore’s second season at Villa has been disappointing and he is very out of favour

Brentford

Tariqe Fosu

The Ghana international has lacked any sort of game time or even a chance to impress at Brentford since they were promoted to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old made just three appearances in all competitions this season, two of which were in the Carabao Cup, and the other being just a 16 minute cameo for the Bees in the league.

Fosu joined the Bees from Oxford United back in January, 2020, back when they were in the Championship and became a key part of the squad.

He played his part in helping them gain promotion to the top-flight and even chipped in with four goals. Since then he has very much not been a part of the plans and would want to get away to play more regularly.

Tariqe Fosu (pictured) has played just 16 minutes for Brentford in the top-flight this season

Brighton & Hove Albion

Shane Duffy

The Republic of Ireland centre-back, who was arguably once upon a time a dead certain to start for the Seagulls when available, could now be looking for a way out after only playing 18 times in the Premier League – three of those from the bench.

Duffy spent last season on loan at Scottish side Celtic and his time looked to be over at Brighton, but he returned and worked his way back into contention.

Long-term his future suggests he will not be a starter for Graham Potter’s side, therefore he could fancy his chance of heading elsewhere to become a regular.

Especially given that he didn’t feature towards the end of the season when Brighton turned their fortunes around for a top half finish. 

Shane Duffy (pictured) has gone from a key player at Brighton to being used sparingly

Bournemouth 

Junior Stanislas

The experienced winger struggled for game time in the Championship under Scott Parker and it seems unlikely that will change with promotion back to the Premier League.

The 32-year-old made just eight appearances, seven of those being in the league, but he failed to find the back of the net as the Cherries finished as runners-up.

His lack of time was partly due to numerous injury set-backs, but they managed well without him, meaning he will have fallen down the pecking order.

Stanislas does however have top-flight experience, which could mean he pushes his way back into contention. 

Experienced winger Junior Stanislas struggled for game time at Bournemouth last season

Chelsea

Christian Pulisic 

The American forward made 38 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring eight goals and picking up five assists, but started just 13 games in the Premier League.

Pulisic’s lack of minutes has fuelled speculation that he may look to leave in the transfer window.

Earlier this season, Pulisic’s father, Mark, took aim at his son’s lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge, and described his situation as ‘sad’.

In a tweet that was subsequently deleted, he also hinted he may end up leaving.  

American forward Christian Pulisic (pictured) started just 13 games in the Premier League

His father, Mark, took aim at the lack of action in a tweet which was subsequently deleted

Ross Barkley

The 28-year-old has needed to leave Stamford Bridge for many years now to revive his career and any hope of reaching the potential that everyone once thought he had.

Barkley has featured just 14 times in all competitions, finding the net once against Watford on the final day of the season to rescue a late victory. 

The former England international even had his shirt number taken off him ahead of last season and appears not to be in the plans of Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues have plenty of midfield options including N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek ahead of him in the pecking order.

Ross Barkley (pictured) has needed to leave Stamford Bridge for years to revive his career

Crystal Palace

Luka Milivojevic

The Serbian international appears to not be part of Patrick Vieira’s plans going forward – despite being instrumental to the Eagles before the new manager’s arrival last summer.

The 31-year-old has been at Crystal Palace since 2017, arriving at Selhurst Park from Olympiakos, where he originally became a fan favourite.

Milivojevic went on to make 165 Premier League appearances, scoring 28 goals, but this season has been a very different story.

The midfielder has played just 15 times with only nine of those being starts this campaign.

He only has a year left on his contract but is attracting interest from newly-promoted sides Fulham and Nottingham Forest. 

Luka Milivojevic (pictured) is not part of Patrick Vieira’s plans, but is attracting interest

Everton

Dele Alli

The former England star has gone from one disaster to another, as he joined the Toffees in January to end a miserable period at Tottenham, after being made available for transfer.

The 26-year-old started just eight times for Spurs before moving to Goodison Park in a move, which was meant to see the midfielder return to his best form, but instead it went from bad to worse.

Alli made 11 appearances for Everton, but only one of those being from the start, as they endured a heavy 5-1 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the season.

It is a wonder what comes next for the England 2018 World Cup star – either way it could be away from Everton who will not want to pay £40million to Tottenham for handing him appearances. 

Dele Alli (pictured) only joined Everton from Tottenham in January to revive his career 

Fulham 

Ivan Cavaleiro

The Portuguese forward made only five league starts in the Championship from 18 appearances in Fulham’s title winning season.

The 28-year-old originally joined the Cottagers on loan ahead of the 2019-20 season and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League – while joining permanently in the January transfer window from Wolves.

He notched six goals along the way that season before then also being a key figure, where he made 36 appearances and scored three times in the top-flight.

This season has been a very different story and he has struggled to get into the starting line-up although he has still scored twice. 

Ivan Cavaleiro (pictured) only made five league starts from 18 appearances this campaign

Leeds

Helder Costa 

The Portuguese winger could be heading for the exit door or may well want to after falling out of favour at Leeds and then enduring a miserable loan spell at Valencia.

The 28-year-old is set to return to the club from the LaLiga side this summer after he  failed to score in 27 appearances.

He does, however, have two years left on his contract at Elland Road and with the new manager Jesse Marsch coming in, he may be given a chance to impress.

Although, if Leeds want to improve their squad they will have to shift players on reasonable wages like Costa this summer. 

The Portuguese winger Helder Costa (pictured) is out of favour at Leeds and struggled on loan

Leicester City

Ryan Bertrand

The experienced left-back has gone from being an England regular and one of the Premier League’s most under-rated left-backs for a period of time to now struggling to get a game for the Foxes.

The 32-year-old, who joined Leicester last summer from Southampton, was brought in to be the starting left-back but has instead only made 11 appearances with only four of those being in the Premier League.

Bertrand has 19 caps to his name, but that boat looks to have sailed, while he remains glued to the substitutes bench. 

His switch last summer has proved not a good one and he could be tempted away to end the misery. 

Ryan Bertrand (pictured) has gone from England regular to sitting on the bench for the Foxes

Liverpool 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

The versatile midfielder, who has 35 caps for England, is massively out of favour at Liverpool and has even been put up for sale this summer.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has just one year left on his contract at Anfield and the Reds seem ready to try cashing in on the former Arsenal man.

He has hardly featured for Liverpool this season, making just 17 appearances in the Premier League.

Ever since joining the Reds from Arsenal for £35 million in 2017, he has struggled to nail down a starting place, but has since played his part over the years.

A fresh start could be crucial for the 28-year-old who is sure to attract plenty of Premier League interest. 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (pictured) has made just 17 appearances in the league for Liverpool

Manchester City 

Claudio Gomes

The French defensive midfielder joined City back in 2018, but has only featured three times, once as a substitute in the Community Shield final, once in the Carabao Cup, and more recently in the FA Cup.

Instead, he has been out on loan at Dutch side PSV and Championship outfit Barnsley since.

The 21-year-old enjoyed plenty of minutes during both of those loan spells, but it seems he hasn’t got any closer to the City first-team, and perhaps he never will with City targeting midfielders once again this summer. 

Manchester United

Dean Henderson

The England goalkeeper needs to move away to have any hope of landing a spot in the 2022 Qatar World Cup squads.

Henderson was very much a shoe in for the Three Lions not that long ago, but since returning to United to play second fiddle to David de Gea, he has been forgotten about with Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope the preferred options.

The 25-year-old only played three times for the Red Devils during their miserable campaign – none of those coming in the Premier League.

Newcastle among others have already shown an interest in the former Sheffield United loanee.

Dean Henderson (pictured) needs to leave Man United to get back in England contention

Newcastle United

Jamal Lewis

The £15million signing from Norwich City has proved to be a poor signing for the Magpies and was even left out of their Premier League squad following the completion of the January transfer window. 

The 24-year-old left-back impressed for the Canaries, which led to Newcastle forking out to sign the youngster in the summer of 2020.

He has arguably shown more signs of regression than progression since arriving at St James Park and only made a total of 32 appearances – only six of those this season.

Boss Eddie Howe stated he left him out of the squad due to injury. 

Jamal Lewis (pictured) who joined Newcastle for £15million in 2020 has been a poor signing

Isaac Hayden

The midfielder remains in contract until 2026, but much like Lewis suffered with injuries, and was left out of the 25-man squad in January.

Hayden has been a fan favourite during his six-year spell, making 171 appearances in all competitions, but only 14 this season with 12 of those being starts at the beginning of the season.

The former Arsenal academy product may now look to play elsewhere with the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton now be deployed in midfield.

He took to Twitter and Instagram after the season to suggest he may leave, by posting: ‘Another season completed. Started poorly, ended on fire. Takeover done, future is bright for this great club.

‘Personally my toughest in pro football but everything happens for a reason. Thank you for your incredible support this season and over the last six years.’

Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden (pictured) may bring an end to his six-year stay at Magpies

Nottingham Forest

Nuno da Costa

The Cape Verdean international has only played 14 times for newly-promoted Forest since joining in January, 2020.

The striker has been sent out on loan twice instead of breaking his way into the team, going out to Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron last season.

The 31-year-old joined Ligue 2 side Stade Malherbe Caen this season, where he has made 26 appearances, and notched nine times.

Costa is not expected to return and set the world alight, especially given the recent promotion. 

Nuno da Costa has only played 14 times for newly-promoted Nottingham Forest back in 2020

Southampton

Theo Walcott

Walcott, who once upon a time became the Saints youngest ever senior player, making his first start at Leeds in October 2005 at the age of 16.

Sadly, the 33-year-old’s return to his boyhood has failed miserably, as he failed to score a single goal last season and was limited to just 12 appearances in all competitions. 

The 47-cap forward has just one year left on his contract and the Saints may want to cash in, if they can find the right suitor.

The former World Cup star is reportedly attracting interest from MLS sides LA Galaxy, LAFC, New York Red Bulls or New York City, according to The Sun.

Theo Walcott’s (pictured) return to Southampton has failed as he failed to score a single goal

Tottenham

Harry Winks

The midfielder has gone from bossing the midfield against Real Madrid in the Champions League and earning his way into the England squad to now being well on the outskirts of Antonio Conte’s plans.

The 26-year-old has already been linked with LaLiga side Sevilla and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest after being put on alert that Spurs will listen to offers this summer.

He did still feature 30 times for the north London outfit, only 17 of those being in the Premier League of which nine were from the start.

Winks at the start of the season was still heavily involved whereas the arrival of boss Conte and midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur in January seemed to push him well out of the picture. 

Harry Winks (pictured) is not part of Antonio Conte’s plans at Tottenham and can leave

West Ham

Issa Diop

The French defender was signed for around £22million in the summer of 2018 and was meant to be an answer to the Hammers defensive troubles.

The 25-year-old has, however, fallen down to being fourth choice centre-back after a bright start to his career in east London.

He now sits behind the likes of Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna in the pecking order when they’re all available.

Diop made 26 appearances in all competitions with only 13 of those being Premier League starts, which most likely would have been less had Ogbonna not been sidelined for the majority of the campaign. 

French defender Issa Diop (pictured) made just 13 Premier League starts for West Ham United

Wolves 

Patrick Cutrone

From Football Manager wonderkid to flop since arriving at Wolves, the Italian striker most probably wouldn’t even know is still at the club.

The 24-year-old has made just 28 appearances for Wolves, finding the net on three occasions in all competitions since his arrival back in 2019.

Cutrone has been sent on loan three times since joining the club to the likes of Fiorentina, Valencia and the latest being Empoli.

He will return this summer after his loan spell in Serie A, but it seems unlikely he will dislodge any of the existing front men, therefore meaning he could be sent out on loan once again or find himself sitting on the sidelines. 

Patrick Cutrone has made just 28 appearances in all competitions for Wolves since 2019




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