Seven relegated stars Aston Villa and Everton could sign – including Sheffield Utd and Burnley favourites
When relegation bites, it bites hard. Oftentimes, dropping out of a division not only brings with it a loss of status and financial might, but also a small exodus of players, For Luton Town, Sheffield United, and Burnley – three clubs who have lined up for much of the 2023/24 campaign with the distinct feel of Championship sides already – perhaps this will not be too much of an issue, but certainly to look at their respective squads is to notice a smattering of names who could quite easily be snapped up by Premier League suitors over the coming months.
From goalscorers to goalkeepers, and everything in between, there are several relegated stars who probably deserve another shot at the big time next season, and who should attract interest in their services accordingly.
We’ve picked out a number of them below, and remember, just because a player isn’t on this list doesn’t mean that we think they are irrecoverably terrible, so please don’t shout at us. Cheers.
Ross Barkley – Luton Town
Barkley underwent something of a renaissance at Luton this season, and was so good that there were even those suggesting that he should have been included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024. That has not happened, of course, but the midfielder has still proven that he can mix it with the big boys, and it is little surprise that Aston Villa are said to be circling with intent.
Thomas Kaminski – Luton Town
Being Luton’s goalkeeper for the entirety of a Premier League campaign might feel like more of a punishment than a blessing, but Kaminski definitely came out of this season with his reputation enhanced. Superb between the sticks, especially during the early part of the campaign, the Belgian has shown repeatedly that he is a top flight stopper.
Alfie Doughty – Luton Town
Eight assists and two goals from full-back is not a bad return whatsoever, and between his contributions in the final third and his general quality of distribution, Doughty has impressed this season. Certainly more than capable of making the step up to the Premier League on a more permanent basis.
Ben Brereton Diaz – Sheffield United
There has been talk of Brereton Diaz being given a chance in the Premier League for some time, and its just a shame that his opportunity eventually came for a Sheffield United side looked doomed from the off. Still, six goals and an assist in 14 outings is not to be sniffed at.
Gustavo Hamer – Sheffield United
Players capable of producing moments of magic from nothing are few and far between, but Hamer is very much one of them. The midfielder chipped in with six assists and four goals, including a screamer or two, over the course of the Blades’ relegation campaign, and there are several Premier League sides who would be well advised to keep an eye on him.
David Datro Fofana – Burnley
A bit of a tricky one, this. Fofana came racing out of the blocks at Burnley, scoring four goals in his first eight outings after joining on loan from Chelsea partway through the season. From March onwards, however, his minutes and his output slumped drastically, but there are reasons to believe that he could still do a job for the right club should the Blues choose to ship him out again this summer.
Sander Berge – Burnley
The rangy Norwegian is a class act on his day, and while he may not be quite as nailed on to seal a summer transfer as some players on this list, there is still no getting away from the fact that he has the pedigree required to ply his trade at the highest level.
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