The summer transfer window slams shut on August 31, at 11.30 PM BST. The last day of the transfer window has come to be called deadline day and it has become an event unto itself. Largely featuring clubs who are either panicking or have been sluggish in the market, spending larger sums of money on targets than they would have envisaged.
However, this does little to discourage the fans who gather at the gates of their club’s training grounds, hoping to catch a glimpse of the latest recruit joining their team.
One of the recurring themes of deadline day in the past has been clubs who have missed out on their first targets, going in for someone whose career trajectory has taken a bit of a dip in the hopes of resurrecting a once promising career.
Let’s have a look at 10 players who have to move clubs to bring their career back on track:
#10 Mamadou Sakho
A fan favourite at Liverpool, the 26-year old French international has had a rough time recently. He was forced to miss the Europa League finals as well of the European Championships held in his native France because of doping allegations, only for them to be waived a month later.
Now back at Liverpool, the former PSG captain has suffered an Achilles injury, and to make matters worse he’s rumoured to have fallen out with manager Jürgen Klopp. With Liverpool signing Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, Sakho has a mountain to climb in order to force his way back into the starting eleven.
It has been reported in the Daily Mail that Sakho has been told to leave Liverpool on loan if he inteads to play any football this season. Even though he is being treated rather harshly at Liverpool, Sakho appears to believe that his long term future lies on Merseyside.
A number of Premier League teams are said to be monitoring the situation and a year-long loan or maybe even a permanent move would certainly be the best for Liverpool and the player.
#9 Asmir Begovic
Joining Chelsea from Stoke last season, the Bosnian International has proven to be a more than capable back up for Thibaut Courtois.
While he could easily force himself into most teams around the world, he is at one of the few clubs in the world where that just isn’t possible.
Last season, Begovic was one of the few shining lights in a dismal Chelsea team, proving to be solid whenever called upon. However, last season also proved that even if Asmir Begovic were to somehow outperform Courtois, the Blues are going to persist with the Belgian international, a man they have nurtured since he was 19.
With Courtois set to be a cornerstone of Chelsea for years to come, Begovic could do with securing a move away. Sunderland are said to be interested in landing the former Stoke keeper.
#8 Moussa Sissoko
Sissoko’s performance in the last three knockout games of EURO 2016 for France, were good enough to attract attention from the likes of Real Madrid. The French international appears to be heading towards a campaign in England’s second tier with Newcastle if he does not make a move by the end of today.
There is likely to be plenty of interest from the Premier League for Sissoko.
A fantastic athlete, blessed with power and awareness, the former Toulouse ace can be monstrous on the right wing. He is also versatile and can play in a box to box or holding midfield role.
There are numerous teams who could use someone with his skillset, especially Tottenham who have been linked with him. Spurs have been crying out for another effective winger and Sissoko could be what they need to get them into gear and back in the running for a Top 4 spot.
#7 Bastian Schweinsteiger
One of the most decorated German footballers ever, Bastian Schweinsteiger was key component and leader of Germany’s World Cup winning team, as well as Jupp Heynckes’s ruthless treble-winning Bayern side.
The former German international has endured a fall from grace since joining Manchester United to reunite with Louis Van Gaal last season.
New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ordered Schweinsteiger to train with the U21 team and has effectively ended his chances of ever appearing for the first team again.
While Schweinsteiger has stated his desire to seek pastures outside Europe, one would hope a move could materialize to save him from the indignity of spending an entire season with the U21s.
#6 Mario Balotelli
Once regarded as one of the world’s brightest attacking prospects, the word that is now being used to describe Mario Balotelli is “Overrated”.
Balotelli’s career has nosedived ever since he joined Liverpool. When he joined, his agent Mino Raiola described the move as his last chance at a top European club. Sadly it appears that the opportunity has passed him by.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has stated publicly that the former Italian international needs to find a new club and has even banned Balotelli from the first team. Unfortunately for the once Super Mario, the braces against Germany and Manchester United are no longer fresh in the mind; in their place are a string of unflattering tabloid tales and unfortunate injuries.
Balotelli has had trouble finding a club but has been linked with a move to Nice. A move to the French riviera, away from the media spotlight could be just what he needs to reclaim what was once a promising career.
#5 Jack Wilshere
At the age of 19, Wilshere was billed as the one who would inherit the legacy of great English central midfielders and succeed the legendary duo of Lampard and Gerrard. The peak of this acclaim arrived following a performance at home versus Barcelona in the Champions League in 2010, in which he would go toe to toe with Xavi.
His performance that night was so tremendous that the legendary Spaniard sings his praises to this day.
However, injuries have ground Jack Wilshere’s game into dust and, today, he is no longer as good as he was at 19. This coupled with an influx of midfielders at Arsenal in recent years has ensured that it is going to be nearly impossible for him to force his way into the eleven.
Still only 24 years of age, it is not too late for the once precocious Englishman, to resurrect the player he was five years ago. Arsenal appear to be ready to loan him out for a year and there will certainly be no shortage of takers in the Premier League.
#4 Yaya Toure
One of the key components of the spine of the Manchester City team that has established itself at the top of English football over the last 5 years, the Ivorian has been left out in the cold by new City boss Guardiola.
In recent years the powerhouse has been criticised because of his lack of defensive effort and tactical discipline.
A unique combination of power and grace blessed with a soft touch and sublime strike, Toure will be remembered as one of the finest players to have graced the Premier League. However, now in the twilight of his career, it appears that there is a possibility that the final act of the 33-year old’s career will not play out in a manner befitting of him.
While a move would certainly help him, his massive wage packet will almost certainly be a stumbling block.
#3 Samir Nasri
Coming in as a highly rated talent from Marseilles, Samir Nasri suffered maddening consistency during the first two of years of his Arsenal career. The highlight of these two years was a performance against Manchester United, in which he scored a brace and effectively ended the career of Gary Neville by tearing him to pieces.
The next season would see Nasri take the Premier League by storm, his form would earn him PFA team of the year and Arsenal player of the year honours.
These performances would inspire City to go out and buy him. However, the consistency issues that plagued him during his first two years at Arsenal, would return and they have never truly gone away.
Now with Sterling, Navas, Nolito, and Sane competing with him for a wide berth, the former French International needs a move to remind the world of how good he really is.
#2 Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas signed for Chelsea in the 2014/15 season and hit the ground running and was the best player in the league till Christmas. However, since then, his performances have been on a steady decline, resulting in him being the scapegoat for Chelsea’s disastrous tiltle defence.
With the arrival of Antonio Conte, Fabregas has been benched in favour of the industrious Oscar. Add in Chelsea’s ageing backline and their need for protection from midfield, Fabregas’s playing time this season is going to be pretty limited.
At 29 years of age, Fabregas cannot afford to sit on the bench, and if Conte cannot play him in a role similar to the one in which he used Pirlo at Juventus, Fabregas will have to leave. Still capable of controlling a game from midfield, the Catalan should have no shortage of takers.
#1 James Rodriguez
A superstar in every sense of the word, James has seen a lot of time on the bench following Zidane’s switch to a 4-3-3 system.
However, unfortunately for him, James plays, in what is, a golden era of sorts for attacking midfielders. James also commands substantial wages in the region of £6 million, one of the main reasons why he is still at Madrid.
Big clubs may already have someone in his position, who is either better suited to their tactical needs or someone who is just as good if not better than James, and a deadline day move seems very to difficult to pull off.
