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The summer transfer window is slowly shifting gears. Having begun with low-cost and free transfers, the big guns across Europe are slowly getting back into the groove.
While these clubs will be looking to improve on their prospects for the upcoming season, there are also plenty of players who desperately need a change of scenery. These individuals have simply fallen down the pecking order at their respective clubs. The summer window allows them the opportunity to redirect their careers and play important roles for their team regardless of where they end up.
On that note, let's look at five players who sorely need a transfer to go through if they are to revitalize their careers:
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#5 Saul Niguez | Atletico Madrid
Many will know Saul Niguez as an Atletico Madrid stalwart; so much so that it's easy to forget he is only 26.
The Spaniard joined Diego Simeone's side back in 2013. He played a crucial role as Atletico won the 2013-14 La Liga title and made an incredible run to the UEFA Champions League final. Fast forward seven years and he started just 22 league games as the Colchoneros won the league in the 2020-21 season.
While Saul hasn't always been the rugged, 'Simeone player,' he often breathed fresh air into a rigidly organized Atletico side. The midfielder has played 337 matches in his time with the club, scoring a handy 43 goals. However, Simeone's decision to switch to a back three during the 2020-21 campaign massively affected Saul's playing time.
In previous seasons, Saul played as one of the midfielders in a 4-4-2 system that held the fort in the defensive half and survived on quick transitions offensively. However, the 3-1-4-2 system that Simeone has adopted now means Koke plays as the holding midfielder with space for only two other midfielders in the four ahead. El Cholo often selected the prolific Marcos Llorente alongside an inside forward in Thomas Lemar, which effectively left no space for Saul in the XI.
Saul has played a crucial role in whatever success Atletico have had in recent years. However, it might be in the best interest of both parties if the Spaniard leaves the club this summer, with a move to Barcelona reportedly on the horizon.
#4 Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City
Gabriel Jesus is still one of the hottest prospects in Brazilian football at just 24 and has won trophies aplenty with Manchester City. However, his future at the club has been a consistent question mark over the last couple of seasons.
With Sergio Aguero departing for Barcelona, it is easy to assume Jesus might play a more starring role in the 2021-22 season for the Cityzens. However, it's worth noting that Aguero spent much of the last campaign out due to injury. Despite that, Jesus made just 22 Premier League starts during City's title-winning run.
There is little doubt about the Brazilian's talent. He has 82 goals and 34 assists for City in 195 matches, many of which he hasn't started in. But Jesus is often profligate in front of goal and takes time in every game to find his range.
This is a quality Pep Guardiola doesn't really seem to care for. The City manager's decision to play one of Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne as a false nine ahead of Jesus in crunch games only emphasizes that even more.
There is just so much unpredictability in the City set-up, thanks in no small part to Guardiola's plethora of tactical nuances. Rumors have also been repeatedly floating around that the Sky Blues want Harry Kane this summer. In such a scenario, one just feels Jesus might benefit by transferring to a side that uses him as a conventional number and gives him the playing time he deserves.
#3 Isco | Real Madrid
Isco's career at Real Madrid has followed the same trajectory over the past few years. At one point in the season, the Spaniard is seen as crucial to Los Blancos' midfield. After a few outings, good and bad, he warms the bench for weeks on end.
Isco has featured 96 times for Real in the last three seasons, which is neither here nor there. The bigger problem, however, is the consistency of these appearances. Every time the Spaniard seems set to have a prolonged run in the starting XI, it has been abruptly cut short due to a multitude of reasons.
Isco has also fallen behind Fede Valverde in the pecking order in recent years. This is in addition to already serving as a back-up for Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro. With Isco's contract expiring next summer, it might just make perfect sense for both parties if he leaves the club in this transfer window.
#2 Tammy Abraham | Chelsea
Yet another bright young talent from the Chelsea academy, Tammy Abraham experienced immense growth during the 2019-20 season. But his progress was massively stunted in the 2020-21 campaign.
Under Frank Lampard, Abraham flourished as a conventional goalscorer. He finished his first top-flight season for Chelsea with 18 goals in 47 matches. While he was wasteful and needed time to find his range, Abraham was still excellent as a target man.
However, Lampard is long gone now and Thomas Tuchel seemingly had different ideas after replacing the Englishman in the dugout. The German often chose to go with the pace of Timo Werner or the craftiness of Kai Havertz upfront over Abraham's goalscoring. Resultantly, Abraham made just 32 appearances last season and has often found himself on the bench.
At just 23 years of age, he is bound to attract several clubs due to his youth, physical presence and proven Premier League experience. A move away from Chelsea might just give Abraham's career the boost it needs.
#1 Joao Felix | Atletico Madrid
It would be a stretch to say Felix has been a complete failure at Atletico Madrid. He is still just 21 and did win the 2020-21 La Liga title.
However, the youngster has certainly struggled to fully adapt to Spanish football so far. Felix also signed an extremely debatable seven-year contract that keeps him at Atletico all the way to 2026. Having been brought in for a hefty fee of £122m, the Portuguese has contributed just 19 goals in 76 matches for Atletico. Injury problems have also stunted his progress as he made just 14 league starts for Simeone's men last season.
Felix still holds plenty of potential and is unlikely to leave Atletico this summer. But a seven-year contract and an excessively high transfer fee seem to be too heavy a burden on his shoulders. It is also worth noting that Atletico signed Felix after he had made just 43 appearances for Benfica, which again suggests a minor rush of blood from all parties involved.
With all of these factors at play, a change in scenario, even on loan, might just help the 21-year-old rediscover his mojo.
