Now that the Premier League has come to a head for another season, the gossip pages will be adorned with players linked with moves across the continent until the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of August. However, while the likes of Paul Pogba, David de Gea and Nicolás Otamendi are linked with big money transfers in and out of the Premier League, there are those who dropped out of England’s top tier who are worthy of a swift return to the country's top division.
QPR, Burnley and Hull, respectively, footed the Premier League this season, but a number of their players proved their credentials during their stint among England’s best. Using WhoScored’s unique rating system, we look at the six players who performed most admirably for their teams and who are perhaps good enough to ply their trade in the Premier League next term.
Curtis Davies (7.32)
Injury at the turn of the year curtailed Curtis Davies’ season and there is an argument to be made that the Tigers would have stood a much stronger chance of remaining in the Premier League had the 30-year-old been available for the entire campaign. Despite being sidelined from January onwards, Davies was still Hull’s best-rated player (7.32) having churned out a number of commendable defensive displays for Steve Bruce’s side.
Davies won more aerial duels (4.5) and made more interceptions (3.1) per game than any other Tigers player this season and it's reasonable to suggest he was in the minority of Hull performers who did not deserve relegation this season. Bruce’s team will look to bounce back to the top-flight of English football at the first possible opportunity, with a fully fit Davies solidifying the backline.
However, Bruce may find it difficult to retain the services of Hull’s strongest centre-back. With a taste for Premier League football, and at his age, Davies will not want to be plying his trade in the Championship. Any of the three promoted sides or one who managed to stave off relegation would be wise to take an interest in Davies, who has proven how capable a defender he is when given the opportunity to do so.
Leroy Fer (7.27)
Unfortunately on the receiving end of back-to-back relegations with Norwich and QPR, Leroy Fer is certainly good enough to be classed a Premier League player. Charlie Austin’s 18 league goals this season may have been the silver lining in a dreary season for the Hoops, but Fer regularly gave a good account of himself when called on.
The Dutchman won more WhoScored man of the match awards (5) than any other QPR player, with his WhoScored rating (7.27) the best of all players for the West London side. An average of 2 successful dribbles per game was better than any teammate this season, with Fer proving he is able to cut it among England’s best footballers.
Premier League sides looking to swell their midfield ranks or those hoping to make the leap from mid-table to Europa League contenders would do well to move for Fer, who is unlikely to hang around Loftus Road for too long. 6 goals and 2 assists was a decent return for the midfielder in a team that scored just 42 league goals this season, with the 25-year-old expected to attract plenty of interest this summer.
Jason Shackell (7.27)
Burnley put in a good account of themselves upon their return to the top-flight of English football, with the 1-0 win over Manchester City at Turf Moor perhaps a highlight of their time in the Premier League. Nonetheless, it was not enough to stave off relegation, with the club dropping out of England’s top tier at the beginning of May, despite a 1-0 win at Hull.
The Clarets impressed in the final three games of the season, keeping clean sheets in meetings with Hull, Stoke and Aston Villa, with Jason Shackell, in particular, excellent at the heart of the Burnley backline. The 31-year-old was enjoying only his second spell in the Premier League, yet looked every bit the seasoned professional in England’s top tier as the Clarets gained a number of admirers this term.
Shackell made more clearances (436), headed clearances (320) and blocked more shots (52) than any other player in English top-flight football this season. If a team is looking to secure the services of a no-nonsense, Premier League experienced centre-back this summer, they could do a lot worse than the Burnley defender.
Ahmed Elmohamady (7.17)
The majority of Hull’s attacks this season came down their right side (40%), with Ahmed Elmohamady one of their star performers this term. The Egyptian full-back provided the necessary width for his side and was an effective offensive outlet for the Tigers when required.
Having played a key role in Hull’s promotion to the Premier League back in 2013, Bruce would be loathe to losing one his key players this summer. However, like any performer who has experienced the upper echelons of England’s top tier, Elmohamady may be keen to return to the top-flight of English football sooner rather than later.
Adept at either right-back or on the right wing, the 27-year-old could make for an astute acquisition for a number of Premier League sides. Only a handful of top-flight players attempted more crosses than Elmohamady (225) this season and for a side hoping to add an injection of pace on the flanks, the Egypt international may be viewed as a handy pick up this summer.
Steven Caulker (7.17)
Like Fer, another to have suffered the unfortunate indignity of back-to-back Premier League relegations is Steven Caulker, but that should not deter potential suitors from looking into his availability. Signing a defender from a team that conceded the most goals (73) in the Premier League this season may not make for appealing reading, but mismanagement and poor leadership at the back stunted Caulker’s growth.
At 23 years of age, the England international has time to develop his game further and improve, with the disappointment of relegation a learning curve for Caulker. His ability to be in the right place at the right time to clear danger is one of his strengths, as only a handful of players averaged more clearances per game (9.9) than the young centre-back this season.
2 interceptions per game was also one of the best returns of all QPR players, with Caulker relying on his impressive reading of the game to defend. Similarly to Fer, the defender is unlikely to stick around Loftus Road for too long given his quality and potential, with teams expected to come sniffing around the English centre-back once the transfer window opens.
Kieran Trippier (7.15)
Like Hull, the majority of Burnley’s attacking touches came down their right side (41%), with the partnership between Kieran Trippier and George Boyd a joy to behold at times this campaign. The reliance on the pairing saw Burnley develop a statistically calculated style of play of ‘attacking down the right’, though it remains to be seen whether the combination will be resumed in the upcoming campaign.
A notable debut season in England’s top tier by Trippier will have attracted interest from those set to grace the Premier League next term, with Tottenham and Bournemouth reportedly leading the race for his signature, and for good reason. The 24-year-old played the most accurate crosses (91) in the Premier League this term as he looked to frequently provide an offensive threat for the Clarets from deep over the course of the season.
There is some work to be done on the defensive side of Trippier’s game, though he is still young and has time on his side. Given his performances under Sean Dyche, though, the right-back has the makings of a Premier League quality defender, with his return to the top-flight expected to come before Burnley’s.
