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#3 Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Ivory Coast international Willy Boly was one of Nuno Espirito Santo's preferred choices at centre-back for four seasons. He achieved promotion with the side from the EFL Championship and had become a mainstay in their starting lineup.
However, since the Covid-19 break, Boly has not been able to perform at a high standard on a consistent basis. He still made 21 appearances in the Premier League in the 2020-21 season.
But following Nuno Espirito Santo's departure, Boly has become even more of a peripheral figure at the club. He has made just a single appearance this season under Bruno Lage. It came in the League Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 30-year-old is also likely to leave the club in the near future.
#2 Nat Phillips (Liverpool)
In the 2020-21 season, Liverpool had a raft of injury issues to deal with. Their backline was worst hit with three of their first-choice centre-backs sidelined with long-term injuries. With Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez ruled out, the Merseysiders needed their youngsters to step up.
Academy graduates Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams were called up on a regular basis. Phillips made a total of 17 Premier League appearances in the 2020-21 season but unfortunately for him, he looked a bit out of his depth.
Liverpool signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig this past summer and the competition for a starting spot has further intensified. Phillips has been frozen out of the club and has not played a single minute in the Premier League this term. He is reportedly looking for a move away from the club this month.
#1 Juan Mata (Manchester United)
Juan Mata is a fan favorite at Manchester United. The diminutive attacking midfielder has an endearing personality. He was one of Manchester United's best players under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and even Jose Mourinho.
Mata is a technically gifted midfielder who added much-needed creativity to an otherwise tepid Manchester United midfield. However, having turned 33, he is well past his prime and just does not have the pace or strength to beat the competition to a starting berth at Manchester United.
United's midfield is already stacked and there simply isn't room for Mata. In 276 appearances for Manchester United, Mata has scored 51 goals and provided 47 assists. He is yet to play a single minute in the Premier League this term and is set to leave the club when his contract expires in the summer.
