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It is a common trend these days to see young football players enticed by the prospect of joining big clubs that they dreamed of playing for as a child. They are signed on high-wage contracts, for big transfer fees.
These moves may not work out - for the player or the club - due to the player not playing well, or not fitting into the manager's plans, which results in the player being left on the bench.
These players must decide if they want to continue at their current clubs, earning the large wages that they do, whilst rarely seeing regular playing time on the football pitch. Else, do they give up on their dream of playing for big clubs to move to smaller clubs, where they may play more often, and give themselves a chance to revitalize their careers?
Let's take a look at 5 players who would benefit from a move away from their current clubs, to revitalize their careers:
#5 Thomas Lemar
Thomas Lemar joined Atletico Madrid in summer 2018 for a massive €70 million, after enjoying three very successful seasons for AS Monaco.
Lemar was one of the key players in a Monaco side that won the French Ligue 1 and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2016-17 season.
Lemar has, however, struggled to find his mojo at Atletico, scoring just three goals in 54 appearances for the club. Lemar has been reduced to a bit-part role at Atletico after the club decided to buy Joao Felix and Yannick Carrasco last season.
At 24, Lemar is still young and has his best years ahead of him. He would benefit from a move away from Atletico to a smaller club where he would see more game time. Lemar will also be hoping to make the France Euro 2021 squad, for which he will need to convince France manager Didier Deschamps that he is still a quality player.
#4 Jesse Lingard
Manchester United attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard is another player who makes our list. Lingard is a product of the Manchester United youth system, but his journey to the Manchester United first-team was anything but direct.
Lingard spent three seasons away on loan in various Championship clubs, before finally earning his call up to the Manchester United squad at the age of 23. Lingard then burst onto the scene at Manchester United, becoming one of their key players over the next few seasons, which earned him a place in England's 2018 World Cup squad.
Lingard has, however, been a shadow of himself in recent seasons, and has struggled to find a place in the United starting XI. At 27, Lingard should be entering the peak of his career, but finds himself a regular fixture on the Manchester United bench.
Lingard would benefit with a move to away from Manchester United, to the likes of West Ham and Crystal Palace, who have shown an interest in signing Lingard this summer, where he may see regular playing time.
#3 Julian Draxler
Julian Draxler was once one of the most coveted youngsters in world football, with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United chasing the German's signature. In 2017, Draxler made the switch from Wolfsburg to Paris Saint-Germain for €42 million.
Draxler has shown specks of brilliance in his time at PSG, but has failed to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI due to a series of erratic performances.
The German midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at PSG, behind the likes Pablo Sarabia, Leandro Paredes, Ander Herrera, Idriss Gueye, and Marco Veratti.
Draxler has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, which has failed to materialise. But with Euro 2021 fast approaching and Draxler facing heavy competition for places in the Germany squad, the attacking midfielder may benefit from a move away from PSG, so that he may see more playing time.
#2 Luka Jovic
Luka Jovic is a Serbian striker who plays for Real Madrid. Jovic moved to Real Madrid from Benfica in a deal worth €60 million in the summer of 2019, after enjoying a prolific two seasons on loan with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, where he scored 25 goals in 54 league appearances.
Jovic had a breakout 2018-19 season for Frankfurt, where he was Frankfurt's top goal-scorer, which convinced Real Madrid to splash the cash on the Serbian. Jovic has however suffered a torrid time at Madrid, scoring only one goal in 19 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid last season.
Jovic's poor form, coupled with the resurgence of French striker Karim Benzema, has forced the Serbian to rethink his future. Jovic has been linked with a loan move to Inter Milan, and most recently Manchester United this summer, as he seeks to end his Real Madrid nightmare.
Jovic would have dreamt of wearing the Real Madrid shirt when he was a young kid in Serbia, but is now desperate for a move away from the club as he looks to restart his career elsewhere.
#1 Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil is without a doubt one of the most talented attacking midfielders of his generation, but is currently stuck in a non-playing role at Arsenal.
Ozil spent three fruitful seasons at Real Madrid after impressing with his performances for Germany in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ozil then made the surprising switch from Real Madrid to Arsenal in 2013 for £42.5 million.
Ozil's time at Arsenal has been up and down, with the German play-maker producing unbelievable displays at times, but also disappearing in games against top-quality opposition. Over the years, Ozil has become a scapegoat for Arsenal fans who expected the German to lead them back to the glory days.
The constant change of managers at Arsenal has done little to help Ozil, as he has fallen out of favour with current coach Mikel Arteta.
Ozil has failed to make an appearance for Arsenal since the football restart post the Coronavirus lockdown. At 31, Ozil still has a lot to offer any team he plays for but will need to take a leaf out of Gareth Bale's book, to force a move away from Arsenal.
Gareth Bale took a major pay-cut to force a move to Tottenham, which is what Ozil may have to do to force a move away from Arsenal, as very few clubs in the world can afford his reported £350,000 per week wages at the moment.
