5 football players who are too good for their current clubs

Real Madrid CF v Cordoba CF - La Liga
Ronaldo to Juventus has been the most sensational transfer thus far

With the World Cup over, football fans are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the club football season so they can support their favourite teams and indulge in the beautiful world of club football once again.

With the start of the new season comes the ever exciting transfer window. It is the dream of every fan that the clubs they support sign their favourite players.

The transfer window also provides the opportunity for players who are not currently happy at their clubs and are looking for a new challenge. Here is a list on 5 such players who should be looking to leave their clubs this summer.


#5 Florian Thauvin

Olympique de Marseille v Club Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Europa League Final
The UEFA Europa League finalist too good for Marseille?

Amid the excitement of Olympique de Marseille's run to the Europa League final, it is easy to forget that Marseille finished the season in fourth spot and were without silverware. As a result of finishing fourth, Marseille also missed out on the Champions League spot to their bitter rivals Lyon with just one point.

Thauvin will certainly be thinking about his future with no Champions League football on offer with Marseille. The former Newcastle United man scored 22 goals last season and was only outscored by Edinson Cavani. Thauvin also added 12 assists to the proceedings.

An interesting fact about the Frenchman is that only five players in Europe's top five leagues were involved in more goals than the Marseille man. Thauvin's 34 goal involvements last season were more than Neymar's, Harry Kane's and Cristiano Ronaldo's.

The Frenchman was ranked sixth in Ligue 1 last season for key passes, second for dribbles and first for shots taken. Making him ideal for a club in the market for an elite wide forward.

With 41 goals and a World Cup medal over the last two seasons at just the age of 25, and with his peak years just ahead, the Frenchman should be on the move soon.

With Arsenal reportedly interested in the player, Thauvin should be careful in choosing his next destination as he is still considered a flop at Newcastle after a disastrous six-month spell at St James’ Park in the 2015-16 EPL season.

All stats via transfermarkt

#4 Nick Pope

Burnley v Chelsea - Premier League
Nick Pope

The Burnley shot stopper only made his Premier League debut last September after an injury to Burnley's number one - Tom Heaton. Pope started the season as Burnley's second choice and finished the season in England's World Cup squad ahead of seasoned veterans like Joe Hart.

It took an injury to Tom Heaton for Pope to get his chance in front of the Turf Moor net. But, he seized his opportunity. Pope exceeded what many thought he was capable of, he kept 12 clean sheets in 35 appearances - this was the fifth highest in the division.

The English shot stopper was key to the success of a Burnley side tipped for relegation, but instead finished in the Europa League spot.

Pope is still just 26 years old, this means he has his goalkeeping prime ahead of him. If a club with a bigger reputation comes in for Pope, it would be difficult for him to turn down the opportunity.

#3 Christian Pulisic

Borussia Dortmund v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Bundesliga
Christian Pulisic - prodigy

Last year, Christian Pulisic looked primed for world domination. The American was coming off his first full season in the Dortmund shirt, he notched 5 goals and 13 assists. Pulisic was also expected to lead his side into World Cup 2018.

But after the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel and the subsequent failure of the USA side to qualify for the World Cup, it means Pulisic is now under his 4th club manager, and his 2nd national team manager in the space of just 12 months.

Lucien Favre the manager of Dortmund plays a formation where the wingers are quite defensive, this would mean that the American would need to improve his work rate and be content with playing further behind than he is used to.

With Liverpool, Tottenham and Real Madrid interested in the winger, it might be time for Pulisic to move on and become the attacking superstar he once looked born to be.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for all latest epl transfer news & rumors.

#2 Andrej Kramaric

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Bundesliga
Andrej Kramaric

A bit part player in the Leicester City title winning squad, Andrej Kramaric has spent last three seasons at Hoffenheim, making a permanent move to the South German side in 2016 for £9m.

Kramaric scored 13 goals last season and provided 9 assists, making him involved in goals more often than Romelu Lukaku or Roberto Firmino.

The Croatian has helped his side qualify for the Champions League for the second time in as many seasons. Kramaric led his club in shots and chances created, suggesting he could be an excellent link up forward if paired up with a more conventional target man.

With Bayern Munich reportedly interested in the player, it would be interesting to see if the Croatian moves to the Bavarian giants.

#1 Vincent Koziello

SV Werder Bremen v 1. FC Koeln - Bundesliga
Vincent
Koziello

Once linked with Barcelona and Arsenal, the french midfielder Vincent Koziello finally left his childhood club OGC Nice in January 2018. But rather than joining an European elite, Koziello opted for FC Köln. The German club went on to be relegated to the German second division just three months later.

Previously called the new Xavi, the Frenchman had the fifth highest passing accuracy in Ligue 1 in the 2016-17 season, and last year he climbed to fourth on the list with an insane 94 percent of his passes finding the target.

Koziello is just 22 at the moment, and has time on his side to make an impression on the world of football. The youngster should also be motivated by the story of his countryman N'Golo Kante, the Chelsea enforcer was playing in Ligue 2 as recently as 2014.

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