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Football can produce upsets like few other sports. Sometimes, a relatively unknown player surprises everyone with an impressive display and other times, a highly rated star could struggle to find his form.
That said, highly rated footballers don't always live up to their potential. Sometimes a big money move to a bigger club could fail to bear fruit. Lack of game time, injury issues, or a substandard run of form can all lead to a promising player's downfall.
But a barren stint at a club should never put a player's talent in question. Every footballer needs a second chance to showcase their class and make a statement.
With that in mind, we look at five footballers who are currently on the fringes of their respective clubs and need second chances.
#5. Divock Origi
Divock Origi, the hero of the 2019 Champions League final, has found himself on the fringes of the first team. The Liverpool forward joined the club in 2014 and has made 157 appearances, scoring 35 goals and assisting 14. 60 per cent of his appearances were off the bench.
The highlight of his career is undoubtedly the 2018-19 Champions League. He found the net twice in a historic 4-0 comeback victory over Barcelona in the semifinals. Origi saw his name in lights once again with a goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the final. The Belgian footballer has contributed to some memorable moments for the Reds. He netted the 96th-minute winner against arch-rival Everton in 2018.
Yet, the 26-year-old is out of the picture at Anfield. He played just 181 league minutes last term and his only goal was in the League Cup. The former Lille man has been linked with Leeds and Crystal Palace. He needs to get out while he can or risk spending another season on the sidelines under Jurgen Klopp.
#4. Isco
Yet another Champions League winner, Isco was once considered one of the best prospects in world football but has failed to live up to expectations.
The Spanish playmaker joined Real Madrid from Malaga in 2013 and was an instant success, scoring 11 goals and assisting nine in his first season. But over the years, the 29-year-old footballer has struggled to cement his place in the first team. He hasn't contributed over 10 goals in a season since 2016-17.
The former Valencia man is experiencing his longest-ever goal drought, having last scored in February 2020. His creative numbers aren't much better either, with just two assists in 29 appearances last season.
The Spaniard has been short of game time, starting just eight games in La Liga last term. With only a year left on his contract, the footballer is attracting interest from Arsenal. The Gunners were hopeful of signing fellow Los Blancos midfielder Martin Odegaard following his loan last season. But reports suggest that Carlo Ancelotti is keen to keep him in Spain, which could see Mikel Arteta turn his attention to Isco.
The Andalusian midfielder has spent eight years in Spain and a move to the Premier League could be exactly what he needs.
#3. Dele Alli
Dele Alli took the Premier League by storm in his first three seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, contributing 40 goals before turning 21. Since then, however, his career has been on a downward spiral.
In 2018-19, he scored just five times and assisted thrice. There was a semblance of a revival under Mourinho the following season, which saw Alli contributing to 12 goals in 25 games. But it came in the Portuguese's first 45 matches. Dele would end up frozen out of the first team in Jose's final season, where he started just two games.
Interim boss Ryan Mason did bring him back into the fold, starting the 25-year-old in the last five league games of the season. However, the Englishman grabbed just one assist and failed to find the net, meaning he hasn't scored in the Premier League since March 2020.
Under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the two-time PFA Young Player of the Year winner will be hopeful of getting more minutes at Spurs. Alli will also be looking to force his way back into Gareth Southgate's England squad ahead of the World Cup.
#2. Naby Keita
The second and final Liverpool player to make this list is Naby Keita. He joined the Reds for £54m from RB Leipzig in 2018. Jurgen Klopp was so eager to sign the Guinean that the Reds completed the deal a year earlier in 2017. They paid a premium to secure his services ahead of his release clause activating the following summer.
But after two-and-a-half years with the Reds, the 26-year-old has spent the equivalent of nine months in the treatment room, missing 54 games in the process. 2020-21 was his most disrupted season till date, where the former Salzburg man made just seven Premier League starts.
Even when he's fit, Keita is often overlooked. His talent has never been in doubt, evidenced by some promising games in the Premier League. He also had a superb stint in Germany.
Leicester City are reportedly interested in the midfielder and if Klopp doesn't start utilizing him more, the Guinea captain will surely consider his future away from Anfield.
#1. Donny van de Beek
Just 10 months ago, Manchester United signed Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax for £35m. Hopes were high as his performances for the Eredivisie champions pointed to a successful stint at Old Trafford.
However, the 24-year-old experienced a disappointing debut campaign in England. He's made just four Premier League starts and spent much of the season on the bench. Van de Beek was involved in two goals in 511 minutes of action. That's 14 fewer than the average of his three seasons prior at Ajax.
In the Netherlands, he was one of the first names on the team sheets, where he missed only three games in the final three years under Erik ten Hag.
While the Dutchman is reportedly on Juventus' radar, it seems unlikely that Solskjaer would be willing to give up on him just yet. And with Paul Pogba having just a year left on his contract, van de Beek could finally step up to the plate and showcase his true potential at the Theater of Dreams.
