Every season in the Premier League, players emerge from the lower sides in the league who seem to have too much quality for the teams they are playing for, which usually results in the top sides looking to pick up some of these players in the summer transfer window.
The success rate of such transfers is inconsistent, but that never seems to stop them from happening. Some players are exposed as being a big fish in a small pond and never quite cut it at the top level, but if it works out, then it can make a huge difference for the Champions League and title-chasing sides.
The 2016/17 campaign has been no different in this regard and, although the season hasn’t even finished yet, rumours are already running rife that the could be some big movers in the Premier League in the off-season.
With that in mind, here are five mid-table Premier League players who need to move to a bigger club:
#1 Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez certainly hasn’t earned a big money move with his form over this season, but everyone will remember his incredible performances from last season which helped Leicester City become the unlikeliest of Premier League champions.
His 2016/17 campaign hasn’t been anywhere near as memorable for him or his team, but it is Mahrez who has been one of the main men who has performed for a subpar side. He has scored just six Premier League goals this season as opposed to 17 last year.
Perhaps Mahrez needs a move to a bigger side in order to reignite his career. It’s not the most popular way to get a transfer to a top team, but it could end up benefitting all involved parties.
While he’ll still command a sizeable fee, interested clubs, such as Chelsea and Arsenal, will be hoping they can sign him for less money than they would have had to pay 12 months ago.
#2 Oriol Romeu
Oriol Romeu had long been tipped for stardom ever since his early days at Barcelona. However, he never really found a club that allowed him to shine, that was until his move to Southampton saw him become a regular first team player.
He has rewarded his side’s trust in him with a number of consistently solid performances that ended with him being named Southampton’s ‘Player of the Season’ for the 2016/17 campaign. Romeu has seamlessly filled the void left by Victor Wanyama’s departure to Tottenham at the start of the season and he has emerged as one of the top defensive midfielders in European football.
Despite interest from his beloved Barcelona, Romeu recently stated that he wants to buck the trend of Southampton’s summer departures and show loyalty to the club that has given him the support and confidence to succeed at this level.
It’ll be great to see this happen as it’s a rarity in modern day football and could be the right choice for Oriol, who has struggled to get many games at the likes of Barca and Chelsea in the past, but it may be a difficult decision for him this summer if some of Europe’s biggest clubs do come in seek of his services.
#3 Virgil van Dijk
The Southampton fans must be sick and tired of seeing their top players linked with moves away year after year. Unfortunately, Virgil van Dijk is another rumoured name that could be heading for the exit doors before next season comes around.
It could be argued that van Dijk was the best centre-back in the Premier League this season before his campaign was cut short by injury in January. Since his move from Celtic at the beginning of the 2015/16 season, the Dutchman has rarely put a foot wrong and has been one of the most solid defenders in Europe.
Unsurprisingly, his form has attracted the interest of a number of top clubs. His most likely move is rumoured to be to the current Champions Chelsea, to replace the outgoing John Terry and help shore up the Londoners’ already strong defence.
Or perhaps he could follow the likes of Adam Lallana and Sadio Mané and take the well-trodden path from Southampton to Liverpool.
#4 Michael Keane
Another centre-back who has impressed this season is Burnley’s Michael Keane. His form this campaign led to a call-up to the England National team and has attracted the interest of a number of the Premier League’s top sides.
The former Manchester United man has been heavily linked with a return to back to the Red Devils, although they are not the only club who are said to be chasing the defender this Summer. The likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton are in the running to sign Keane in an attempt to strengthen their defences for next season.
Everton, in particular, are expected to make the Burnley man one of their top targets and are ready to spend big in the upcoming transfer window. The Toffees could be a wise choice for Keane who would surely be a first team player in the side and would be an asset next season during their Europa League campaign.
#5 Gylfi Sigurdsson
Everton are also rumoured to be looking at Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson as a possible replacement for Ross Barkley, who may be leaving the club this Summer.
Sigurdsson has had another good campaign on a personal level, but his Swansea side have narrowly avoided relegation, sitting just four points above the drop zone. The Icelandic midfielder is highly rated and it came as a surprise to many when he left Tottenham before the 2014/15 season.
Since that move, he has become Swansea’s star man but might be looking for a move in the upcoming transfer window despite Paul Clement’s obvious desire to keep him.
Sigurdsson is a proven Premier League goal-scoring midfielder, something which every club in the league is always on the lookout for, and is certainly deserving of playing for one of the bigger sides. At 27 years old, you’d imagine that the playmaking midfielder will be looking to show that he can cut it at the top level as he approaches the prime of his career.
