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When Premier League champions Liverpool signed Georginio Wijnaldum from recently relegated Newcastle United in 2016 for a reported £23 million, most critics and fans felt underwhelmed by Klopp’s transfer decision. The former Borrusia Dortmund manager, however, repeated the trick when he signed Andrew Robertson for an even cheaper deal, which cost the Anfield side just £8 million.
Both these players were a little unheralded when they arrived at Liverpool, but in hindsight, they have proved to be pillars upon which Klopp has built one of the most formidable sides in the history of the Premier League. Most top-level clubs in the Premier League at the time used to look down upon players caught up in relegation, without doing a thorough analysis.
Those times seemed to have changed in recent times, with many top clubs in the Premier League now being linked with talented players across teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
The 2019-20 edition of the Premier League has just concluded, with Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford finding themselves relegated from the top tier of English football.
These clubs have some very talented players in their rosters, though, who could become outstanding players much in the same way as Wijnaldum and Robertson have at Merseyside. So without further ado, let's have a look at five such players from the relegated Premier League clubs who will prove to be bargain buys for clubs in the top tier.
Five top players from relegated Premier League clubs:
#5: Nathan Ake
Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way here. Nathan Ake has found himself linked with top Premier League sides throughout his stay with Bournemouth.
What has made him such an exciting prospect is his ability to combine his technical abilities alongside his robust defensive prowess at the heart of Eddie Howe’s backline. Usually partnered alongside captain Steve Cook, Ake is a Chelsea reject who has forged an excellent reputation for himself during his three-year stay with the Cherries.
Bought for just £20 million back in 2017, his development under Eddie Howe was rapid with Ake playing all 38 matches in Howe's first season in charge. Ake's best season, stats-wise, though, came last season when he appeared in all 38 league games while collecting 1.18 points per game along the way.
Ake also contributed four goals and an assist during that period as Bournemouth finished 14th in the Premier League. The Dutchman’s versatility across the pitch will be a tremendous incentive for many clubs, as he can also play as a left-back and a defensive midfielder.
Ake has found himself linked with every Premier club in the top six and should have a bevvy of options in front of him this summer.
#4: David Brooks
While David Brooks may have just played nine games in the Premier League this season, the 23-year-old former Manchester City youth product is someone that many people will have their eyes on. The Wales winger was a huge miss for Eddie Howe this season, particularly his creativity and ability to run at defenders with the ball at his feet.
Brooks had been out for 324 days because of an ankle injury and played just 511 minutes, contributing a solitary goal during that time. Brooks, like his teammate Ake, can play in a bunch of different positions and has done especially well as a second striker throughout his professional career.
He was Bournemouth’s creative spark last season in the Premier League and contributed with seven goals and five assists in 30 appearances. His points per game tally of 1.37 is also impressive considering he beats his teammate Ake by 0.19 PPG, albeit Ake playing eight games more.
Brooks will probably not be on most clubs' radars, but he could be an important addition in a hard-working and defensive-minded team like Sheffield United who plays with two strikers upfront. His ability to score and create goals will be a tremendous bonus and considering the pandemic, shouldn’t come at an expensive price.
Also check out: the Premier League Winners by season
#3: Todd Cantwell
Todd Cantwell might be one of the unlucky players on this list considering that he was being linked with Premier League champions Liverpool in a pre-pandemic world. The interest from Merseyside has cooled down since the start of the pandemic, but he should still be an excellent option for many teams looking to break into the top six.
Leicester City, Sheffield United and Newcastle United are being linked with the wide midfielder, whose work ethic could see him being transformed into a midfielder in the mould of Wijnaldum.
Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers, who have found a lack of quality depth in midfield, should be strong suitors for Cantwell considering how they faded in the second half of a gruelling Premier League campaign.
Cantwell’s composure with the ball at his feet is something not usually associated with an English player while he is also confident with both feet. He is a perfect fit for Rodgers’ style of play at the King Power Stadium and would provide excellent competition to the likes of Youri Tielemans and James Maddison in midfield.
Cantwell has been good for his boyhood club in Norwich City this Premier League season, despite them being the first team to get relegated. The English midfielder found the back of the net six times while providing two assists during his 37 appearances in the 2019-20 Premier League.
#2: Emiliano Buendia
The diminutive Argentine winger Emiliano Buendia made his first big impression during Norwich City’s upset of Manchester City at Carrow Road, which was the first defeat suffered by Pep Guardiola’s team this season.
While he has lost his way somewhat since the restart, he is someone many clubs should seriously look at during the upcoming transfer window.
Buendia has been the creative outlet for Norwich City throughout this season as he ends his first season in the Premier League with seven assists to his name. While he has only scored once in 36 appearances, Buendia is only 23 years old and seems to have bucket full of potential.
He is also the only player outside of the top seven in the Premier League to have notched up seven assists this season and ranks higher on the list than players like Jack Grealish and James Maddison.
Short and stocky, he is another player who might thrive under the tutelage of someone like Brendan Rodgers or Chris Wilder in the Premier League.
#1: Ismaila Sarr
The man who ended up slaying Liverpool’s hopes of finishing unbeaten in the Premier League this season, Ismaila Sarr finds himself in an awkward situation, having joined Watford this season. The Senegal winger, whom Sadio Mane considers a brother, has been lacklustre in his performances in the first half of the Premier League season.
However, he found himself caught in public imagination after his brace at Vicarage Road helped his club seal a win against a Liverpool side who had previously destroyed every team that came before them this season.
Sarr’s pace and acceleration was an enormous asset for Nigel Pearson’s men that night, with many dubbing it as a breakthrough performance for the young Senegalese winger.
Sarr had joined Watford from Stade Rennes, the same club that gave Ousmane Dembele his professional debut, for a fee near the region of £30 million.
Sarr ended up appearing in 28 games this season for the Hornets, scoring five goals while providing six assists along the way in what was a disappointment of a first season in the Premier League for the young winger.
Pricing him from Watford will be a tough task considering how much the club has invested in him and his contract, which runs up to 2024 will be another stumbling block. But he would be an asset for many clubs in the Premier League and Europe, while he has already shown with his performance against Liverpool that he is not afraid of playing under the bright lights.
