5 top players who could leave the Premier League this summer 

Sanchez could be on his way out of Manchester United
Sanchez could be on his way out of Manchester United

The Premier League is widely regarded by many to be the most competitive and entertaining league in the world, as the marketing model and efficient organization of England's top-flight sees hundreds of millions of fans tune in every week to follow their best players and clubs.

The increased finances available to Premier League teams as a result of an ever increasing pool of TV revenue means that their clubs are at an advantage financially compared to their European counterparts and generally have more money to spend.

In recent years, we have seen an influx of not only the best players, but also the best managers in the world into England and this has helped improve the face of the league, with all four finalists of last season's Europe's top two club competitions being English teams.

However, despite their financial clout, Premier League clubs are not immune to seeing their top players poached by bigger clubs in Spain, Italy and even China, with numerous players in the past such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho but to name a few having departed the shores of England for hefty sums abroad.

This summer has already seen the departure of some Premier League players, with Eden Hazard's mega transfer to Real Madrid being the pick of the bunch while Aaron Ramsey and Ander Herrera have also joined Juventus and PSG respectively on free transfers.

With a little over two months left to go in the transfer window, there could still be some more high profile exits from the Premier League. In this piece, we shall be taking a look at five top players who might not ply their trade in England next season.

#5 Idrisa Gueye

Gueye is one of the leading holding midfielders in the Premier League
Gueye is one of the leading holding midfielders in the Premier League

Idrisa Gueye arrived the Premier League in the summer of 2015 when he signed for Aston Villa from French club Lille for the sum of £9m and immediately earned a reputation of being a no-holds-barred, tough tackler who leaves nothing on the field of play.

He finished second in tackles won in his very first season winning 144 tackles behind Premier League champion and then Leicester midfielder N'golo Kante and went one further the next season by topping the charts with 135 tackles won in 2016/2017 and has incredibly finished in the top two of this statistic in each of his four seasons in England.

Understandably, his incredible displays have not gone unnoticed and the Senegalese international found himself the subject of a major bid by French champions PSG in January 2019.

However Everton rejected the offer for their prized midfielder and despite trying to force through a move by handing a transfer request, the deal fell through as Everton stood their ground.

There are indications that the club could return for the 29-year-old this summer and the ongoing African Cup of Nations gives a chance for Gueye to show the world his capabilities.

#4 Alexis Sanchez

 Sanchez is starring with Chile in the Copa America
Sanchez is starring with Chile in the Copa America

There was a lot of optimism among Manchester United fans when Alexis Sanchez was signed on deadline day in January 2018.

The Chilean international had been the subject of a tug-of-war bid between both Manchester clubs and the red half of the city had to put in a lot of incentives to bring him over to Old Trafford.

One of those incentives included making the 30-year-old the highest paid player in the history of the Premier League and for the obscene amount of money he receives which stands at £400,000 weekly, Sanchez has done absolutely nothing for the club.

He has scored just five goals in 45 matches in all competitions or more poignantly, one every nine matches played and this is a rather abysmal return for a player of his standing.

His high wages is also said to be a stumbling block in Manchester United's contract negotiations with players, as others see that as a yardstick when tabling extension demands with the club.

Given his high salary outlay and low output, it stands as a no-brainer that The Red Devils are prepared to get rid of him at all costs and Inter Milan have emerged as a potential next destination although the former Barcelona man would have to take a significant pay cut to join Conte's revolution.

On his day, the Manchester United number 7 is still a decent player and his performances at the ongoing Copa America with Chile serves as proof of that and next season might offer an opportunity for him to end his Old Trafford nightmare and remind everyone of just how good he is.

#3 Wilfred Zaha

Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League

Wilfred Zaha was a member of the Crystal Palace academy from 2004 - 2010, making the step up to the senior team in 2010 and spent the next three seasons playing for the club.

A transfer to Manchester United in January 2013 followed, but in two seasons as a United player, Zaha failed to have a telling impact, only making two Premier League appearances for the Old Trafford outfit and undergoing two loan spells.

He completed a return to Crystal Palace in 2015 and has starred for The Eagles since then, proving a integral part to the club's continued existence as a top-flight side.

On his day, Zaha is an extremely talented player, but he has faced accusations of inconsistencies and disciplinary issues.

The 26-year-old recently came out to admit that he would like to play for a Champions League club and this claim is not far-fetched, as the Ivorien international's talents deserve to be showcased on the biggest stages.

His dream could come true in the form of a transfer to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund as Lucien Favre had earlier in January shown interest in signing Zaha this summer.

He is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Nations Cup and this represents a wonderful opportunity to showcase his abilities.

#2 Christian Eriksen

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

Christian Eriksen is unarguably one of the best playmakers not just in the Premier League but anywhere in the world, as the Danish international has displayed a world class ability with a knack for picking out passes and possesses a technique which few can match.

However for all of his abilities, the 27-year-old is criminally underpaid, while his trophy cabinet is rather scanty as Tottenham is not yet quite on the level to match either his financial or professional demands.

While he has been a consummate professional throughout his six-year stay in North London, there are growing indications that the former Ajax man has grown weary of his future at White Hart Lane and is seriously considering an exit in the summer.

A potential move to Real Madrid had been mooted in the past and is looking increasingly likely, as new reports have emerged that the Premier League side is asking for Marco Asensio in exchange for their midfielder.

#1 Paul Pogba

Pogba is in search of a new challenge
Pogba is in search of a new challenge

Paul Pogba arrived Manchester United in the summer of 2016 for a world record fee having distinguished himself at Juventus as one of the fast rising midfielders in the world.

He had earlier spent his developmental stages in Manchester United's academy but left in acrimonious circumstances in 2012 and his second homecoming was supposed to be the turning point in the Red Devil's fall from grace with the Frenchman acting as their launching pod.

However that has failed to happen as inconsistency, fallouts with his manager and a general lackadaisical attitude means that three years on from his celebrated arrival and Paul Pogba is yet to truly prove his value, with fans still divided over his contribution to the United cause.

Earlier in the week, the World Cup winner stoked the embers of transfer speculation by stating that it might be time for a new challenge somewhere else and that has been interpreted as a come-get-me plea to Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants have been long-term admirers of the 26-year-old although might be put off by his high transfer value and could seek cheaper alternatives, while former club Juventus have also emerged as potential suitors.

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