Best players in the Premier League outside the top 6 teams - Ranking the top 10

(L-R) Wilfried Zaha, Raul Jimenez, Richarlison
(L-R) Wilfried Zaha, Raul Jimenez, Richarlison

Due to the sheer amount that Premier League sides are paid each season, even teams that are floating above the relegation zone can make close to £100m purely from TV rights.

This allows virtually every club in the division to splash out on huge stars from across the world without making much of a dent in their finances.

A prime example of the disparity in revenue between a Premier League side and a club for La Liga, for instance, can be seen in the earnings of West Bromwich Albion in the 2017/18 campaign. The Baggies finished rock bottom of the Premier League yet earned a whopping £94.6m from TV rights. Atletico Madrid, who finished behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga to qualify for a Champions League spot, received almost an entire £10m less.

These sort of figures are the sole reason behind why the Premier League teams are filled to the brim with stars. Here are 10 of the best from outside of the top six teams.


#10 Marko Arnautovic

West Ham United v Everton FC - Premier League
West Ham United v Everton FC - Premier League

Marko Arnautovic's first taste of Premier League football was with Stoke City back in 2013 when he switched from Werder Bremen for just £2.5m. Since that time he has become a solid striker for West Ham United and currently has a market value of just over £30m.

Arnautovic has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in the past few transfer windows, but the Hammers insist that he isn't for sale.

In 23 appearances for West Ham this season, Arnautovic has scored 7 goals and assisted 3 in the process. These stats aren't as good as they have been in previous campaigns but, still, he remains a strong force in the Hammers line-up.

The Austrian can also be utilised out on the wings, either left or right, because he actually has a fair bit of speed to his game. He also possesses a lot of strength, which makes it difficult for even the most adept of defenders to nudge him off the ball.

#9 Ryan Fraser

AFC Bournemouth v Huddersfield Town - Premier League
AFC Bournemouth v Huddersfield Town - Premier League

Ryan Fraser joined Bournemouth back in 2013 when he was 19 years old from Aberdeen. he was loaned out to Ipswich a couple of years later, where he made a name for himself, but still wasn't quite good enough for the Cherries first team.

However, by the middle of last season, Fraser showcased great speed, dribbling, and shooting which forced Eddie Howe to give him more chances in the first team.

But it has been this season where Fraser has truly shone, scoring 6 goals and registering 10 assists in 32 matches for Bournemouth. He has been involved in almost every game that the side has played in the Premier League, indicating just how important he is to them now.

While he can sometimes be utilised out on the right wing, his main position is on the left, to accommodate for his tendency to turn inside a defender and shoot with his right - which works more often than not. But clearly, his main strength is knocking the ball to his teammates stationed in the box to score, as reflected in the number of assists he's earned this season.

Bournemouth have a job on their hands this summer, though, with reported interest from Arsenal in the 25-year-old. They may struggle to hang on to him if the Gunners do place a bid, because it'd be a huge step up for the Scot and could see him head onto bigger things - like Champions League football.

#8 Gylfi Sigurdsson

Cardiff City v Everton FC - Premier League
Cardiff City v Everton FC - Premier League

It wasn't until 2012 when Spurs signed Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim that the midfielder actually got noticed. He had played well for Hoffenheim, which earned him the move in the first place, but was nowhere near the standard he would eventually become.

Unfortunately, though, his time at White Hart Lane wasn't the best, and he struggled to get into the star-studded first team. There was no doubting that he was a good player at this point, but with so many strong players already fighting for his position, it never looked as if it would work out.

Therefore, he was sold to Swansea City in 2014 for just under £10m, and it was here that he truly thrived. He played over 30 games each season for the Swans, showing just how key he was to their set-up, and notched up both a considerable amount of goals and assists. It was clear that without him in the squad, Swansea would have been relegated long ago.

However, when Swansea eventually did face the drop, Sigurdsson was offered a way out by Everton. The Toffees offered £45m for the Icelandic No. 10, and the deal was promptly accepted, given that the Swans were desperate for cash at this point.

His first season at Goodison Park was mediocre, as he scored four times and only assisted three; but this season, Sigurdsson has scored 12 goals and set-up four for his teammates. Despite being on the brink of his 30s, Sigurdsson is still showing that he's developing with every passing campaign.

#7 Richarlison

Everton FC v Watford FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Watford FC - Premier League

The credit for Richarlison's arrival in the Premier League has to go to Watford's scouts, who plucked him from the Fluminense squad in the summer of 2017 - and it only cost them £11m.

He was sold to Everton the following summer for a whopping £35m, which add-ons that could make it rise to £40m in total. But it was money well spent as far as the Toffees are concerned, as Richarlison has scored 12 goals and assisted two in 30 matches for the club.

He plays primarily as a left winger, but can also be used up front or on the other wing. Richarlison is dynamic and difficult to defend against. His dribbling ability is often second-to-none when he's in form and his end product is the lethal blow to the opposition.

Liverpool and AC Milan are supposedly interested in signing the 21-year-old this summer, which will make things difficult for Everton, as trying to keep a youngster from the temptation that Milan and Liverpool offer is near impossible.

#6 Wilfried Zaha

Leicester City v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Leicester City v Crystal Palace - Premier League

Zaha has been Crystal Palace's Golden Boy since signing with them from Manchester United back in 2015. He spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Selhurst Park and was good enough to be given a permanent contract, but what he's become today for the club, I don't think anybody was expecting.

Palace have had some close shaves in regards to keeping Zaha, however, as clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal have expressed their keen interest in the past - and even Manchester City were watching things closely.

Crystal Palace wanted a minimum of £70m for Zaha last season, though, which put off the interested teams, but they might be back round this summer to try again, given just how well he's performed.

Zaha is primarily a right winger but has also been utilised a centre-forward now and then. He's scored 8 goals and assisted 7 in 28 matches for the Eagles.

#5 Harry Maguire

Newcastle United v Leicester City - Premier League
Newcastle United v Leicester City - Premier League

Harry Maguire is a 26-year-old centre-back who plays for Leicester City. He rose to prominence during the World Cup last summer with England, where he was hailed a hero after a string of sublime performances in the heart of the Three Lions' defence.

He was hunted by the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea upon his return to the Premier League but ultimately stuck with the Foxes.

Maguire is a key part of Leicester's backline and many are surprised that he hasn't made the switch to a top club yet. He features in virtually every Leicester City match, which proves just how valuable he is to the side.

He joined Leicester from Hull in the summer of 2017 for £12m and now boasts a market value of £40m. Though for the Foxes to be willing to accept an offer for him, the fee would probably have to be in the region of £60-70m.

#4 Callum Wilson

Watford FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
Watford FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League

Callum Wilson is one of the most consistent home-grown strikers in the Premier League. Despite playing for a mid-table side, he has found the back of the net 11 times this season and assisted 7 for his teammates.

Before signing for Bournemouth in 2014, Wilson was pretty much an unknown, playing for Coventry in League One. He was only bought for £3m, yet now, four years on, he's worth around £25m.

Chelsea were the last club to show their interest in him and tried to sign him last summer when they were looking to bolster their attack. Ultimately, they went with Giroud instead of Wilson, as the Cherries wanted a whopping £50m for the 27-year-old.

Wilson boasts both strength and speed on the ball and has an eye for goal unlike anyone else. He is clinical and as soon as he's given the chance in front of goal, he tends to score more often than not.

Bournemouth will do well to keep hold of him this summer.

#3 Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace - Premier League

Aaron Wan-Bissaka may only be 21 years old but already he has received interest from top clubs in Europe, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Borrusia Dortmund, and Manchester United all keeping a close eye on his progress.

He is expected to be the next big thing, not just for Crystal Palace, but English football in general. Wan-Bissaka is a right-back, which is a position that rarely generates top talent, but he, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, look like very promising talents.

His market value has already soared to £30m and maybe even higher by the summer. Much of his value stems from the fact he's a home-grown player, which is obviously imperative for clubs in the Premier League if they want to meet the rules of having a certain amount of home-grown talent in their squads.

Wan-Bissaka has only ever been with Crystal Palace, having been promoted to the senior side last year after progressing through their youth ranks, so a move away will be a huge step for him. But to where? That is the question.

#2 Felipe Anderson

Southampton FC v West Ham United - Premier League
Southampton FC v West Ham United - Premier League

Felipe Anderson's arrival in the Premier League was met with a lot of cynicism, as many fans thought that he wasn't cut out for such a competitive league, having only flourished in Brazil and Italy.

However, his time with West Ham this season has proved that he is in fact top quality and has become a very important player for the side. With eight goals and four assists from 31 matches, Anderson contributes a hefty amount to the team, which is reflected in his £35m price tag.

The difficulty West Ham have now though is keeping hold of him, with interest from abroad rife - Real Madrid, in particular, have expressed their desire to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

Hammers fans would be gutted to see him leave, as he could very easily become their best player by far soon.

#1 Raul Jimenez

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cardiff City - Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cardiff City - Premier League

Raul Jimenez has been a revelation for Wolverhampton Wanderers this season. He brought in on loan from Benfica last summer, but because of how well he's played, Wolves have agreed to pay £35m to purchase him permanently when his loan spell ends in July.

With 12 goals and 8 assists to his name, Jimenez has been a true force to be reckoned with up front. Defences don't quite know how to handle him when he's charging at them, and if he isn't dribbling the ball towards them, eyeing up a shot on goal, he's leaping into the air to nod it past the keeper.

He is a threat from all angles which has made him such a clinical forward. Chelsea and Arsenal will be very disappointed about the news of him joining Wolves permanently, as they were reportedly interested in bringing him in.

Given this was purely a transitionary season for Jimenez, we can't wait to see what he might achieve the next time round.

Quick Links

Edited by Sripad