MY ACCOUNT
Southampton, Leeds and Leicester may have been relegated, but not all of their players will be dropping out of the top echelons of football.
Perhaps more so than is the case in most seasons, the bottom three boast plenty of talents who will be coveted by big clubs.
Ahead of the transfer window, we take a look at some of the relegated stars that will be attracting interest this summer.
Romeo Lavia
Manchester City insisted on a £40million buy-back clause when Romeo Lavia moved to Southampton last year, though it does not kick in until 2024.
Though City are well stocked in midfield, Pep Guardiola has spoken of his admiration for the Belgian international and could launch a summer bid.
He said: “I’m really impressed with what Romeo is doing. We have an incredible opinion of him.
“We thought about keeping him but we didn’t have enough minutes for him that he could get at Southampton.”
Illan Meslier
Illan Meslier lost his place in the Leeds side by the end of the season but he still has many admirers, despite conceding more goals than any other keeper over the past three seasons.
Still only 23, he has already made over 100 Premier League appearances and clearly has potential.
Manchester United are said to view him as ideal competition for David de Gea, while Chelsea are also in the market for a goalkeeper.
Harvey Barnes
Leicester may have been relegated, but Harvey Barnes scored a career-best 13 Premier League goals this season.
It was an outstanding effort in a struggling team and highlights what the England international might be able to achieve in a better one.
The likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham are said to be interested. Barnes is reported to have been rated at £60m last summer, but Leicester’s relegation may see that price tumble.
James Ward-Prowse
West Ham have been linked with James Ward-Prowse and it is easy to see what the set-piece specialist could bring to David Moyes’ side.
The England international has been very loyal to Southampton, but he is too good a player to leave the Premier League. After the Saints’ relegation, the 28-year-old spoke of his time at the club.
He said: “I come away this season with my head held high knowing I’ve done everything I can for this club, not only this year but ever since I came through the door as an eight-year-old.”
Wilfried Gnonto
You could argue that Leeds invested too heavily in youth over experience in recent transfer windows, but they will get a healthy return on Wilfried Gnonto.
The club paid FC Zurich just £3.8m for the diminutive winger and though his level of performance faded as the season went on, he has shown enough to attract major interest.
Arsenal and Manchester City are said to be monitoring the 19-year-old, while the Italian international is sure to elicit bids from Serie A with Juventus already linked.
James Maddison
Of all the players to be relegated from the Premier League, it is Maddison that looks set to spark the biggest transfer scramble this summer.
Like team-mate Barnes, the midfielder’s personal standards did not slip in a poor side, with the England international scoring ten goals and assisting nine more.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham are all reported to be interested in a star said to be rated at £50m with a year left on his Leicester contract.
