Five Premier League stars who need a move away this summer

Updated: 8 Aug 2021 08:02 BST
5 min read

The summer transfer window has been a roaring success for Premier League clubs so far.

While many leagues are still struggling from the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, the English top flight is doing fairly well, and teams have been able to vastly strengthen.

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Jack Grealish has signed for Manchester City, while Jadon Sancho has joined the red side of Manchester, with Raphael Varane soon to accompany him. Chelsea are close to confirming the addition of Romelu Lukaku, and Tottenham, Liverpool and plenty others have added depth and quality.

The shrewd acquisitions of Patson Daka and Emiliano Buendia have been praised, while Arsenal have been criticised for paying over the odds for Ben White.

However, with so many new signings arriving at various clubs, it's left several players questioning their futures.

Which Premier League stars need a move away this summer?

Bernardo Silva

12 months ago, this would've been almost imperceivable, but with the aforementioned signing of Grealish from Aston Villa for a British record fee, Bernardo Silva could do with a Man City exit.

He started on the bench in the Community Shield final, despite arriving back from the European Championship early, and while he started 24 Premier League games last season, only five came in the final two months of the season.

With the arrival of Grealish for such a large fee, the Englishman will be expected to start most games, and after Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden jumped ahead of Silva in the pecking order last year, he's the most likely to make way.

The club are also in pursuit of Harry Kane, and while Silva is a player loved by Pep Guardiola, he won't be guaranteed much football, even with the rotation policy adopted by the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

Therefore, he needs a move away. At 26, it isn't worthwhile for him to sit on Man City's bench, and there will be interest in him. Atletico Madrid expressed a desire to sign him earlier in the window, and there are reports that suggest Silva is open to a move to Barcelona.

Either way, a transfer away from the Etihad could be ideal for the talented, left-footed magician.

Tammy Abraham

Tammy Abraham's future at Chelsea has seemed questionable for several months now, and with the impending arrival of Lukaku, his chances in the first-team will be reduced even further this upcoming season.

He was Chelsea's joint-second top-scorer in the Premier League last season despite his limited minutes, and while his slightly ungainly style of play doesn't please fans of aesthetic football, on his day he's excellent. Under Frank Lampard he was one of the best strikers in the league, but it seems his career at Chelsea may be coming to an end.

Aston Villa, West Ham and Arsenal have all been linked with a move for Abraham at various points this summer, but nothing has materialised.

The most likely destination now seems Atalanta who would be keen to sign the Englishman if Duvan Zapata moves to Inter; ironically to replace Chelsea-bound Lukaku.

With 21 goals in 39 Premier League starts for Chelsea, he would be an excellent pick-up for a Champions League level club. Furthermore, he needs a move away to reignite his career, or he could stagnate at Stamford Bridge.

Donny van de Beek

Unfancied by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Donny van de Beek would be best advised to find a new home this summer. A move away seems somewhat unlikely given Man Utd lack of central midfield options, but with just four Premier League starts in the entirety of 2020/21, he needs first-team football.

Paul Pogba may yet leave this summer, which would end his chances of a move away, but the Dutchman has stalled over the past 12 months, despite promising so much at Ajax.

In the Eredvisie he was an exciting box-to-box No.8, and a return to his best form would be more than welcome at Old Trafford. However, he's not likely to get that chance this season, so he should look for a transfer away from Manchester.

His possible destinations may be limited, but it's certainly not worth sitting on the Old Trafford bench for another season. He scored 28 goals and assisted 23 in 87 Eredivisie starts for Ajax, and he would add something different to several teams across Europe.

Axel Tuanzebe

A slightly less well-known name, Axel Tuanzebe seriously needs a move away from Manchester United. Like Van de Beek, Tuanzebe spent most of last season on the bench, starting just four Premier League games, the same number as the Dutchman.

After excelling on loan at Aston Villa in 2018/19, it was expected that Tuanzebe would return and fight for a starting spot at Man Utd, but that hasn't really happened.

Now 23, he needs game-time, and with Raphael Varane arriving, he'll drop further down the pecking order, and a permanent move, rather than a loan, to a Premier League club could be vital.

He's a hugely talented player, capable of playing at right-back as well as centre-back, and needs to leave this summer.

Harry Winks

Finally, it's Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks. The 25-year-old has 10 England caps to his name, but that spell of his career is long over, and he's nowhere near the Spurs first-XI right now.

Under Jose Mourinho, he made nine Premier League starts last year, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele preferred in the double pivot. Nuno Espirito Santo has reportedly given the go-ahead for Winks to leave, and it's time he left North London.

A midfielder capable of impressing on occasions, Winks isn't quite Tottenham level right now, and a step down to a mid-table club could be what he needs to reignite his faltering career.

With Oliver Skipp returning from a successful loan spell at Norwich, Winks would be fourth or fifth choose in central midfield, and he needs to leave the club in order to play regular football.