Three relegated stars who will likely see suitors this offseason
One of the most intriguing aspects of the football league system is relegation. Whenever looked back upon, it’s a game of nerves and narrow margins.
As uncertainty with players, financials, and managers creeps in, there’s arguably no bigger chastisement than dropping to a lower division.
As harsh as it was in the Premier League this season, Leicester City were sent reeling back into the Championship by two points, just seven years after pulling off one of the biggest heists in sporting history.
They were followed by Leeds United and Southampton, both to whom the near future is equally uncertain. Due to the cost-cutting nature of the business, as well as personal aspirations, a forced clear-out often tends to materialize, especially when there’s a plethora of talent available at cut-price deals.
Below, we look at three such players who almost undoubtedly will return to the top division.
#1 Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia was a silver lining for Southampton throughout the season, winning countless battles in midfield and turning defense into attack seamlessly.
To think of a player with that strength, finesse, and deep understanding of the game in the middle of the park at the age of 19 is shocking.
Lavia was an enormous presence for the Saints at midfield, averaging over two tackles per game in the league and completing passes at a healthy rate of 86.4%. Reports from the Football Insider state that there are as many as four clubs fascinated by him.
First, of course, is Manchester City – who drafted him into the youth setup from Anderlecht and have a buy-back clause on him in 2024. However, things could slip away from them if anyone else gets their hands on Lavia.
And that includes Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. The Spaniard is considered a huge admirer of Lavia, with the Gunners expected to go big on either him or Declan Rice in the summer.
Chelsea remain interested as well. Even after six long years, they have yet to replace a player like Nemanja Matic in the base of midfield.
Liverpool, aiming to reconstruct their aging midfield, also have the teenager on their radar.
#2 James Maddison
Phew. How can a team with James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes in their front four only win nine games all season?
Maddison is your X-factor forward, who can drift in behind the striker and switch to either wing. Everything about his game is pinpoint, from the decision-making in possession to his finishing.
To score 10 goals and bag nine assists in a campaign such as this speaks volumes of the talent he possesses. In terms of technical brilliance as an attacking midfielder, the 26-year-old is right up as one of the best.
North Londoners Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are set to launch a raid on Leicester for Maddison’s signature. Newcastle, meanwhile, are long standing suitors, having inquired about his services in the previous transfer window as well.
#3 Jack Harrison
Leeds United are blessed with a slew of incredibly talented wingers; look no further than Jack Harrison if you’re searching for the most polished, complete attacker in their young squad that’s about to be dismantled.
The former Manchester City fledgling took the PL by storm in 2021, racking up eight goals and as many assists in his first season.
He assisted as many as eight goals and netted five this term, including one on the decision day last week against Spurs.
Harry Kane and co. condemned the Whites to a 4-1 defeat in a tussle that demonstrated exactly how their season panned out – starting too slowly in games, disorganized defending, and leaving too much to do for their attackers. Harrison recorded a brilliant consolation, collecting the ball inside the box on the right side with two men closing him down. He shimmied one step to measure his strike and drove on to a fiercely timed effort to the left bottom corner.
Hopefully that will not remain as Leeds’ last memory in the Premier League for a long time as far as they are concerned, but Harrison staying put is next to impossible as things stand.
West Ham and Aston Villa have surfaced as early destinations, with more teams likely to join the race.
Notable mentions: Carlos Alcaraz, Harvey Barnes, Wilfried Gnonto, Wilfred Ndidi, Rodrigo Moreno
-Roy Akarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Peter Woodentop. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.