Premier League clubs will be circling the newly-relegated sides as they hunt for bargains in the summer transfer window. West Ham United failed to avoid the drop on the final day and will be plying their trade in the Championship next season, alongside Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The trio of clubs will likely look to reduce costs as they confront the harsh reality of life outside the top flight. Offloading star players could provide a welcome injection of funds as the relegated outfits look to reset for promotion campaigns.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool could view the relegated teams’ plight as an opportunity. As the Champions League clubs prepare for another hectic summer, there may be openings to sign several gifted players for reduced fees following their drop into the Championship. Despite their clubs failing to stay up, seven potential targets, worth a combined £238m, have shown their abilities in the Premier League and would bolster a squad at the top of the table. Here, Express Sport examines which relegated stars the likes of Arsenal, United and Liverpool could pursue this summer.
Jarrod Bowen
The West Ham United captain is the most obvious candidate on this list. Jarrod Bowen has already been linked with United and Liverpool as he considers his future. The 29-year-old scored nine times and provided 11 assists in the Premier League but was powerless to prevent the Hammers from dropping into the relegation zone.
His contract runs through 2030 and it would likely require a substantial fee to secure his signature. However, the Guardian has reported that the Hammers must generate in excess of £100million this summer, with Bowen among those attracting attention.
Following West Ham’s relegation, Bowen delivered a defiant statement when speaking to Sky Sports: “There’s going to be rumours, there’s going to be talk. Ultimately, what I see is getting this club back in the Premier League because that is where it deserves to be.”
The Dutch winger completes the West Ham trio who could assist the club in raising more than £100m through player sales. Crysencio Summerville netted a succession of goals at the beginning of the year and concluded the campaign with nine goal contributions. The 24-year-old could emerge as a backup option for Liverpool or United should they pursue left wingers this summer.
Joao Gomes
Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes is amongst a host of Premier League players firmly on Manchester United’s radar. Michael Carrick’s side are on the hunt for a replacement for Casemiro and are keen to bring in at least two midfielders during the forthcoming transfer window.
It was previously reported that Wolves placed a £43m valuation on the 25-year-old Brazilian international, though relegation could well impact that asking price. However, any clubs eyeing Gomes may need to act swiftly, following reports that a switch to Atletico Madrid is edging closer.
Mateus Mane
Mateus Mane emerged as a standout performer during an otherwise miserable season for Wolves. The 18-year-old midfielder caught the eye across his 27 league outings, netting three times and contributing two assists. A tentative £50m price tag has previously been mooted amid speculation over his future at Molineux.
Andre
Andre was previously a target for Liverpool and has since been touted as a potential successor to Casemiro at United. The 24-year-old was valued at £35m but has effectively put paid to transfer speculation by penning a fresh four-year contract with Wolves.
Zian Flemming
A somewhat more unconventional option. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, currently valued at around £10m by Transfermarkt, netted 11 goals for Burnley during his debut Premier League campaign and could prove a worthwhile option as a backup striker.