Seven relegation-threatened players who deserve another shot in the Premier League
- Cameron Loftus
- 11 April 2022
Their clubs may be in danger of dropping down to the Championship but for these five players, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their top-flight stays.
Everton gave their survival hopes a huge boost on Saturday, beating Manchester United to move four points clear of the drop zone.
They are by no means out of the woods yet, however, and that is good news for the clubs circling some of their prized assets.
Similarly, despite their clubs currently occupying the bottom three, there are players from Norwich, Watford and Burnley who will be coveted in the summer. Planet Sport picks out seven.
Richarlison - Everton
Perhaps the best player in and around the bottom four on his day, Brazil international striker Richarlison has netted 49 goals in 145 matches for the Toffees.
Signed from Watford in 2018, Richarlison has since attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and most recently Manchester United.
This season he has struggled in front of goal, like the rest of his Everton team, scoring six times and registering significantly less shots on target, 0.52, compared to last season's figure of 1.01 per game.
If Everton do suffer relegation, there will be no shortage of takers for the frontman, who is still only 24.
Emmanuel Dennis - Watford
Watford's striker Emmanuel Dennis made a flying start to his life in the Premier League, scoring eight times in his first 15 matches. The goals have dried up somewhat since, but he continues to catch the eye for the Vicarage Road club.
Capable of playing as a striker or out wide, Watford would be in much worse trouble if it were not for his goals. The Nigerian has scored in wins over Aston Villa (home and away), Norwich, Everton and Man United, a match in which he also provided two assists.
Should relegation be confirmed, there will be a host of potential destinations for the ex-Club Brugge attacker.
James Tarkowski - Burnley
One of the main reasons Burnley have kept their heads above water in the Premier League for so long is their centre-back pairing of Ben Mee and Tarkowski.
Former Brentford defender Tarkowski is one of the most consistent central defenders in the league, starting 28 games for the Clarets this season, scoring once and chipping in with two assists.
He ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for aerial battles won, with 4.97 per game and blocks (2.63 per game).
Tarkowski has been heavily linked with David Moyes' West Ham in recent windows and is out of contract in the summer so even if Burnley survive he is unlikely to remain at Turf Moor.
Max Aarons - Norwich
Another in a long line of quality right-sided English players, Aarons is one of the first names on Norwich's team sheet and has been since making his Canaries debut in 2018.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona have previously shown an interest in Aarons who has played 28 times this season, winning 35 tackles, making 75 blocks and contributing 43 interceptions.
It has taken him through the 150 appearance-mark for the club but he is unlikely to make it to 200, with West Ham, Tottenham and Arsenal interested in taking him to London should Norwich again find themselves slipping out of the top flight.
Ismaila Sarr - Watford
Sarr has only featured in 55% of his team's minutes in the Premier League this season due to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations and his prolonged absence is one reason why Roy Hodgson's men find themselves in the relegation zone.
The right-winger has found the net on five occasions this season, the same number as in Watford's last top-flight campaign in 2019/20.
Watford paid a club-record fee of around £30million to Rennes for the Senegal international and will be confident of recouping at least the same amount if they're forced to offload one of their key men. Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly interested.
Dwight McNeil - Burnley
Ex-Man United youngster McNeil made his debut for Burnley in 2018 he has gone on to win caps for England at under-20 and under-21 level.
A regular in Burnley's starting line-up, he has suffered a dip in form in recent weeks and was subbed off at half-time against Manchester City before starting on the bench in his side's 3-2 win over Everton.
However, when McNeil is in form, he offers his team an potent offensive outlet with his speed and dribbling ability as well as his wicked left foot that has provided the majority of his 17 assists for Sean Dyche's men.
McNeil is arguably Burnley's prize asset and relegation could see the Rochdale-born wide man leave the club he has been at since 2014.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Everton
The England international has not been in the form of previous seasons but he is a proven Premier League goalscorer, with 43 to his name.
He scored in the first three games of the season but a fractured toe picked up in the win over Brighton subsequently ruled him out until January.
He has failed to score in his ten appearances since but it has not stopped West Ham showing an interest. There are bound to be huge changes at Goodison whatever the outcome of their survival fight and a change of scenery for Calvert-Lewin can't be ruled out.
