The Premier League is in full swing and that means the final make-up of each the 20 squads has been finalised.
Clubs like Wolves and Fulham brought in lots of players as they prepared for a season in the top flight, while at the opposite end of the scale Spurs signed no one.
But who was their club’s big loser in the melee of comings and goings? We’ve tried to work it out.
Arsenal – Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Elneny is so far yet to make an appearance in Unai Emery’s new-look Arsenal side, having not featured in either of the Gunners’ two Premier League fixtures. In truth, the squad player has been knocked a further two pegs down the pecking order after the arrival of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira. He’s been linked with a move away before the end of the month, with Marseille and Middlesborough mooted.
Bournemouth – Lys Mousset
Lys Mousset was given the No.9 shirt at Bournemouth this summer, but the Cherries this summer signed David Brooks from Sheffield United and it already looks as though the Welsh youngster will be preferred in the forward positions, in support of Calum Wilson and Josh King, with Defoe in the mix too.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Ezequiel Schelotto
The Argentinian right-back has fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of Martin Montoya, while Bruno, the 37-year-old defender, played the last match in that position before sustaining an injury.
Burnley – Tom Heaton
Tom Heaton can rightly feel aggrieved about his lot at Turf Moor. He’s gone from unlikely England hopeful, making Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad amid stalwart performances at Burnley over the past few seasons, to getting injured and being replaced by the ever impressive Nick Pope last season. Pope then went to Russia, and Heaton did not.
Heaton made just four appearances in all competitions last term and now, despite Pope being injured, he currently finds himself behind another England face, Joe Hart. Burnley’s capture of Hart must irk Heaton somewhat seeing as he’s not necessarily a better ‘keeper, but Heaton’s summer calf strain means the former Man City man gets his chance immediately, and perhaps has a strong opportunity to nudge ahead of Heaton in the pecking order.
Cardiff City – Nathaniel Mendez Laing
Mendez Laing looks to be the player set to see his minutes decrease with the arrival of Josh Murphy from Norwich. The 26-year-old Birmingham-born winger made 38 appearances in the Championship last term but has so far started both Premier League games on the bench.
Chelsea – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
The Lewisham lad showed what he is capable of at the 2018 World Cup through some impressive performances in England’s midfield, and last season was a breakout one for him at Crystal Palace, with two goals and five assists in 25 appearances in all competitions. Safe to say, however, that he is way down the list of Chelsea centre-mids, with anyone of Cesc Fabregas, Jorginho, Kante, Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic preferred ahead of him on any given day. It’s a shame he wasn’t allowed to leave, and it’s been reported he is set to ask for a loan move away.
Crystal Palace – Joel Ward
Ward was a regular at Selhurst Park last season but the early signs this season look to be pointing to the fact Roy Hodgson will instead be opting for young fullback Wan-Bissaka in place of the Englishman. Ward is thus down the pecking order, and is thought be wanted by a number of Championship clubs, including Middlesborough and West Brom.
Everton – Ademola Lookman
The young English talent was the big loser at Goodson Park this summer, after he failed to get his desired permanent move to RB Leipzig. Everton signed Richarlison and Bernard on top of already having Walcott and Yannick Bolasie. It looks like Lookman, who scored four goals in his last five Bundesliga games, faces an anxious wait to see whether a move will materialise in the next 10 days. Leipzig are ready to pay over £20m for the 22-year-old’s services, according to Sky Sports, but whether Everton agree remains to be seen.
Fulham – Stefan Johansen
Stefan Johansen played 44 games in the Championship last term and scored eight goals, proving a vital force in the west Londoner’s attack as they eventually secured promotion through the play-offs.
He was their most creative player in English football’s second tier, setting up 96 goalscoring opportunities, but already looks to be the forgotten man after the club’s summer recruitment drive, making one league appearance as a substitute so far while Luke McDonald got the nod ahead of him in Fulham’s opener and new signing André-Frank Zambo Anguissa came into the line-up for the defeat to Spurs.
Huddersfield Town – Tom Ince
Tom Ince once again failed to make his mark a telling one, this time at Huddersfield, and has now been shipped off to Stoke City for £10m. The 26-year-old was expected to make the Kirklees Stadium his home under the stewardship of David Wagner but evidently failed to do so, despite making 33 league appearances and scoring two goals before being offloaded one season after joining.
Leicester City – Wes Morgan
In truth, it’s been a while since Wes Morgan has not been the same colossus he was at the back for Leicester City when they won the Premier League in 2016. Last season the 34-year-old began to show his age. The arrival of Jonny Evans for £3.5m is in itself smart business considering he was a £30m centre-back a year ago, and after Morgan’s poor display against Manchester United the club captain was consigned to the bench for the Foxes’ 2-0 win over Wolves.
There is also the £19m Leicester paid for promising young Turkish centre-back Caglar Soyuncu to suggest Morgan will struggle to reclaim his starting spot.
Liverpool – Loris Karius
It was self-evident that the signing of £67m goalkeeper Alisson from Roma was a bad thing for Loris Karius. After those mistakes in the Champions League final, and a few more in pre-season, the German’s place between Liverpool’s sticks seemed untenable. He is poised to sign with Besiktas on a two-year long loan.
Manchester City – Leroy Sane
Leroy Sane has seen his star wane. Last year’s Young Player of The Year was left out of Joachim Low’s World Cup squad, and so was fully fit to start City’s opener in place of those who did travel to Russia this summer. Yet the capture of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester and Pep Guardiola’s typical formation tinkering against Huddersfield has seen him start City’s first two Premier League games on the bench.
Manchester United – Matteo Darmian
Matteo Darmian is still a United player, and that in itself means he is the biggest loser at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho signed Diego Dalot to support the injury-prone Antonio Valencia, meaning Darmian is likely third down the list of United first-team right-backs. Ashley Young is also a competent stand-in on the right side of Mourinho’s defence.
In fact, Darmian wasn’t in the match-day squad against Brighton even though Dalot and Valencia are injured. Says it all really. “I don’t think the injury of Antonio is a big injury. I don’t know how long he needs to stay out, but at the moment he is the captain, he’s first choice,” Darmian was quoted by ESPN earlier in the summer.
“I want to play more regularly. Last season, I didn’t play much — that’s my objective and my ambition. That’s why I spoke with the manager and also with the club about my future.
“I want to leave but we will see what happens because we don’t know.”
He’ll be hoping to get a move before August is up, but Mourinho has already said the club will not allow it.
Newcastle United – Dwight Gayle
The Englishman left Newcastle this summer for West Brom after two years on Tyneside, and you can’t help but think he couldn’t quite grab his chance up top for the Toon. There was a period at the start of last season where he was the sole favoured centre-forward, but he just wasn’t prolific enough. After scoring 23 goals in the Championship two years ago, he scored just six in the Premier League last term. Indicative of his level, perhaps?
Southampton – Shane Long
Largely due to the fact that Southampton have acquired the services of Danny Ings from Liverpool, who may or may not stay fit for any extended amount of time, Shane Long is probably the loser at St Mary’s. Stylistically he is similar to Ings, and Mark Hughes has opted for Ings and Charlie Austin up top so far this season while Manolo Gabbiadini is versatile enough to make himself an option elsewhere in attack.
Tottenham Hotspur – Toby Alderweireld
If the papers are to be believed, Toby Aldeweireld wanted out of White Hart Lane this summer. So too, most likely, did the Spurs hierarchy, as if Alderweireld’s one year remaining on his current contract is to be extended by a season, he can go for £25m, which is about half the going rate for a defender of his ability.
What’s more, Pochettino’s comments, when asked about Alderweireld’s situation at the club in his most recent press conference, suggests the subject is a sore one for the Spurs manager, who proceeded to go on a five-minute rant.
“I am so tired to talk about if some players aren’t happy or some players want to leave. Of course every player if they don’t play will be disappointed,” said Pochettino.
Watford – Heurelho Gomes
The former Spurs ‘keeper looks set to play second-fiddle behind new signing Ben Foster, who is just two years his junior. This must feel like a slight blow considering Gomes has been the man in possession of the No.1 spot at Vicarage Road for the last four years, and his previous challenger, Orestis Karnezis, went to Napoli in the summer. On loan from Udinese, Karnezis stole the starting spot at Watford when Gomes picked up an injury in January, keeping him out well beyond the length of his injury, from match-day 24 to match-day 37.
West Ham United – Michail Antonio
Antonio is probably the biggest loser at the London Stadium. As rumour had it, he wanted a move away from east London with Crystal Palace the most likely destination touted this summer. In any case, the Hammers signed Andriy Yarmelenk0 and Felipe Anderson, who, along with Robert Snodgrass look to possibly be ahead of Antonio in Manuel Pellegrini’s plans on the wing. Antonio was dropped from the squad against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Wolverhampton Wanderers – John Ruddy
Ruddy made 45 appearances for Wolves in their promotion season and yet the all-encompassing reach of super-agent Jorge Mendes means Nuno Espirito Santo was able to land Portugal ‘keeper Rui Patricio, relegating Ruddy to the bench.
On the signing of Patricio, Ruddy told the Express and Star: “It is what it is. Just because they’ve brought a goalkeeper in doesn’t mean it’s the end of me.
“I’ve come to this club with an ambition to get promoted last season and my ambition was to play in the Premier League.
“We’re very close to that. As long as the other goalkeeper’s coming in with the same desire and attitude that I’ve got then it can only be good for the club. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
The post Every Premier League club’s biggest loser from the summer transfer window appeared first on Squawka News.
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