8 Prem stars at crossroads this summer including Arsenal and Man Utd flops
The summer transfer window will leave players and managers considering their next steps.
Manchester City remain top dogs in England with the teams below them enduring campaigns of varying success. The likes of Arsenal and Newcastle overachieved and will now want to build on that success, Manchester United are back in the top four whilst Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea will expect much more next time round.
The desire to improve and bolster squads often goes hand-in-hand with the departures of those deemed surplus to requirements. Several big names, many of whom won't have hit the heights or standards expected, and that could cost them dearly.
For some their managers will have to have difficult conversations about potentially moving them on. Similarly, certain players may accept that they need a fresh start elsewhere if they are to get back to their best. We take a look at some big names who could be on the move for those reasons.
Anthony Martial
For years now it feels as though the Frenchman has needed to produce to ensure his United future and this summer is no different. Those at Old Trafford seem to be banking on him eventually becoming the player he's always threatened to be, whilst ignoring his inconsistencies.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
United's goalscoring remains an issue and Martial has shown nothing to suggest he's the man to solve those problems as they eye a new No 9 this summer. That could push the 27-year-old further down the pecking order with a lack of minutes potentially forcing him to review his options.
Anthony Martial continues to struggle for consistency (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)Nicolas Pepe
A French import that has never truly worked, so much so that he was sent out on loan to Ligue 1 this season, although that has failed to reignite his career. Pepe remains Arsenal's most expensive signing and that piece of business must surely go down as one of their worst in recent memory. The Ivorian has long threatened to release his talent but appears to be a confidence player - and he never seems to have had much of that in north London.
Christian Pulisic
We've seen it in glimpses but the American may argue he's never been given a fair shot at it at Stamford Bridge. Pulisic's dribbling skills and ability to go past defenders has been showcased, albeit not for some time.
Now, in a heavily stocked Chelsea squad, the opportunities and becoming increasingly scare and the former Borussia Dortmund man very much has time on his side at 24 - but he won't want to waste the best years of his career if minutes aren't coming his way. There will still be plenty of interest in his services, which could be to his advantage.
Romelu Lukaku wasn't able to produce at Chelsea (Getty Images)Romelu Lukaku
This is a move that both the player and the club need to make work with no suitor likely to pay the sort of money Chelsea would want to recoup. Nearly £100m was spent to bring Lukaku back to west London, but he flopped and was loaned out to Inter Milan.
The problem for Chelsea is that they can't score goals and the Belgian has scored prolifically wherever he's been, with the exception of the Blues. Lukaku has proven himself in the final third and it is up to him to relish the challenge of proving the doubters wrong, whilst those in Blue needs to play his part as they are currently the anomaly.
Richarlison
Tottenham could well see their talisman, their captain and the man who scored 30 times this season leave this summer. Harry Kane's future is far from certain but they have a £60m striker in their ranks, albeit one who has not performed. He scored the solitary goal in the Premier League but Richarlison proved himself able whilst at Everton.
Richarlison managed just one Premier League goal (Getty Images)He needs to be trusted week in, week out, but also needs to show that their is regular quality behind the aggressive personality we see on the pitch. Tottenham have shown themselves willing to move on players who've failed to meet the grade and Richarlison won't want to be on that list.
Kalvin Phillips
He - and City fans - will hope Phillips is another example of the play under Pep Guardiola for a year until you become quality trick. The likes of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish have all excelled after 12 months. Phillips will look to do the same, his problem though is that Rodri is ahead of him in the pecking order. The former Leeds man may have to prove he's capable of playing alongside the Spaniard with usurping him potentially a hopeless task, otherwise he may have to consider his options elsewhere.
Jadon Sancho
The fanfare when he arrived was notable and the Manchester United winger has perhaps got off more lightly than others given his return - or lack of - after the Red Devils spent more than £70m to sign him. Erik ten Hag sent Sancho away to undergo a unique training plan, but the winger has by no means tore up trees upon his return.
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
Jadon Sancho is yet to live up to the hype in Manchester (Ash Donelon/Manchester United)His place as a starter is certainly not guaranteed and the United boss, who wants to continue investing, will surely only wait for so long for Sancho to regularly produce assists and goals. His place in the England squad is now gone and Sancho, who had the world at his feet in Germany, has seen his development plateau.
Fabio Vieira
Arsenal moved swiftly to sign the highly-rated Portuguese star last summer but he was hampered by Mikel Arteta's settled starting XI and the fact that skipper Martin Odegaard plays in the No 10 role he's eyeing. That doesn't look like changing leaving Vieira to identify somewhere else to play, be that on the wing or in a deeper role.
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