Which relegated players deserve another chance of playing top flight football?

The relegation battle looks like it will be going right to the wire again in the Premier League. At the start of the season, many thought the likes of Crystal Palace and newly promoted Brentford would struggle, but whilst they’ve performed admirably, some of the divisions stalwarts and overachievers have failed to build on last year’s success.

Whether it’s the added pressure of a full crowd back in stadiums, or the threat of Championship obscurity proving too much to handle, the likes of Norwich City, Burnley, Everton and Watford all have the chance of going down, and while it could mean some of their side are confined to the second tier permanently, there are others who will almost certainly get a move to another Premier League team.

While it’s still tough to call who will go down in the relegation odds for the Premier League, let’s take a look at the relegated players that deserve another chance of top flight football next season.

Max Aarons (Norwich)
The current England team is stacked with right backs and that is perhaps the only reason that Norwich’s Max Aarons hasn’t been given a call up for the Three Lions yet by Gareth Southgate. Still only 22 years old, the defender has yo-yoed between the Premier League and Championship whilst at the Canaries but you can’t help but feel if he played in a back four that allowed him to get further forward without his team being camped in their own penalty box, he could provide great cover for one of the top six sides or start for a few around mid-table. With plenty of years ahead of him, it’s hard to see the whole of Aaron’s career being spent at Carrow Road.

Dwight McNeil (Burnley)
Another supreme English talent, Dwight McNeil has been a mainstay for Sean Dyche’s Burnley for the best part of three seasons now, but you sense there’s only so long the Clarets can sustain their Premier League status given their lack of goals and ageing squad. McNeil’s pace and direct run serve as a good outlet for Burnley’s counterattacking low block system, but his stats in front of goal have suffered as a consequence of his tracking back. If he can be used in a more advanced role, you’d expect his productivity to increase, but while that raw potential could turn into a classy goalscoring forward, it will certainly come with a hefty price tag.

João Pedro (Watford)
It’s been a tough couple of years for João Pedro. The 20-year-old Brazilian was only just getting adjusted to life at Watford after moving from Fluminense in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Unable to speak English, it’s taken time for the forward to find his feet but now we are starting to see glimpses of brilliance that have justified Watford’s patience. Unfortunately, these performances have coincided with the Hornets’ poor form, and it’s likely the Championship winners will be spending next season in the second tier again. However, Pedro is likely to have a number of suitors if they can ensure a cut price deal, and in a team where he gets better service, you’d expect the Brazilian to become a regular goal scorer.

Richarlison (Everton)
Whilst on the topic of Brazilian goal scorers leaving Watford, surely Richarlison forces a move from Goodison Park if the Toffees go down? It still looks unlikely given the quality of Frank Lampard’s squad, but if their capitulation against Burnley is anything to go by, Everton could very easily be spending next season playing against Blackpool and Preston rather than Manchester United and Liverpool. It would mean Richarlison is all but guaranteed to leave, with links of him moving to Barcelona coming as recently as January.