The pandemic has certainly dampened the flow of the summer transfer window in the Premier League this year. Not many clubs are willing to spend big on transfer targets which might see a few of them struggle to get rid of players they deem surplus to requirements for the upcoming season.
Many teams in the Premier League have players who are unable to break into the first team and could be interested in a move this summer.
Here are three such Premier League players who might have to initiate their transfers away from their parent clubs.
Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool)
With just two league starts and just 182 Premier League minutes under his belt last season, the Swiss international has struggled to break into the first team under Jurgen Klopp since his move to the club in 2018. Shaqiri does have a couple of memorable moments already at Anfield and is still regarded as one of the best playmakers in the league and could be a huge asset for most teams in the top flight.
He is 28 and in his prime and with Klopp looking to integrate Takumi Minamino into the first team, Shaqiri’s chances in the first team will reduce further. Klopp is not one to keep Shaqiri if he wants to move so the former Stoke City star might have to initiate his move away from Merseyside to rescue his career this summer.
Rob Holding (Arsenal)
The 24-year-old joined Arsenal back in 2016 and has 39 appearances for the senior side but last season under Mikel Arteta, the former Bolton star made just six starts, most of which came late in the season. Arteta now has new names in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes for his backline along with Pablo Mari, all of who will fight for places in the first team.
David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis are also on their books and the experience they bring to the squad could be crucial next season. So Holding has very little chance to break into the first team and might be tempted to move elsewhere. He will get his chances in cup competitions but at 24, Holding will want regular first-team action and will have many clubs fighting for his services if he decides to quit Emirates this summer.
Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea)
The signing of Ben Chilwell will see Frank Lampard stick with the former Leicester City star as his first-choice left-back next season. Marcos Alonso, who was decent at the back might act as a backup but Emerson Palmieri, who failed to register a goal or an assist in 13 league starts last season, might struggle for a place in the first team.
Alonso can be effective as a wing-back as well and could be preferred over Palmieri, who might need a new club to continue his career. The former AS Roma star is just 26 and could walk into many a team in the country. So he could be one player who might have to push for an exit from Stamford Bridge before the end of the transfer window.
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