12 Players Most in Need of a Change of Scenery in the Summer

Laura Greene@@Greene_LX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 1, 2015

12 Players Most in Need of a Change of Scenery in the Summer

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    Petr Cech, Alessio Cerci, Sami Khedira and the 12 players found on the following pages would all benefit from a change of scenery in the summer.

    There are a variety of reasons that might prompt these players to move in the next window, be it a fall down the pecking order, a transfer that did not turn out as planned or a future that does not promise much playing time.

    Whatever the cause, their careers are in need of a shot in the arm—and all 12 names have already been linked with a move away from their current clubs.

    This is not an exhaustive list. Arranged from 12-1, you’ll find the player most in need of a summer switch coming in at No. 1. 

    Agree with the choices? Disagree? Let us know below!

12. Keita Balde Diao, Lazio

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    Keita Balde Diao will have no shortage of clubs interested in whisking him away from Lazio, if recent rumours of his unhappiness turn out to be true.

    The 20-year-old winger has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester City both said to be keen, per David Anderson of the Mirror. Elsewhere, Arsenal have also been credited with interest, according to Corriere Dello Sport (h/t the Daily Star's Rhys Turrell). 

    Diao, who switched from Barcelona to Lazio's youth setup in 2011, has appeared in 17 Serie A ties this season, yet has completed a full 90 minutes for I Biancocelesti on just one occasion in 2014/15.

    Reportedly ready to quit the Rome club, per John Cross of the Mirror, and said to be disgruntled at a lack of playing time under Stefano Pioli on Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Paul Gorst in Metro), Diao could be in search of a new home this summer.  

    Last term, under Edoardo Reja—who managed Lazio from January-June—Diao enjoyed a solid second half to his season as a regular starter, with five assists and three goals under his belt in Serie A.

11. Sebastian Coates, Liverpool (On Loan at Sunderland)

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    Sebastian Coates was in search of a fresh start when he signed a season-long loan deal with Sunderland last summer, yet things have not worked out as planned. 

    The 24-year-old—who has been on Liverpool's books since summer 2011—has made just 24 appearances (in all competitions) for the Anfield side. He saw his 2013/14 season put on hold when he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture when on international duty with Uruguay. 

    In a bid to continue his rehabilitation and receive consistent game time, he made the switch to the Stadium of Light on September 1, 2014.

    However, Coates has been in the Black Cats' starting XI on just three occasions this term and has appeared in a total of four top-flight games—his season again disrupted by injury.

    The player, who was being linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain among others (per Tim Sturtridge in The Independent) before signing for the Reds, needs to move to get his career back on track.

    As reported in The Telegraph during the winter window, Coates is one of many Liverpool defenders who could be on their way out of the club in coming months. 

10. Filipe Luis, Chelsea

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    In 2013/14, Filipe Luis played a huge role for Atletico Madrid, chalking up 49 appearances (in all competitions), not to mention winning La Liga and playing in a Champions League final.

    Over the summer, with Ashley Cole heading to Roma, the Brazilian signed for Chelsea. As he told the club's official website at the time, "This move is a dream come true for me."

    Despite being a regular starter in the League Cup (apart from in Chelsea's final win), Luis' move to Stamford Bridge has yielded few minutes on the pitch, with just 12 Premier League appearances (seven starts) and five out of a potential eight games in the Champions League. 

    With Cesar Azpilicueta as Jose Mourinho's undisputed first choice at left-back, Luis insisted that he was happy to fight for his place when interviewed in September, per Simon Johnson in the London Evening Standard

    These days, depending on which publication you read, perhaps Luis' patience is wearing thin. In The Telegraph, Matt Law claimed that, "Luis could be offered a quick return to Atletico Madrid with the Spanish club monitoring his situation at Chelsea."

    Whereas in Marca (h/t Matt Morlidge in the Daily Mail), Luis is quoted saying, "I'm just focused on Chelsea, on working hard and giving my best in order to end the season with another important and beautiful trophy. 

    "Of course, everything can change in football, but I'm happy and have a three-year contract at Chelsea that I'd like to see out."

    Maybe coming seasons will see Luis' importance grow at Stamford Bridge, but the 29-year-old would not be blamed for leaving in search of a guaranteed starting spot elsewhere.

9. Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal

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    Wojciech Szczesny has not played a minute of Premier League football since Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Southampton on New Year's Day.

    Dropped and fined £20,000 after smoking in the showers following this game, the Polish keeper has lost his place to David Ospina and does not look likely to appear again in the top flight this term.

    As the London Evening Standard's James Olley reported, "It is believed that the 24-year-old has begun to fear his international place for Poland is also in jeopardy."

    The Gunners have been linked with several potential replacements, with Chelsea's Petr Cech mooted in Olley's article. Elsewhere, the Mirror's John Cross mentions Fiorentina's soon to be out of contract Neto and reckons Wenger's interest, "Will send a clear message that Szczesny's Arsenal career could be over."

    Former Liverpool goalkeeper and Polish compatriot Jerzy Dudek recently told Poland's TVP Sport (h/t Ben Nagle of the Daily Mail), "If I were in his place, I would wonder whether there are still opportunities to arise at Arsenal, because you can see that Arsene Wenger is firmly set on David Ospina."

8. Asier Illarramendi, Real Madrid

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    Asier Illarramendi was already struggling to hold down a place in Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid midfield. Then, during the winter, Lucas Silva arrived to drive another nail into the coffin of his Bernabeu career.

    The 25-year-old will be a popular name in the rumour mill as the summer approaches, and several clubs have already been credited with interest, including Arsenal, per Marca (h/t Jamie Anderson in the Express), and Liverpool, according to Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People (h/t Mirror).  

    Illarramendi has started six La Liga games this season, playing a full 90 minutes on four occasions. In the Champions League, he has started two fixtures—home and away ties against Ludogorets Razgrad. 

    The central midfielder's current contract runs until 2019, but he has much to offer away from Madrid, where a consistent first-team berth looks increasingly unlikely. 

7. Mario Balotelli, Liverpool

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    When Mario Balotelli put pen to paper with Liverpool last summer, manager Brendan Rodgers told BBC Sport, "I think we have done a really smart piece of business here. This transfer represents outstanding value for the club."

    It was in stark contrast to the thoughts of Silvio Berlusconi, owner of AC Milan, who commented in Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the departing striker was "a rotten apple in the dressing room."

    Signing Balotelli was a gamble for the Reds—one that hasn't yielded particularly positive results.

    The former Manchester City man has failed to impress in the Premier League, his second spell in the division. Balotelli has notched just one goal in the top flight and has added another one apiece in the Champions League, League Cup and Europa League. In 2015, the Italian has racked up just 63 minutes of league football.

    Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, has stated he expects his client to see out his contract which runs until 2018, telling Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t the Guardian), "I saw him on Monday and said: 'You've got a [long] contract and I'm not taking you away. Either you leave Liverpool for €60m or €70m and I win the bet or you die there'. It’s the first time that I've had such a conversation with a player."

    However, shortly before the winter transfer window opened for business, Rodgers hinted that the 24-year-old may leave Anfield in January, according to Chris Bascombe in The Telegraph

    Recent gossip indicates that Balotelli has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer, per Anthony Chapman in the Express

    It doesn't seem that things are going to work out at Liverpool for Balotelli, who continues his search for a club that fits.  

6. Martin Montoya, Barcelona

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    Martin Montoya—at Barcelona since the age of eight—needs to leave Camp Nou to restart his career.

    Rumours linking the Spaniard with a move away from Luis Enrique's side are nothing new, and during the winter transfer window, an exit seemed to be on the cards. As reported by Joe Short in the Express, Montoya was said to be, "bargaining with club bosses to let him leave" after being told he was third choice right-back, behind Dani Alves and Douglas. 

    As quoted by the Mirror's Ed Malyon in December, Montoya's agent Juan de Dios Carrasco said, "Montoya will 100 per cent leave Barcelona in the winter window. Right now we just want to find the best club for Martin, so he can continue his progression. Germany, Italy and England all have clubs that are already pulling strings to sign him."

    The 23-year-old has made just six outings in La Liga this season and has not featured at all in the Champions League where, in 2014/15, he has been absent from the matchday squad for all-but-one game. Last term he chalked up just 19 games (in all competitions).

    According to Spanish sources (h/t Jamie Anderson in the Express), Montoya's agent reiterated his client's desire to leave in February, "Martin Montoya wants to leave Barcelona. The coach decides who plays, but if Martin does not play he will leave. We do not want to argue about who is to blame, it is just important that Montoya wants to go already."

    This was said amid speculation linking Montoya with Arsenal and Liverpool. 

    It's worth remembering that Alves' contract will expire at the end of the season, Montoya's runs until 2018 and Barcelona have been banned from bringing in any new signings until 2016.

    What may be good for the player may not be viewed as what's good for the club, and Barca may fight to keep hold of Montoya, who is in such desperate need of game time. 

5. Alessio Cerci, Atletico Madrid (on Loan at AC Milan)

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    Alessio Cerci must be in want of a time machine. How he might like to go back to the 2013/14 season where he enjoyed a career-high of 13 Serie A goals and 12 assists at Torino. 

    Things have not gone well since the 27-year-old departed Giampiero Ventura's side.

    The Italian signed for Atletico Madrid late in the summer 2014 transfer window, with sporting director, Jose Luis Perez Caminero proclaiming on the club's official website (h/t the Guardian) that, "the agreement reached with Torino for the transfer of Cerci is a joy for everyone." 

    Cerci played 120 minutes of La Liga football (no goals), received 39 minutes in the Champions League (one goal, scored against Malmo on October 22) before saying in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai (h/t Inside Spanish Football), "Coming back to Italy? We'll see what happens with Atletico from now until January, I didn’t go to Madrid to not play. I was always relied upon in Italy, I don’t have the patience to sit and stay on the bench."

    On January 5, he found himself back in his home country, on an 18-month loan deal with AC Milan.

    Cerci has not fared much better at San Siro, where he has been in Filippo Inzaghi's starting XI on just four occasions in Serie A and has 13 appearances in total (in all competitions).

    There are also rumours of a feud between Cerci and Inzaghi, as Sky journalist Sandro Sabatini claims (h/t Football Italia) Cerci said to his manager, "Don't ever try to get me to play when the game is already over! The next time you send someone on [with four minutes left], don't make it me."

    Since speaking out after the February 22 game against Cesena, Cerci has continued to be used as a substitute—coming on as a sub in three of Milan's next four games and starting one.

    He may be contracted with the Rossoneri until June 2016 but whether he will stay beyond the summer is anyone's guess. In need of consistent playing time to get his confidence back, perhaps a move back to the likes of Torino would suit Cerci well.  

4. Stevan Jovetic, Manchester City

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    A future with Manchester City looks increasingly bleak for Stevan Jovetic. It would certainly come as no surprise to see the Montenegrin depart the Etihad this summer. 

    Signed from Fiorentina for £22 million on the back of a Serie A season in which he scored 13 goals and registered five assists, Jovetic arrived in 2013 to help replace the departed Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez. However, injury limited his first season in a City shirt to just 18 games (in all competitions).

    This term, he appears to have fared slightly better, with a total of 26 appearances under his belt so far. Yet the 25-year-old continues to be a bit-part player and has clocked up just two full 90-minute performances in 2014/15—one in the Community Shield and another in the League Cup. In the Premier League, Manuel Pellegrini has selected Jovetic in his starting XI on just nine occasions.

    To add insult to injury, when Wilfried Bony arrived from Swansea City in January, Jovetic was swiftly dumped out of Pellegrini's Champions League squad.

    Below Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and now Bony in the City pecking order, expect to see Jovetic on his way to pastures new before long.

    According to John Cross in the Mirrorthe player is a target for Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan and, "City are set to offload him—even though they will have to take a huge financial hit."

3. Sami Khedira, Real Madrid

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    Sami Khedira will become a free agent at the end of the season, and there are not many players who will benefit from a fresh start as much as the Germany international.

    The Real Madrid man, who signed from VfB Stuttgart in 2011, has seen his stock plummet at the Bernabeu due to ongoing injury concerns, coupled with last summer's arrival of Toni Kroos. 

    Khedira has been in Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI on just three occasions in La Liga, since winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    In the Champions League, the 27-year-old has not fared much better, clocking up a total of 73 minutes in the competition this term. 

    Despite the player's claims that he'd be happy to sign a new deal with Los Blancos, he has been linked with all manner of clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, according to Joe Ridge in the Daily Mail

2. Zakaria Bakkali, PSV Eindhoven

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    It wasn't too long ago that Zakaria Bakkali was turning heads, breaking records* and drawing comparisons with fellow Belgian Eden Hazard, per Anthony Chapman of the Express.

    Yet the teenager's 2013/14 breakout season for PSV Eindhoven is in danger of becoming a distant memory. 

    Dropped by manager Phillip Cocu to play with the under-21s, the winger has not played a single game for the PSV first team this season after refusing to enter into new contract talks at Philips Stadion.

    This has seen him linked with a number of interested parties, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, according to Jamie Anderson in the Express.

    Bakkali will be out of contract this summer.

    * At age 17 years and 196 days, Bakkali became the youngest player in Eredivisie history to score a hat-trick, in his second league game for PSV against NEC Nijmegen. 

1. Petr Cech, Chelsea

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    It will not come as much of a surprise to see Petr Cech waving goodbye to Chelsea at the end of the current campaign, following his 11th season at Stamford Bridge. 

    In his time in SW6, the goalkeeper has won a haul of titles and—with 491 appearances for the Blues—has become the club's foreign player with the most appearances of all time, as seen on Chelsea's official website

    However, as we all know, there is a new goalkeeper in town, in the shape of Thibaut Courtois. The 22-year-old has been Jose Mourinho's undisputed No. 1 since arriving back in London from a three-season loan with Atletico Madrid. 

    Cech has played three times in the Champions League this term, on five occasions in the Premier League, four times in the League Cup and twice in the FA Cup. Last season, the Czech Republic international finished the campaign with 46 appearances (in all competitions).

    A player who is just too good to be warming the bench, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to let the 32-year-old leave in the summer, with Arsenal said to be keen, according to John Cross in the Mirror.

    As Cross writes, "Abramovich will give his express permission to allow Cech to go where he wants, although the club will still want around £10m."

    All player and contract info comes from Transfermarkt.com, unless stated otherwise. 

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