Watford and Bournemouth joined Norwich in the relegation places on Sunday as the Premier League concluded, with the trio of clubs who all went up in 2015 returning to the Championship together. How cute.
Norwich have been likeable but otherwise pretty dire, Bournemouth concede loads and can’t score and Watford might have been okay if lockdown hadn’t been longer than the majority of their managers’ tenures. In the end, a mere 34 points could have secured Premier League survival.
But despite the three clubs largely underwhelming for most of the season, Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford all still have a selection of Premier League quality players who could make decent cut-price signings this transfer window.
Let’s take a look at the very best.
Just 18 months ago, Wilson was linked with a bumper £50m move to Chelsea. The Blues have instead decided to sign some fella called Timo Werner this summer, but Wilson could still prove to be a thrifty signing for a number of top-tier sides.
However, the striker’s stock has fallen considerably since last January, with his goal return of just eight a contributing factor in Bournemouth suffering the drop this season.
Wilson is still a proven Premier League striker, having hit an impressive 14 goals during the 2018/19 season. He has been linked with a move to Newcastle, and with his contract expiring in 2023, a fee in the region of £20m has been quoted.
The Norwich academy product is one of a selection of youngsters in demand at Norwich after an impressive debut season in the top flight.
Despite being just 20, Aarons featured 36 times in the Premier League for the Canaries during the 2019/20 campaign, and has admirers in England and beyond.
Tottenham have long-term, pre-Jose Mourinho era interest in the fullback, but they could face stiff competition from German champions and European powerhouse Bayern Munich. Aarons’ Carrow Road deal expires in 2024, and a price of £18.3m is currently being quoted for the youngster.
Despite shipping 75 goals this season, much has been made of Norwich’s young, English backline because they’re… well, young and English.
Godfrey appeared 30 times in the Premier League this season and has not looked out of place in the top flight. The 22-year-old centre back was reportedly the subject of interest from Tottenham in February, although following the financial instability triggered by the coronavirus outbreak it is unlikely Spurs will be prepared to spend too big in the summer.
The defender’s deal runs until 2023 and has reportedly been valued at £50m (F I F T Y) by Norwich. German heavyweights RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are the two most recent sides linked with a move for him.
On his day, Deulofeu can be one of the most exciting, technically gifted and watchable players in the Premier League. He is one of those rare footballers who is capable of turning a game on its head with a flash of genius – as evidenced by his match-winning performance in last season’s FA Cup semi-final against Wolves. Deulofeu is the sort of player you’d want to see remain in the top flight.
But it would also be quite funny to see the former Barcelona man stay in the Championship and have the absolute s*** kicked out of him at Wycombe.
Deulofeu is currently nursing a serious knee injury, after rupturing his ACL in February. His Hornets’ contract runs until 2023, and Watford have previously rebuffed interest from Milan for the midfielder.
With his low centre of gravity, quick feet and deft flicks, Buendia is another player who is just terrific to watch and has been a large contributing factor to Norwich’s likability this season. Even his sending off against Burnley was pretty entertaining.
With Manchester United keen to land Jack Grealish this summer, a potential attacking midfielder merry-go-round could unfold in the transfer window.
Buendia is contracted to the Canaries until 2024, and has been linked with a move to Leeds, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid – but recently insisted that he was happy at the club despite relegation looming.
Watford’s record signing really grew into life in the Premier League, and on his day was a thorn in the side of the top flight’s very best. This was primarily demonstrated by his performances against Liverpool, as Watford inflicted a first top-flight defeat of the season on the Reds.
Sarr only joined Watford in the summer of 2019, and his deal doesn’t expire until 2024.
However, this hasn’t stopped the winger from being linked with a move Liverpool – despite the Reds’ reluctance to spend this summer – while Arsenal and Manchester United have also been mentioned as potential destinations.
Is David Brooks any better than Gerard Deloufeu and Ismaïla Sarr? There’s probably not a lot in it. But is he young and British? You bet he is.
Bournemouth’s lack of goals this season can in part be credited to the absence of Brooks, who missed the entirety of pre-coronavirus football through injury. The winger had pitched in with seven goals and five assists the previous campaign.
Brooks contract expires in 2022, leaving this summer as potentially the last opportunity for Bournemouth to command a big fee for the midfielder. Manchester United have been linked with a move for the Welshman.
Doucoure was near-ever present for Watford during the 2019/20 campaign, making 37 appearances and chipping in with four goals. The versatile midfielder was at the heart of the Nigel Pearson revolution, with his tireless displays typical of the spirit instilled in the Hornets by Pearson, as the the former Leicester boss gave them a fighting chance of survival.
The 27-year-old was the subject of intense interest from Everton last summer, and has long made it clear that he has ambitions to play in the Champions League.
Doucoure is contracted to the Hornets until 2023, and Everton have been been tipped to reignite their interest this summer, alongside PSG.
Cantwell was one of the Premier League’s breakout stars during the 2019/20 season. Having featured sporadically during Norwich’s promotion campaign, he became an integral part of the Canaries side, featuring 37 times in the Premier League.
Confident, technically gifted and exciting – and constantly praised for his attitude – he has since been linked with Tottenham, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leicester.
Norwich’s lack of heavy spending means they are in a stable financial position and will be under no pressure to sell Cantwell and their other prized assets – although the 22-year-old’s contract does expire in 2022.
Imagine how many goals Bournemouth would have conceded without Nathan Ake. The centre back has been a figure of consistency for Eddie Howe’s side, and is arguably one of the few players, if not the only player on this list who could immediately challenge for a starting berth in a top six side.
The calibre of club linked with Ake reflects his quality; Manchester City are reportedly closing in on securing his signature, while Chelsea have also been linked with a reunion with their former player.
Any deal for the 25-year-old is poised to set clubs back more than £35m, with his contract set to expire in 2022.