Five players from relegated Premier League sides who would be worth snapping up

Maxwel Cornet, Nick Pope, Max Aarons - five players from relegated Premier League sides who would be worth snapping up

Maxwel Cornet crying as Burnley get relegated.
Maxwel Cornet shows his disappointment at the end of the game as Burnley are relegated. Credit: News Images / Alamy

With the season coming to a dramatic end this weekend, Burnley were confirmed as the third and final team to be relegated from the Premier League after six seasons in the top flight. 

With all teams having bright spells throughout the season and collecting a combined total of 80 points between them, some Premier League clubs will be sniffing around and trying to get some good transfer deals.

And there may well be some players looking to make the jump to another club so they can play (or continue playing) Premier League football next season.

Here, at StoryHub, we have put our scouting hats on as we take a look at the five players who may be worth signing from the sides being relegated from the Premier League.

1. Maxwel Cornet – Burnley

Maxwel Cornet was the shining light in a struggling Burnley front line. He picked up nine goals in 27 matches, ending the season as the club’s top goalscorer. He took the Premier League by storm and seemed unplayable at times – but was just lacking consistency and real quality around him.

In Burnley’s fixture against Everton at Turf Moor, Cornet made everything tick and was his side’s main outlet going forward. His assist for Collins’ header from a corner kick gave the Clarets the lead and his cute winning goal from inside the penalty area outlined what he can do in dangerous areas.

The Ivorian would be a perfect fit for a mid-table Premier League side where he could get consistent game time but also be pushed by team-mates to improve. His set piece ability will add another aspect of attack to many sides, something that could be the difference in tight matches.

It is reported by the Athletic that Cornet has a £17.5 million release clause now that Burnley have been relegated and the Ivorian is expected to leave the club this summer.

2. Nick Pope – Burnley

Touted as one of the best English goalkeepers around at the moment, Nick Pope is almost guaranteed to move away from relegated Burnley in the summer. The 30 year-old, who has been at the club since 2016, will be looking to play Premier League football as he enters the prime of his career.

Pope claimed the man-of-the-match award in a game at Turf Moor against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made four saves to keep his clean sheet intact and help Burnley take all three points in a result that they thought would aid their survival hopes. This was one of three man-of-the-match awards that he picked up throughout the 2021-2022 season.

Having previously been a transfer target for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and West Ham United, Pope would be a brilliant fit for most top flight clubs looking for a new goalkeeper.

3. James Tarkowski – Burnley

At 29 years old, James Tarkowski would be a magnificent signing for a lot of Premier League clubs that find themselves in the bottom half of the table.

Having been linked with a move away from Burnley for some time now, it is likely that Tarkowski has played his final game for the Clarets.

Having played 35 games for the club this season, the Englishman has been a staple at the heart of the Burnley defence alongside captain Ben Mee.

It is clear that the 29 year old is at the level required to be in the Premier League so many clubs will be interested in signing him in the summer.

4. Ismaïla Sarr – Watford

A few seasons ago, Ismaila Sarr was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool after impressing hugely in his first season in the Premier League – but since then it has been rather disappointing for the Senegalese forward who has failed to kick on.

In a massively disappointing season for Watford and everyone involved in the club, Sarr struggled to make any real impact on the Premier League after having a year away in the Championship. He only managed to score five goals this season whilst picking up two assists in his 22 matches.

However, there are bags of talent there – it just needs to be nurtured. Sarr is only 24 years old and would add another dimension to many teams in the Premier League. His pace down the wing and trickery when on the ball is excellent and the way he creates space for his teammates could be a valuable asset. 

Last time Watford got relegated they managed to keep hold of Sarr, but this time it is likely to be different as he will want to kick on as he approaches the prime of his career.

5. Max Aarons – Norwich City

Another player who was touted with a move to a big club a few years ago but has never really lived up to the height is Max Aarons. The full back has had previous links with Tottenham Hotspur and is likely to leave Carrow Road this summer after his side suffered another relegation from the top flight.

In a Norwich side that shipped goals for fun and struggled going forward, Aarons had a season to forget this year, featuring 34 times but only providing two assists. The England U21 international will be hoping that he can get back to top form soon and live up to the hype that he once had around him.

Certain clubs in the Premier League could be able to strike a deal with Norwich after their relegation in order to bring the 22-year-old to their club and, if the price is right, it could be a great move for all parties. With better quality players around him, Aarons could sure up defensively and reach the heights that many believe he can.

Overall, there are a good crop of players that were relegated from the Premier League this season – and clubs around the world will be hoping to snap them up on a good deal.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the summer transfer window as we can expect a lot of these relegated players to be brought back to the big time.