A full team of Premier League players who could spend the next few months sitting on the bench…
SEE ALSO: The Best Liverpool goals.
On transfer deadline day, Fabio Borini’s proposed move from Liverpool to Queens Park Rangers spectacularly fell through, leaving the Italian to fight for his place at Anfield.
While the former Sunderland loanee faces something of a hopeless task – stuck behind Mario Balotelli, Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert in the pecking order – he won’t be the only Premier League player who will be wishing he could have forced through a switch.
With that in mind, here is CaughtOffside’s Unwanted Premier League XI. How do you think this team would get on?
GK) Petr Cech (Chelsea)
The Chelsea stopper vowed to stay and fight for his place, despite now being firmly the club’s second choice keeper behind Thibaut Courtois. He is too good of a player to spend the season on the bench, and needs to move on in January.
RB) Glen Johnson (Liverpool)
The England full-back has regularly been criticised for his performances over the last couple of years, and with Javier Manquillo and Jon Flannagan now both looking to take his position, it could be a dull year for Johnson.
LB) Benoît Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham)
The emergence of Danny Rose, coupled with the arrival of Ben Davies, means that Assou-Ekotto is now the club’s third choice left-back, and is therefore unlikely to see any game time this season.
CB) Kolo Toure (Liverpool)
The Ivorian is very much a last resort at Anfield, and his position has not been helped by the arrival of Dejan Lovren. He turned down a move to Turkey this summer, and will see out the final year of his contract before moving on.
CB) Matija Nastasic (Manchester City)
A whole host of clubs were linked with moves for the defender, but instead the Serbian will rot in Manchester City’s reserves for another season. Such a shame for a young and talented player who deserves to be playing regularly.
CM) Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)
A pre-season injury ended any hopes of the Belgian midfielder moving club this summer. However, he is unlikely to get any closer to the first-team when he does recover, especially after all the incoming transfers at Old Trafford.
CM) Anderson (Manchester United)
Extraordinarily, another transfer window has come and gone, and the Brazilian is still a Manchester United player. He faces another year of sitting on the bench or with the reserves if he does not secure a move in January.
RW) Scott Sinclair (Manchester City)
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Scott Sinclair, who is just not good enough for Manchester City. However, it seems strange that no other Premier League side were able to secure a deal for a player who showed his true ability during his time with Swansea City.
LW) Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
Another player who was regularly linked with a move this summer, but ended up staying put. Already a bit-part player prior to the summer arrivals of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, he is likely to find opportunities even further reduced this year.
ST) Joel Campbell (Arsenal)
The unfortunate man who was there as ‘Plan B’ if the Danny Welbeck deal failed to come off. As it was, Welbeck signed so late on deadline day that the Costa Rican’s move to Benfica was called off, which is a real shame for all concerned. The player’s agent is publicly furious over the transfer collapse.
ST) Fabio Borini (Liverpool)
Borini turned down Sunderland and QPR during the transfer window, seemingly over wage demands. Surely when your club accepts that many bids for you it’s pretty clear that they don’t want you? Nonetheless, he’ll stay and try and get some goals for the club’s reserve team!
SEE ALSO:
Best Premier League players 2014/15
FIFA 2015 Player Ratings Revealed.
All the Premier League done deals.