Which English stars could benefit from a move to the continent?
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Okay, so it isn’t working out massively well for former Chelsea and Arsenal left back Ashley Cole, but we are still massive fans of those English players who are confident enough to try their hand abroad, particularly in Europe.
With that in mind, here are ten English stars that we’d love to see give it ago:
Josh McEachran (Chelsea)
Young Chelsea midfielder McEachran has never really fulfilled his potential – and is actually playing abroad this season, on loan at Vitesse Arnhem in the Eredivisie. His silky style would really suit a move to Spain, however.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
As the best England player of his generation, it would be fascinating to see Wayne Rooney move abroad whilst he is still in his prime, although his bumper new contract at Old Trafford probably ended any hope of that.
Tom Cleverley (Aston Villa, on loan from Manchester United)
Like McEachran, on loan Aston Villa midfielder Tom Cleverley is an intelligent midfielder whose possession orientated style would suit continental football better than the Premier League.
Ross Barkley (Everton)
Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes that attacking midfielder Ross Barkley can become the best player in the world – but would developing in a more technique orientated league help facilitate that?
Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
Carrick has perhaps been slightly underrated by fans in England during his career – it would be interesting to see how the former Tottenham playmaker would be appreciated in a continental league.
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Sterling is perhaps the most exciting young English footballer of his generation, and a move to somewhere like Real Madrid could have the same effect on him as it did on Gareth Bale.
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
They love an attacking, bums-off-seats full back on the continent and that is exactly what former Palace youngster Nathaniel Clyne is, it could take him to the next level and secure his England place.
Connor Wickham (Sunderland)
Wickham showed real potential for Sunderland at the end of last season but has gone off the boil somewhat this year, it would be interesting to see how he would cope in Serie A if mooted interest from Lazio comes to fruition.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
The idea of Gerrard playing for anyone other than Liverpool is a strange one, but if he is going to move anywhere then we’d love it to be one of the giants of European football.
Tom Carroll (Tottenham Hotspur)
It is already easy to see Carroll, a young midfielder very much in the mould of McEachran and Cleverley, going the same way as his contemporaries – the end of this season could be a good time to get out.