Summer Transfers: 7 Relegated Players That EPL Clubs Should Target

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Junior Hoilett became the latest member of the exodus from the recently relegated English Premier League teams when he secured a move to Queens Park Rangers from Blackburn last Friday, via BBC Sport.

Having made countless headlines last season and having been heavily linked with moves to a host of domestic and continental suitors this summer, Hoilett now joins Mark Hughes and his revolution at Loftus Road.

Other EPL clubs would do well to scourge the three relegated teams (Bolton, Blackburn and Wolverhampton Wanderers) to find some gems waiting to make the move back to England’s top flight.

Here are seven of them.

Mark Davies (Bolton)

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Let’s start with 18th-placed Bolton, where Mark Davies was linked with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool as recently as late June, according to the Daily Mirror.

Davies was one of Bolton’s few stars last season. He impressed with his vision and passing game, while scoring four league goals for Owen Coyle.

While he might not have the big name and star quality that Liverpool fans are looking for in a summer signing, at £6 million, he might be a tidy acquisition for a midtable side.

Chung-Yong Lee (Bolton)

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It wasn’t fun to end the 2011-2012 season as Chung-Yong Lee.

Having missed almost the entire campaign with a knee injury, he was forced to watch from the sidelines as Bolton finished 18th—the third and final relegation place.

But there is no denying Lee’s talent and quality, which would add to the wing threat of a midtable EPL side, as well as the shirt sales he would inevitably attract from Asia.

According to ESPNSoccernet, he has already been linked with Newcastle and Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Paul Robinson (Blackburn)

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Over to Blackburn now, and Paul Robinson is rightly attracting interest after being one of the only players to emerge from Blackburn’s disastrous campaign with any credit.

The Daily Mail reported in late May that QPR and West Ham were looking to bring in Robinson to strengthen their ranks.

While they have gone on to sign Robert Green and Jussi Jaaskelainen respectively, Robinson remains a Premier League-level goalkeeper and would be a very decent signing for a mid-to-lower-table club.

Scott Dann (Blackburn)

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After forming an impressive defensive partnership with Roger Johnson for Birmingham, Scott Dann moved on to less big and less good things with Blackburn.

But he remains a decent central defender who would add steel and experience to a Premier League defence.

No surprise, then, that newly promoted Southampton are reportedly looking at him as a potential option, according to Goal.com.

They’d have to move fast, though: Ajax are apparently also interested in taking him from Blackburn, via the Daily Mirror.

Steven N’Zonzi (Blackburn)

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Another linked with a move away from Ewood Park is defensive midfielder Steven N’Zonzi.

Since joining Blackburn in 2009, N’Zonzi has established himself as one of Rovers’ most consistent players.

Teams like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Aston Villa are reportedly in the hunt for his signature, according to the Metro.

Matt Jarvis (Wolves)

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After an impressive 2010-2011 season at the Molineux, Wolves winger Matt Jarvis was linked with Liverpool in the following summer, according to the Daily Mail.

A year on, Wolves have been relegated after a less-than-stellar season, but Jarvis remains on the radar of many a Premier League club.

This time it’s West Ham, according to the Daily Mirror, who are back in the big time under Sam Allardyce and who have already strengthened impressively this summer.

Steven Fletcher (Wolves)

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Rounding off our list is last season’s top scorer for Wolves (with 12 league goals).

Steven Fletcher at times seemed like the only player still fighting for the Wolves cause last season, and his line-leading endeavors for Terry Connor’s relegated side attracted many admiring glances.

Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland are reportedly interested in Fletcher, according to the Daily Mirror, and they would do well to secure his signature from Stale Solbakken’s Wolves.

 

Also check out: Ranking EPL Teams Based on Their Transfers So Far

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