Deadline day is looming and there are a number of big stars who need a move in order to kick-start their careers
Getty1Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)
Things have gone awry for centre-back Kurt Zouma at Chelsea, but the story could have been so different for the 23-year-old France international had he not suffered a serious knee injury. He had found a regular place in the starting XI under Guus Hiddink but surgery kept him out for six months and a loan move was inevitable thereafter. He played 37 times for Stoke last season but breaking back into the Blues’ first team under the technical Maurizio Sarri is a distant prospect for a player who still has much to give.
AdvertisementGetty Images2Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
With a return of 15 league goals in 80 league appearances, attacker Danny Welbeck does not boast the type of ratio that a club that still professes to have title aspirations like Arsenal can afford to have in their roster. The injury-prone striker failed to turn out in any of the Gunners' ICC fixtures and head coach Unai Emery is happy to see him leave. Club legend Ray Parlour says the player could represent a bargain at £15 million ($20m).
Getty Images3Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
During the summer, we finally got a glimpse of why Manchester United signed Paul Pogba for £89.3 million. The 25-year-old midfielder was a dominant presence alongside N’Golo Kante at the heart of the France side that won the World Cup. Jose Mourinho appears unwilling or unable to get similar performances from the ex-Juventus player, who is being linked with a return to Turin or a transfer to Barcelona. A move may allow him to realise his potential on a more permanent basis in an environment in which he is not so stifled.
Getty Images4Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Anthony Martial was on the periphery of things at Manchester United before a spat with manager Jose Mourinho this summer surely put an end to his career at Old Trafford. His inability to nail down a regular place under the Portuguese likely cost him his chance to be part of France’s World Cup squad, while a prolonged break to be with his new-born child against Mourinho’s orders during the club’s pre-season US tour seems to have severed relations entirely. A new start is required.