While relegation is devastating for the clubs concerned, some of their players go on to have bright futures in the game.
Those who have been sold after falling through the trapdoor include: Roy Keane (Nottingham Forest to Manchester United), James Milner (Leeds to Newcastle), Craig Bellamy (Coventry to Newcastle), Joe Cole (West Ham to Chelsea) and Idrissa Gueye (Aston Villa to Everton).
It’s no surprise therefore that the vultures will be circling around the brighter talents at Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich after their Premier League exits.
Sportsmail looks at 10 players who will be in demand this summer…
MAX AARONS (NORWICH)
Bayern Munich have moved early with a reported £18million offer for the impressive young right back. Norwich will want considerably more for their 20-year-old prospect, closer to £30m, and will hope Arsenal and Spurs revive past interest to create an auction.
While Norwich have flopped this season, Aarons will have benefitted from a full year’s experience in the Premier League. His ability to get forward and provide telling crosses is very much in keeping with the modern full back. He also has versatility on his side, able to play on the left as well.
Max Aarons is wanted by Bayern Munich – with the German giants having offered £18million
NATHAN AKE (BOURNEMOUTH)
Dutch international centre half who came through the ranks at Chelsea before signing for Bournemouth in 2017. Clubs could now be asked to double the £20m paid by the Cherries with 25-year-old Ake at his peak.
Quick and brave, Ake has usually played on the left-side of Bournemouth’s back-four. Though not the tallest at marginally under 6ft, he is courageous in the air and has scored 11 goals for his club at set pieces. Also good on the ball, which is why Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs looking.
Eddie Howe will rue the fact Ake was injured towards the end of the season in Bournemouth’s 4-1 win against Leicester and therefore missed the 2-0 home defeat against Southampton. A draw would have kept them up.
Nathan Ake (right) has Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea among his suitors
DAVID BROOKS (BOURNEMOUTH)
It’s unlikely Bournemouth would have been relegated had the influential Brooks been fit. The creative Welsh international scored seven goals in 34 games in his first year at The Vitality but didn’t play at all until lockdown this season following surgery on an ankle injury.
The 23-year-old would grace most teams with his balance and ability on the ball. Having started his career at Manchester City, he developed at Sheffield United and must rank among Eddie Howe’s best signings.
David Brooks would’ve improved Bournemouth’s fate if he was fit for the whole of this season
EMILIANO BUENDIA (NORWICH)
A genuine creative talent who can play as a No 10 or come in off the flanks, Buendia suffered more than anyone due to a lack of firepower in City’s ranks but that hasn’t stopped a number of clubs from Atletico Madrid to Burnley keeping tabs.
The 23-year-old Argentine has stated he’d be happy to stay at Carrow Road as a thank you for taking a £1.5m chance on him in 2017. But the reality is Norwich would find it hard to stand in his way if the opportunity came for him to stay at a higher level.
Scoring only once this season is a disappointing statistic, but Buendia has still been involved in a third of Norwich’s goals, and has an impressive record for making assists against the bigger teams including Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham.
Emiliano Buendia (left) has the talent to be a Premier League hit despite his disappointing stats
TODD CANTWELL (NORWICH)
The sight of the long-haired Cantwell flying into tackles, making clever passes and having shots from distance were one of the few uplifting moments for Norwich fans this season.
Cantwell’s attitude as well as ability make him attractive to Premier League teams. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is understood to be a particular fan with Newcastle United also keen on the 22-year-old who has played for England at Under-21 level.
Losing Cantwell would be a blow for Canaries supporters who love the Norfolk midfielder as one of their own. They’ve christened him The Dereham Deco and he acknowledges: ‘If I can emulate his career in any way it will be a successful one.’
Norwich’s talisman Todd Cantwell (left) is wanted by Leicester City and Newcastle United
ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (WATFORD)
Doucoure has been mentioned in transfer dispatches for two years with Arsenal, Everton and PSG among the clubs regularly linked with the powerful box-to-box midfielder who can stop and score goals.
With Watford now relegated, this looks like a case of now or never for the 27-year-old who played for France U21s earlier in his career. He certainly seems keen to move on, saying: ‘I think I can still progress massively.’
Few at Vicarage Road would begrudge him. He has served the club in a variety of positions from holding midfielder to No 10.
Abdoulaye Doucoure (left) has shone for years in Watford’s midfield in a number of roles
JOSH KING (BOURNEMOUTH)
His former club Manchester United wanted King in January to ease their injury crisis up front but when Bournemouth couldn’t agree terms on the deal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed Odion Ighalo on loan instead.
Now Cherries are in the Championship, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 28-year-old Norwegian international forward preferred to stay in the top flight. The United ship may have sailed with Mason Greenwood’s emergence but with 50 goals in five seasons for Bournemouth, there shouldn’t be a lack of takers.
Bournemouth forward Josh King came close to leaving for Manchester United in January
ISMAILA SARR (WATFORD)
Gary Neville has suggested Sarr could be an alternative to Jadon Sancho for Manchester United, high praise indeed for the 22-year-old Senegal forward, described as a ‘shy boy’ by international team-mate Sadio Mane.
In a struggling Watford team, Sarr has been the stand-out attacking threat, scoring six times and creating many other chances. The undoubted highlight was his performance in Watford’s 3-0 win against Liverpool, in which he scored twice.
It certainly pricked the attention of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp who will be monitoring Sarr’s situation closely – particularly as he’d cost less than half of Sancho’s £100m-valuation.
Ismaila Sarr was Watford’s main attacking threat and received many plaudits this season
TROY DEENEY (WATFORD)
Mr Watford has admitted his 10 years at the club could be over, saying his future is undecided at Vicarage Road, but the striker definitely wants to carry on in football.
‘I’m only 32, cheeky b*****d’, he told a reporter when asked if he might retire after Watford’s defeat at Arsenal sent the down on the final day.
Deeney would be an asset to clubs not only because of his goals on the pitch, but also his leadership qualities in the dressing room. Hailing from the Midlands, there is a suggestion he would be a good fit for newly-promoted West Brom, whose squad lack Premier League know-how.
Troy Deeney’s 10-year stint with Watford could be over but he would aid many top-flight teams
CALLUM WILSON (BOURNEMOUTH)
The goals dried up for Wilson at the end of this season without his partner-in-crime Ryan Fraser teeing up the chances. But there is a general shortage of centre-forwards with genuine Premier League experience and it’s no surprise Tottenham and Newcastle are among clubs reported to be showing a £10m interest.
Wilson, 28, reached the Premier League the hard way via Coventry City and loan spells at Tamworth and Kettering. He won’t give the experience up lightly particularly as he was also capped by England before lockdown. He scored eight times in the Premier League but five of those came by the end of September.
Callum Wilson had a miserable term in front of goal despite scoring five by end of September
