Players to Recruit from Relegated Premier League Teams
Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton have all come and gone after an uninspiring year of play in the Premier League. All three teams struggled to transition their play from the Championship, leading to one of the worst collective points tallies we have seen from newly promoted sides. With all that being said, each team did have their bright spots. Here we will take a look at two players from each relegated team that could stay in the Premier League via transfer.
Ipswich: Liam Delap
The most obvious player to have on this list, Liam Delap was one of the lone bright spots for The Tractor Boys. Delap has scored 12 goals and created 19 chances. His Shooting Grade of 82.7 ranks 17th overall and 9th among CF’s, ahead of Jean-Philippe Mateta and João Pedro.
12 goals may not seem like a lot from a player being associated with moves to Manchester United and Chelsea, but that most likely comes down to the lack of service and high quality chances Ipswich create. Delap ranks 17th among CF’s in total possessions in the box and ranks 2nd among CF’s in shot taken when there is a better option. We can see through his Shooting Grade profile that given enough service, he will provide high quality shots that will lead to goals.
Delap also puts in good work off the ball. He ranks in the top 10 in total distance covered, accelerations, decelerations, sprints and high intensity runs (among CF’s), his physical profile combined with his eye for goal (and homegrown player status) will make him a valuable asset for many Premier League sides.
Ipswich: Leif Davis
Leif Davis is the other player from Ipswich Town that should garner interest from teams in the Premier League. Although his performances may not have matched the high expectations from the media and fans alike, Davis has showcased his talent this season through his ability to defend in isolated areas and create chances, mostly through crossing. Davis has generated an 80.9 crossing grade, 5th among FB’s and 12th amongst all players. He has generated 52 chances in total (3rd among FB’s, 18th overall), with 26 coming from set pieces (3rd among all players). Davis unfortunately does not have many assists to show for his ability to create, he has just 2 assists all year. From players who have created 50 or more chances, no other player has less than 4 assists.
Davis has also shown he is a competitive defender across all challenge facets. His 72.3 aerial duel grade ranks 10th among all FB’s and his defending dribbles grade of 81.2 ranks 17th among FB’s. He has won 49 aerial duels and has defended 29 dribble attempts successfully. Both rank him 10th out of all FB’s, showing his ability to be a capable defender in the air and in 1v1 situations.
Leif Davis has shown this season that he has the speed and athleticism to compete in the Premier League. Davis ranks in the top 5 in max speed (35.23 km/h) and distance covered while sprinting (over 25 km/h), 11.47 KM. Ranking in a similar physical profile to some of the best LB’s in the league.
Southampton: Tyler Dibling & Mateus Fernandes
Southampton may go down as one of the worst promoted sides in Premier League history—currently chasing Derby County’s infamous 2007–08 record for all the wrong reasons. However, there have been bright spots in a dismal campaign, notably the performances of young talents Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes, who are doing what they can to raise the bar above that historically poor benchmark.
Before the summer transfer window has even opened, 19-year-old Tyler Dibling is already being linked with top clubs across England. Rumors suggest he could be valued at £100 million—but is he worth the hype?
One of Dibling’s standout qualities is his ability as a ball carrier. His 70.2 ball carry grade ranks 34th among wingers and attacking midfielders, with 70 considered an above-average score. He’s completed 57 total carries—21st among his positional peers—and has been particularly effective in transition, completing 14 line-breaking carries, the third-most among wingers/attacking mids.
That said, there’s clear room for development, particularly in distribution. His 67.2 passing grade and 61.6 crossing grade suggest he’s not yet elite in this area. Dibling is completing 83.9% of his passes, but 76.1% of them are lateral or backward. He’s completed just 7 crosses with a 22.6% success rate. While some of these numbers reflect his own developmental stage, they’re also influenced by Southampton’s struggling system and overall poor form this season.
Athletically, Dibling is already impressive. He ranks as the 9th fastest U21 player, hitting a top speed of 33.71 km/h, outpacing notable names like Milos Kerkez, Omari Hutchinson, and Bilal El Khannouss. He’s also covered 195.84 km over the season—14th most among U21 players.
While Dibling has drawn attention as the next breakout English star, Mateus Fernandes has quietly put together an excellent season of his own. Fernandes ranks in the top three across ball carrying, challenges, crossing, passing, and shooting among all Southampton players.
His ball carry grade reinforces his importance in transition. He’s completed 74 carries, 17th among all players, and logged 22 line-breaking carries—tied for fourth-most overall. Notably, 15 of those came through the midfield line, showcasing his ability to drive play forward even when Southampton are pinned deep.
Leicester City: Bilal El Khannouss and James Justin
Bilal El Khannouss is rapidly attracting interest, with Aston Villa and Arsenal reportedly circling—though it could be reactionary buzz after Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final exit. Regardless, the Moroccan midfielder has shown genuine promise.
He posted a 74.9 passing grade (2nd at Leicester) and a 73.7 shooting grade (3rd at the club). He also created 35 chances, the most of any Leicester player. His ability to split defenses is evident—he’s completed 39 through balls, ranking 16th among all players. However, his 76 line-breaking passes only rank 5th at Leicester and 109th overall, hinting at some inconsistency in deeper build-up play.
Physically, Khannouss looks Premier League-ready. His top speed of 32.94 km/h ranks 14th, and he’s covered 241.55 km this season—the 8th most among U21 players. He could be a real threat to someone like Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal—an intriguing prospect we explore further in our comparison below (on a per 90 basis).
On the other end of the experience spectrum is James Justin, the oldest player on this list at 27. After a solid season, he looks like a smart, budget-friendly option for mid-table or newly promoted clubs looking to shore up the right side.
Valued at around €15 million, Justin has quietly impressed on a Leicester side that has conceded 76 goals. His defensive metrics speak volumes, performing above his positional average at every defensive facet:
Aerial duels: 74.0
50/50s: 78.4
Defending dribbles: 80.5
Tackling: 73.6
It’s been a well-rounded campaign from the Foxes defender, and he could be a strong pickup this summer.
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