Five Championship stars Premier League teams could sign on a Bosman this summer

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 27 Mar 2022 13:22 BST
• 5 min read

The Championship is a hotbed for talented youngsters to grow and develop their talents away from the spotlight of the Premier League.

With the pressure reduced, many players thrive and are given the game time they need to become excellent footballers.

In recent years, the division has also become a stepping stone for a move to the top flight. James Maddison, Eberechi Eze, and Adam Webster have all signed for Premier League clubs after impressing in the Championship, while the likes of Reece James, Mason Mount and Marc Guehi all had stellar loan seasons in the second tier.

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However, several of the current crop of Championship stars will become free agents this summer, as their contracts at their respective clubs are set to expire in June. Available on a Bosman, they could provide great value for Premier League clubs shopping on a budget this summer.

But who are the players?

Which Championship players are available on a Bosman?

Ben Brereton Diaz - Blackburn

Despite his contract expiring in just a few short months, Ben Brereton Diaz is still valued at €7.1 million by FootballTransfers' algorithm, which shows his current talent level.

Since deciding to represent Chile at international level, Brereton Diaz has stepped up a notch. The forward had never scored more than seven league goals in a single campaign before this year, but he has already netted 20 times in the Championship this term.

He is the division's third top-scorer, behind only Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dominic Solanke, and is reportedly drawing interest from Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Harvey Elliott returning to Liverpool and Adam Armstrong joining Southampton, Brereton Diaz has been left to do it by himself at Blackburn, a task he has performed admirably. Without his goals they wouldn't even have a shot at making the play-offs.

Sam Johnstone - West Brom

The West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper made England's European Championship squad in 2021 following an impressive year in the Premier League, but he could miss out on the World Cup if he remains in the Championship.

West Brom's slide down the table has meant promotion is off the cards, and Johnstone will need a move to a top flight club this summer. He will likely have suitors given he won't cost a transfer fee and is a very solid option in between the sticks.

His current FootballTransfers value is €4.8m, but expect that to rise if he gets a move this summer.

Jed Wallace - Millwall

The Millwall winger has been at the club on a permanent deal since 2017, but had two loan spells at the Den beforehand, meaning he's engrained in the football club now.

With nearly 250 Millwall appearances, Wallace could well re-sign a new deal, but he may want a new adventure and a chance to finally play Premier League football.

Now 28, this could be his last chance to sign for a top flight club. He hit 10 goals and six assists in the Championship last season, and currently sits on six goals and nine assists so far this term.

Double digits for league goals and league assists is well on the cards, and he will appear on Premier League teams' radars if that happens. He maybe doesn't have the quality to be a starter, but he could be a solid rotation option for a lower half of the table club.

His current FootballTransfers value is €3.5m.

John Swift - Reading

Arguably the Championship's Player of the Season if the aforementioned Mitrovic is excluded, John Swift has been immense for Reading this campaign.

The midfielder, a product of Chelsea's famous Cobham academy, joined The Royals from the Blues back in 2016, and has gone on to make nearly 200 appearances in all competitions for the club.

This year has been his best by a country mile, however. The 26-year-old has scored 11 and assisted 13 in just 35 Championship games, all coming from the middle of the park as well.

He is the creative hub of Reading's side and would make an excellent Premier League player. Swift is ready to finally have a chance in the top flight, eight years after his one and only appearance in the division, as a late substitute against Cardiff City.

Due to his short contract, he is only valued at €2.2m by the FootballTransfers algorithm, but that would rocket up if he were to join a Premier League team.

Fabio Carvalho - Fulham

Fabio Carvalho was hours away from joining Liverpool in January, but a deal broke down at the last minute. It meant he stayed put at Fulham for the time being, but he is expected to finally join Jurgen Klopp's side this summer.

The Portugal U21 international, who has featured for England's U16, U17 and U18 sides, came through the youth ranks at Fulham, and made his debut in their relegation campaign last year.

An attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, the 19-year-old has scored seven and assisted six in the Championship so far this campaign, and looks set to join Harvey Elliott in leaving Fulham for Liverpool as a teenager.