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News
- 11 hours ago
Five underrated summer transfer targets from relegated Premier League clubs
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 27 Apr 2025 10:56 BST
- 5 min read
Analysis
The Premier League relegation battle has finally been concluded with little shock as Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton all return to the Championship just one year after being promoted.
Ipswich became the final side to formalise their fate with four games remaining after a defeat to Newcastle, while Leicester had their relegation confirmed one match prior.
Southampton, meanwhile, set a record for the earliest relegation in Premier League history after just 31 games and narrowly avoiding a worst-ever points tally by any side.
However, although there has been a major gulf between the bottom three sides and the rest of the Premier League, each relegated team have unearthed a few players who may generate some transfer interest from top flight clubs in the summer window.
While most attention will be on the players with the highest ETV at each club – Tyler Dibling at Southampton, Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester and Ipswich’s Liam Delap – FootballTransfers delves into five underrated talents who could be shrewd signings this summer.
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Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton)
No player has featured in more minutes this season for Southampton than full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, who has been a regular figure since joining from Tottenham in 2020.
The 27-year-old has filled in all across the backline for the Saints this season, providing a cool head in a young team, having also been capped twice for England in recent years.
Walker-Peters’ contract is set to expire this summer, leaving him available on a free transfer, and the defender’s versatility, consistency and experience would be a welcome addition to any Premier League side’s squad as a value pickup.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
With Southampton conceding more than 80 goals this season, eyebrows will perhaps be raised at two of their defenders featuring on this list but Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ reputation will not have been significantly dampened despite his side’s disappointing campaign.
Southampton only signed the Harwood-Bellis last summer for €23 million from Manchester City but the 23-year-old will be determined to make a quick return to the top flight, having already spent multiple years playing Championship football.
Harwood-Bellis scored on his England debut against Ireland last year, indicating that he is still held in high regard by many, and teams could take a gamble on him this summer knowing that his reputation and pricetag could significantly grow as an England international in the future.
Mateus Fernandes (Southampton)
Southampton are also the lowest scorers in the league but that has not been for the want of trying by 20-year-old midfielder Mateus Fernandes in his debut season in English football.
Fernandes has a joint team-highest five goal contributions for Southampton and has displayed technical ability in the middle of the park that suggests he could blossom into a major talent in the right environment.
The Portuguese youngster has admitted he would be keen on a return to former side Sporting after leaving them for €15m last summer and there is expected to be significant interest in Fernandes, with teams such as Juventus monitoring the situation.
Current ETV
Mateus Fernandes
M (C)
Southampton
Mateus Fernandes
M (C)
Southampton
ETV Range
€20.3M - €24.8M
Mads Hermansen (Leicester)
Like Southampton, Leicester have sported a poor defence throughout the season but their record would perhaps be even worse were it not for the presence of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
The Danish shotstopper may have one of the lowest save percentages in the league (64.5%) but he has still outperformed his prevented xG, while only four goalkeepers have made more saves than him in total, suggesting that Leicester’s defence has not covered their keeper in any glory.
Chelsea are among the sides reportedly interested in Hermansen and, although his possession stats have been nothing to brag about, a Premier League return could still be on the cards for the 24-year-old at the right price.
Current ETV
Mads Hermansen
GK
Leicester
Mads Hermansen
GK
Leicester
ETV Range
€17.3M - €21.1M
Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich)
Ipswich perhaps punched above their weight after reaching the Premier League with back-to-back promotions from League One, resulting in them utilising the division’s smallest budget and relying on the development of young talent.
The club’s marquee signing last summer was Omari Hutchinson for a record €23.5m after his successful loan spell in the Championship where the 20-year-old bagged ten goals and five assists.
Although Hutchinson has failed to recapture the same form in the top flight, he was Ipswich’s most productive performer outside of Delap and the winger still has plenty of potential to convince teams to take a chance on his Premier League credentials.
Current ETV
Omari Giraud-Hutchinson
M (CR)
Ipswich Town
Omari Giraud-Hutchinson
M (CR)
Ipswich Town
ETV Range
€24.8M - €30.3M
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