How many players in the past have jumped ship to a bigger club and seen their career go pear shaped?

With all of the speculation concerning Jamie Vardy’s Leicester future, what needs to be kept in mind, is the fact that all of this circus is based on one season.

You have to admit that it was a great season for the ex-Fleetwood Town man, but it is one star studded campaign that has led to the Premier League title, Champions League qualification and a chance to play for England in a major competition, but it is still one year.

24 league goals and runner-up to top scoring Spurs man, Harry Kane, is undeniably no mean feat and in the world of fairytale seasons, it’s such a story, no wonder Hollywood loves it.

However, next year will be one that defines just how good Vardy is, and maybe for now the Foxes poacher needs to cement his stock at the King Power Stadium, albeit, this might be his only chance to join a bigger team at 29.

Here are FIVE reasons for Vardy to consider staying with the champions…

Champions League football

Surely one of the most important competitions that any player would want to be involved in? To go in as a champion of your own league adds status, although there will be some snobbery as Leicester are not traditionally a Champions League side. If you move to a club not in the Champions League, then that doesn’t make sense, so stay where you are guaranteed the next tier of football and a first-team slot every game. Leicester have the opportunity to shake up the CL, as they are complete unknowns and will stick to their soak-up-the-pressure-and-then-counter-attack style of play.

Leicester Are Winners

It was reported that Vardy’s representatives had virtually concluded a deal two weeks ago with West Ham. The Hammers were willing to trigger the release clause and pay £105,000 a week for the Leicester man, but apparently the players agent then came back and demanded £140,000 a week.

West Ham said no thanks.

Now Arsenal are looking to pay Vardy a vast weekly wage over three years, but what is being forgotten is that West Ham haven’t won anything and neither have Arsenal. The Gunners always shoot themselves in the foot and end up runners-up, but at least they do have the Champions League. Leicester are champions and will probably come in with a counter offer that should make the player want to remain with the winners, not the also-rans. Why would you leave a winning team?

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Hero status

Vardy has gone from ‘Jamie, who?’, to being a cult hero, and while he is worshipped at Leicester, why would he then move to establish himself all over again? Whatever Vardy does now, whatever happens to the goalscoring feats for next year, he will be forgiven because of what he’s achieved last season. He will do no wrong, but he won’t get the same adulation or forgiveness anywhere else. It’s better sometimes to stay where you are and become a legend.

The grass Isn’t Always Greener

The lure of a bigger club and bigger money have sent other players tumbling into obscurity in the past because, often, that big move becomes an anchor you can never shake off. Maybe Leicester are his level, the players are a team rather individuals and he ‘fits’ with the Foxes, whereas elsewhere, he would become a smaller fish in a larger pond.

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Comfort Zone

Comfort zones can be a double edged sword. Critics will say that to stay at a club could be a sign of a lack of ambition or it could be that actually the player is entirely comfortable with the playing style, the other players and has the freedom to play his best football. The team know each other and Vardy knows where to be to receive the ball, as the team knows where to put the ball for him to score.

The manager and the fans love him, the club want him  stay and the next season could be good again within a familiar environment. If he stays at Leicester, they will play to his strengths, elsewhere, he may have to adapt – if he can.

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Manchester United have agreed terms with Paul Pogba and are set to pay a world record €120m (£102.5m) for the Juventus midfielder this summer, according to Tancredi Palmeri.The Red Devils have been active in the transfer market already this window, with the arrival of Jose Mourinho as manager having paved the way for deals for Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.WANT MORE? >>ÂManchester United transfer newsÂ|ÂLatest transfer newsIn his opening press conference as the Red Devils’ boss, ‘Mou’ suggested that he has four transfer targetsÂin mind, with Pogba seemingly the last of this quartet.Widespread reports over the past few days have claimed that the midfielder, who will represent his home nation in EURO 2016 semi-final action this evening, is closing in on a dramatic return to the club he left as a youngster in 2012, and Italian journalist, Palmeri, has taken to Twitter to claim the deal is effectively ‘done’:“All confirmed: Manchester United reached agreement with Pogba for 13m€ wages per year and will bid 120m€.â€Palmeri went on to reveal that the total figure Man United will be paying, including fees to his agent, will reach €145m (£123.5m), while he annual salary will be three times greater than that he earns at Juventus:“Note: if Manchester United finalise the deal, then will break any record paying Pogba 145m€ (120 to Juve + 25 to agent).“Pogba wages at Manchester United would be approximately treble than what he earns at Juventus.â€Pogba, 23, is widely hailed as the best midfielder in his age range on the planet.

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Plenty of Hammers fans were holding their breath on Saturday night, as they waited to discover the fate of Aaron Cresswell, who was stretchered off the field in a pre-season game against German side Karlsruher.

The young defender has been one of the most consistent performers for West Ham over the last two seasons and is fast becoming one of the best left backs in the league.

Now, the news has broken that the 26-year old will be out of action for four months minimum. With no cover at Cresswell’s position, Slaven Bilic will be forced into the transfer market to look for short term alternatives.

Fortunately for the Croatian manager, there are a number of fantastic options available at left back.

Here are five players that West Ham should consider when trying to replace Aaron Cresswell…

Jordan Amavi

A bright spark in what was a dismal season for Aston Villa, Jordan Amavi performed well in the short time he had in the first team at Villa Park last season before succumbing to injury.

The 22-year-old was a revelation in his native France and is thought to be a fantastic prospect. Amavi would be an astute short term replacement for Cresswell, with his lightning speed going forward and instinctual defending.

Andrew Robertson

One of the Championship’s best players last season, young Andrew Robertson has been the subject of interest from a number of Premier League suitors but remains with Hull as they get ready for their season back in the top flight.

The former SPFA Young Player of the Year is a phenomenal prospect at left-back, providing a dangerous offensive threat from deep combined with superb defensive abilities.

At just 22, Robertson would provide long term competition for Cresswell upon his return.

Jonas Hector

The standout full-back at Euro 2016, Jonas Hector has fast made a name for himself and is reportedly wanted by a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool.

The 26-year old is, first and foremost, and excellent defender but is also a sublime crosser of the ball and provided a number of assists for his current club Koln last season.

Hector would be a real coup for the Hammers but would likely want guarantees as to first team football even when Cresswell returns to full fitness.

Francois Moubandje

One of the most improved players in Ligue 1, Toulouse’s Francios Moubandje impressed with his consistent performances and attacking threat from the left.

The 26-year-old has forced his way into the Swiss national team, an impressive feat considering the outstanding Ricardo Rodriguez holds down the left back position for his country.

Moubandje would likely be available for a modest fee and would likely accept competition for his place once Aaron Cresswell returns from injury.

Kieran Gibbs

Lengthy injuries and the form of Nacho Monreal restricted Keiran Gibbs to just 15 league appearance for Arsenal last season, his lowest total since 2011.

With Monreal set to start the new season as first choice left back at the Emirates, Gibbs may want to look for another challenge to re-ignite his once promising career.

West Ham would be the ideal destination for the 26-year-old. Gibbs would likely flourish in a Slaven Bilic system, especially if he is given license to roam the left wing using his searing pace.

After holistic recruitment over the summer, at considerable expense, and their move to a 57,000 (soon to be 66,000) capacity stadium, many expected West Ham to hit the ground running this season.

However, that’s not been the case; the Hammers have picked up just three points from their first four games in the Premier League and now find themselves only one place above the relegation zone.

Of course, there’s no need to use the phrase ‘relegation candidates’ but the east London club’s start to the current campaign is certainly worrying, considering how intense and unpredictable the Premier League has become in recent years.

The Hammers need to catch up with the rest of the pack sooner rather than later, especially if they still have plans to qualify for Europe this season.

But we at Football FanCast see plenty of promise at West Ham and their underwhelming start to the campaign is surely just a small blip. With that in mind – and to silence the doubters – here are FIVE reasons the Irons will turn it around…

NEW SIGNINGS YET TO SETTLE

As aforementioned, West Ham made an abundance of signings during the summer – 13 to be precise. But some have settled much better than others and the Hammers are nowhere near getting the best out of all their summer additions.

Indeed, Sofiane Feghouli, Simone Zaza and Alvaro Arbeloa are all fantastic players with prior experience in the Champions League, but they’re only just reaching match fitness after suffering early injuries or joining the Irons late in the summer transfer window.

Likewise,summer signing Andre Ayew is out until November at the earliest but the former Swansea City man will be a massive boost once he recovers from a thigh strain, which brings us onto…

INJURIES

West Ham have been nothing short of woefully unlucky in regards to injuries this season.

Indeed, Ayew lasted just 35 minutes into his Premier League debut for Slaven Bilic’s side before having to be stretchered off, whilst Andy Carroll’s injury was a huge blow after a strong finish to last term and an impressive performance against Chelsea.

But perhaps the biggest loss is Aaron Cresswell, whose knee has injury glaringly exposed the Hammers’ limited depth at full-back.

All three would probably be in the starting XI if fully fit so the Irons can certainly count themselves unfortunate; likewise, the East Londoners will be much stronger when they all return in the coming weeks.

DIMITRI PAYET

We’ve already discussed how West Ham’s summer signings haven’t quite settled yet and it’s a similar case with Dimitri Payet.

Indeed, injuries delayed his first start of the season until last weekend and although the Hammers lost 4-2 to Watford, the Frenchman dazzled in the first half, even producing a ‘Rabona’ assist for Michail Antonio’s second goal.

The talismanic midfielder got West Ham up to seventh almost single-handed last season and he’s more than capable of doing so again – once he’s back to full fitness.

OUT OF EUROPA LEAGUE

The majority of West Ham fans were understandably disappointed to see their club eliminated from Europe at the hands of Astra Guirgiu for the second season in a row.

But the obvious silver lining is that the Hammers will no longer be involved in the Europa League, a competition infamous for the pejorative effects it has on domestic campaigns.

That works both ways; not only will Slaven Bilic’s players be fitter, more prepared for and more focused on the Premier League, but potential divisional rivals still involved – such as Southampton and Manchester United – won’t have that luxury.

EASY RUN AHEAD

In terms of fixtures, the Hammers have endured a tricky start to the campaign – particularly in facing title-chasing duo Chelsea and Manchester City on the road.

The Hammers were always unlikely to claim points from those games and considering they also beat Bournemouth at the London Stadium, only against Watford have they truly failed to meet expectations.

And the good news going forward is that the Irons’ coming run in the Premier League is much simpler; you’d expect them to pick up points against West Brom, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Sunderland in the coming weeks.

Admittedly, however, the November to December period is incredibly tough.

Watford are going to be a difficult post-Europa test for Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho isn’t familiar with the ugly trips on a Thursday night and this is his first taste of following up midweek football with his Manchester United squad. His failure to rotate his cost him dearly in previous jobs and it will be a tricky skill in this one.

The Hornets, conversely, are fresh from a stunning comeback away at West Ham. Showing their ability to find recover from great adversity and dominate a strong Hammers team, this is a Watford side that will be under-rated by many throughout the course of this season.

Still licking their wounds from a footballing lesson in the Manchester derby, it would be out of character for a Mourinho side to follow one defeat with another. A strong, resilient performance is expected from the Red Devils.

It won’t be plain sailing, though. And these Watford players will be pivotal…

Troy Deeney

Deeney was perhaps unlucky to miss out on England’s Euro 16 squad after 13 goal debut Premier League season and he has started this season in similar, dominating manner.

Averaging 5.5 aerials won per game, the 28-year-old forward is the main focal point of the Hornets attack, with Ighalo looking to run off him. His strike partner found the net against West Ham as he aims to rediscover the form that made him one of the league’s most prolific strikers in the first half of last season.

Deeney will physically challenge Eric Bailly from the off and should immediately look to engage Daley Blind in a physical battle.

Etienne Capoue

No one, probably including Capoue himself, expected the French central midfielder to be one of the league’s top scorers after four games.

Now playing in a three-man midfield, Capoue as the opportunity to break forward down the inside left channel and will attack Antonio Valencia centrally, giving him a challenge on which run to cover. His ability to run beyond Deeney and Ighalo causes problems and could stretch a fatigued Manchester United defence.

Someone who has started the season at such a rate will need to be closely marked throughout.

Nordin Amrabat

Amrabat may have hoped to play alongside one of Deeney or Ighalo this season, but he has found himself in and industrious role on the right wing. Charged with protecting the defence from Luke Shaw’s energetic overlaps and offering the out ball to the flank when in possession, his role is integral to the way that Watford are setting up under Walter Mazzarri.

If he can throw off the defensive shackles on occasion, Amrabat has the talent to really cause problems out wide and his presence should create more space for Watford’s central players to cause damage.

According to reports from Goal, Manchester United may have to wait until next summer to offload outcast right-back Matteo Darmian.

What’s the word?

Louis van Gaal signed the defender from Torino last summer after a string of solid campaigns in Turin and a decent showing for Italy at the 2014 World Cup. But Darmian’s influence waned as the 2015/16 season went on and he finished it out of the starting XI – whilst starting the current one struggling to claim a spot on the bench.

Indeed, the 26-year-old has started just one game so far this season, in the Europa League at his secondary position of left-back, which tells all about Mourinho’s lack of faith in him.

Darmian is reportedly keen to get his career back on track and United have made him available to other clubs, but two key issues are holding up a January departure from Old Trafford.

What’s the problem?

Firstly, interest in Darmian is largely limited. Inter Milan are seen as the likeliest suitors but don’t view signing another right-back as a priority – and they’d be far more open to a loan move than a permanent transfer.

Secondly, United are struggling to come to terms with the price-tag of their preferred replacement, Fabinho. The Red Devils were strongly linked with the Monaco defender during the summer but ultimately decided not to meet the French club’s £25million valuation. Goal now quote it as £36million – rather steep for a right-back.

However, it’s suggested Fabinho’s price-tag could drop next summer, when United will fancy their chances of offloading Darmian.

Is Fabinho worth £36m?

That’s a matter of opinion but the Brazilian is undoubtedly an exciting talent. In addition to excelling at right-back for Monaco last term, he’s been a real force in central midfield this season – notching up four goals in seven Ligue 1 outings whilst also popping up with an assist in the Champions League.

Yet, that comes with its own dilemmas. With Antonio Valencia filling the void at the moment, United need an out-and-out right-back to take the No.2 mantle. So would the Red Devils actually be buying a right-back who can take the position long-term or a central midfielder shoehorned into the backline? The age-old adage of a square peg in a round hole comes to mind.

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old’s form is certainly noteworthy. Here’s a look at his progression since signing for Monaco, initially on loan, in summer 2013 – courtesy of Squawka.

It’s funny how the opinion of the Premier League table being able to tell us nothing to it being all-important swings around the turn of November every season.

The early weeks of the campaign are often a bedding-in process for teams up and down the division, but with eleven games gone, we’re now entering the main body of the campaign – which is prompting talk surrounding title and relegation fights.

Middlesbrough are a side widely expected to be battling in the latter mini-league, with the newly-promoted Teessiders among arguably the six weakest teams in the division.

However, Football FanCast have been impressed with Aitor Karanka’s side thus far, so we’ve done some digging and unearthed THREE stats that really do hint that they’ll be a top tier team this time next season.

A point-per-game

Since the 1995/96 season, the 18th placed team in the Premier League has averaged 0.9 points-per-game, with 17th staying up on 38.4. Boro, as things stand, are averaging a point-a-game with eleven from eleven, which will put them, albeit narrowly, in the window of safety. Granted, Bolton slipped through the trapdoor with 44 points in 2002/03, but that was very much an anomaly, with Newcastle (37), Hull (35) and Norwich (33) the most recent 18th-place finishers.

(Graph via the Mirror)

Not travelsick

Away form can often be the factor that splits those who drop and those who don’t, so Middlesbrough’s success on the road this term is encouraging. Their last-gasp equaliser at Manchester City took them to seven points from six games, a record bettered by only 11th place West Brom in terms of bottom half teams – the Baggies have eight. Boro’s record stands at one win, four draws and one loss.

Defensively resolute

Of all the teams in the bottom half of the table, Boro have conceded the fewest goals. Twelve shipped in eleven games is some going, with table-topping Liverpool having had their backline breached 14 times. Scoring goals is the issue, however, with their ten the joint second-worst record in the division – only Sunderland (nine) have been less effective in front of goal. Another interesting stats in terms of defensive solidity is Middlesbrough’s 253 tackles, which is the highest registered by any team after eleven games.

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As we approach the half-way mark in the 2016/2017 Premier League season, it may be Chelsea and Manchester City who are looking early favourites for the title this season, but there are other headlines being written for the first time in a while about Manchester United.

The club has suffered a slump since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013, and, despite Louis van Gaal returning trophies and European football, they are still falling short of their previous selves.

This season potentially marks a change for the side, though. In came Jose Mourinho, who likes to win above everything else, as well as some high profile transfers in Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. While the French midfielder has grabbed the headlines for the ludicrous transfer fee paid for his services, the Swedish striker is making waves on the pitch, and, for the first time since ‘Fergie’ left, is proving to be a standout player who can single-handedly change the course of the club.

Here are the FOUR reasons behind Ibrahimovic’s success so far…

Age is nothing but a number

The age of 30 is dreaded by all footballers. Contracts get shorter, appearances dwindle as younger players score the goals you used to and your body can no longer do the things it used to.

But 35-year-old Zlatan is different. There are precious few examples of outfield players able to play top-level football in the latter stages of their careers (a recent example that springs to mind is Ryan Giggs, which may or may not be a coincidence that he was at Manchester United as well) as the physicality of the English leagues make it harder and harder to survive 90 minutes of football up to twice a week.

‘Ibra’ has missed just one match out of 17 in the Premier League this season (due to suspension against Arsenal), as well as playing in all three EFL Cup matches for the club and all group stage games (six in total) in the Europa League. In only three of these fixtures did he not play the full ninety minutes (one of them being a 2-1 loss against Fenerbahce), and he has scored in twelve out of 25 appearances for the Red Devils.

He has, of course, benefited from not having to play international fixtures this season after retiring from the Swedish side in the summer, but he is not the only one who doesn’t have such commitments in the Premier League. He is one of only two strikers who has made maximum appearances for his team this season in the top tier, the other being 34-year-old Jermain Defoe.

Form is temporary, class is permanent

While there are several world-class players currently in the Premier League (Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez to name just a few), there is no denying that the best players in the game currently tend to reside in the German and Spanish leagues. The arrival of Ibrahimovic to the top tier this summer brought an ilk player to the league not seen since Cristiano Ronaldo. While his salad days are certainly over, he is still one of the best strikers in the footballing world currently, and his arrival at Manchester United this summer was enough to worry the other 19 clubs in the league.

A player may lose their physical fitness and stamina as they grow older, but their talents still remain. As ‘Ibra’ has grown older, he has adapted his game but still remained the talisman forward he has always been. He still exudes the strength that remains a big part of his game (six yellow cards so far this campaign will attest to his aggressive nature on the field) and he has also proven why he is the perfect choice for the main forward, scoring eleven goals in the Premier League and 16 overall, with seven of United’s wins this season down to his goals.

Mourinho’s main man

Jose Mourinho has always enjoyed having a talisman up front, a ‘classic No.9’ who can be relied upon to fill one of the most important roles in his formation. At Chelsea, it was Didier Drogba, Inter Milan had Samuel Eto’o, Karim Benzema was it at Real Madrid and, with his return to the Blues, Diego Costa became the leading man under Mourinho.

With last season’s top goalscorer at Man United on the wing, and the best ‘No.9’ at the club toward the end of the season being youngster Marcus Rashford (with Wayne Rooney becoming more of a midfielder himself last season), it was clear that someone new had to come in to help Mourinho rebuild his successful career after failing at Chelsea last season.

Then there is also the price. While ‘Ibra’ came to the club on a free transfer after his contract expired at Paris Saint-Germain, there is no doubt that, despite his age, he would still command a large transfer fee (he cost the French side just under £16m in 2012), and these high price-tags are also a feature of Mourinho’s forwards. Drogba arrived at Chelsea in 2004 for £24m, becoming the most expensive player in English domestic football at the time. Ten years later, he identified Costa as his principal transfer target for Chelsea and the club met the buy-out for the Atletico Madrid player, spending £32m for him.

Ibrahimovic is the perfect fit for a Mourinho team – a player who can guarantee the same level of service that his previous strikers have and, so far, has lived up to his billing.

Seizing his last chance at an elite club

There aren’t many youngsters in the game who wouldn’t jump at the chance to play at Manchester United at some point in their career. Despite the dip in form the club has suffered in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson has departed the game, ManUnited still remains a global institution in the game, and Old Trafford is still a tough place to visit for opposing sides.

While Zlatan is still in fine form, he must consider he only has two or three years left in the game before he must either take a step down or hang up his boots entirely. While he was only offered a one-year deal at United (with the option of a second in the deal), the opportunity to play for Manchester United at Old Trafford would have been too much for Ibrahimovic to pass on.

It’s not just the club, but also the players who have played there in the past. Zlatan joins a list too long to reel off of greats in the game who have plied their trade at the Theatre of Dreams, and just the opportunity to be named alongside former legends in the game will ensure that his status remains golden as he bows out.

It also completes his ‘bingo card’, for lack of a better term. Ibrahimovic has played at arguably the best clubs in Europe, with Ajax, Juventus, both Milan giants, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain on his CV. Minus Germany, he has performed in all the major leagues in the world of football, and the Premier League completes that. Not only has he secured his final playing days in the top tier of English football, but he has a vital position at still the biggest (and most well known) clubs in the league: Manchester United.

The question is often asked if Jose Mourinho invests enough time in youth. Many say that he spends his clubs’ money on big name players instead of young prospects, but my question is: can Manchester United rely on their youth players to continue the success of the club?

Over the summer transfer window, Mourinho brought in four big name players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Paul Pogba and these players, in recent weeks, have shown why they are worth the big money. Mkhitaryan’s recent good form, Ibrahimovic’s 17 goals in all competitions, Pogba’s powerful, all-around presence – including three assists for team-mate Zlatan – and Bailly’s encouraging start, before his injury all illustrate why the ‘Special One’ wanted them.

However, the average age of these players is 27 (26.75). Although this is increased by Ibrahimovic (35), it is not the first time Manchester United have had a high average age of players being brought in, last season 2015/16, the average age was 25 (24.5), including Anthony Martial and Matteo Darmian. This system of buying players at their peak is a real problem for Manchester United’s youth development.

However, the common argument with the system, of buying players in their prime is that if you want to be the best club you must have the best players at the time. Top clubs are reliant on money being poured in to try and win the league and to achieve their money back on expenses for these names.

However, Manchester United have had consecutive seasons where they have not contested for the title and personally I believe the idea of quick fixes, through buying players who either were considered the best or in their decline, needs to stop and a better system would be to welcome younger players into the first-team.

The idea of buying players at their peak must be a real worry for their youth system. Are youth players going to want to be part of Manchester United if they see players like Ibrahimovic coming to take vacant positions? Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are both players who, last season, gained great experience by playing in many matches for Manchester United, yet this year the former has only had a handful of starts and the latter has been forgotten.

Now, of course, Fosu-Mensah and Rashford have their flaws when compared to players like Ibrahimovic and Bailly but they are only 19 and 18 and have plenty of time to fix these and improve as players. The system has also been shown to negatively impact younger players at Manchester United such as Adnan Januzaj and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, who are young promising players forced out on loan just to get games.

So how does this answer the question: can Manchester United rely on their youth players to continue the success of the club?

Overall, with the system they are running now, the answer is no. If Manchester United wish to be a club well known for having a young and exciting team they need to give their youngsters a chance to prove themselves over a prolonged period.

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Despite being six months into his Everton tenure, Ronald Koeman is still attempting to forge his own side at Goodison Park.

The summer window witnessed some movement in and out of Merseyside but the Dutch gaffer will undoubtedly be keen to make further changes when the transfer window opens in January.

Players from prior regimes still remain at the club and these passengers must be shipped out to make way for better players.

Chinese football exploded onto the world stage earlier this year by paying astronomical fees for high-profile stars of the European game, such as Ramires, Jackson Martinez and Alex Teixeira, and has already lined up its star-studded addition for 2017 in Chelsea star Oscar.

That has made the Chinese Premier League the ideal dumping ground for European clubs whilst the less physically-demanding style of football and ludicrous salaries have made it a very attractive prospect for players also.

With that in mind, Football FanCast look at five players Everton should flog to Chinese clubs – picking up tasty transfer fees in the process.

Aaron Lennon

With just eighteen months remaining on his current deal at Goodison, January may be the ideal time for Everton to sell Lennon.

The Chinese season commences in the coming weeks and teams are still looking to sign some marquee players. As a former England international, Aaron Lennon fits the criteria perfectly.

Letting Lennon’s situation linger for another six or twelve months would allow the interested party the advantage in any potential deal.

Oumar Niasse

Niasse’s time in England has not brought much fortune for the Senegal striker.

Playing in a weaker league, Niasse thrived for Lokomotiv Moscow last season, and that form will have undoubtedly generated some interest in the CSL.

Recouping some of the £13.5million fee paid for him may be a priority for Koeman. But considering the riches in China, the club could be rewarded with an even bigger fee.

Arouna Koné

The Ivorian forward Kone has just six months remaining on his contract with the Toffees and it’s unlikely he will be granted an extension anytime soon.

Out of favour under Ronald Koeman and aged 33, the club should attempt to attract a lucrative offer from the CSL in January and spend the money on a genuine understudy for Romelu Lukaku.

Darron Gibson

Republic of Ireland midfielder Gibson has spent the majority of his Everton career watching from the sidelines as injuries continue limit his first-team involvement.

Gibson may therefore favour a move to China where the frequency of injuries is lesser due to the slower speed of play.

A former Manchester United player would be warmly welcomed in the most populated country on the planet.

Phil Jagielka

Phil Jagielka is club captain and has been a fantastic servant to the Merseyside club, currently amid his tenth campaign.

But now 34 years old, the England international is coming to the end of his career and a move to China, a lucrative retirement contract and a change of lifestyle may appeal to the ageing Everton icon.