Smith Rowe leaving Arsenal, Rashford to PSG: Best pure profit sale for every Premier League club
There is an obsession with ‘pure profit’ at the minute with clubs battling to stay within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability guidelines.
With that in mind, here is one player each Premier League club could use to easily make a few quid…
Arsenal – Emile Smith Rowe
Eddie Nketiah would be the preferred choice for Arsenal fans, especially with the Gunners preparing to sign a top-level striker this summer. And Smith Rowe remains extremely popular with supporters, even if Mikel Arteta seems unconvinced.
Arteta has spoken of his desire to keep Smith Rowe but his actions suggest a different view. Should an appealing offer come in for the 23-year-old, perhaps from West Ham, Arsenal will probably listen, as difficult as it would be for the Gunners fans to watch the Hale End graduate leave.
OPINION: Arsenal had two starboys but Smith Rowe has been left in the shadows – where has it gone wrong?
Aston Villa – Jacob Ramsey
Ramsey was linked with a transfer away from Villa Park (to Newcastle, in the main) in January and the Villans’ heavy spending in recent seasons means they might have to entertain any renewed interest.
Villa would fetch a very decent price for Ramsey, who has started only eight Premier League games this season.
Bournemouth – Gavin Kilkenny
There is always one team that gives you nothing to work with and Bournemouth are often the inconvenience here. They aren’t the worst. Or even the worst beginning with B…
Kilkenny joined the Cherries from St. Kevins Boys in Ireland back in 2016 and has one assist in 25 first-team appearances for the Cherries. He played a little over half an hour against Swansea in the FA Cup in January before being shipped off on loan to Fleetwood.
Brentford – Thomas Strakosha
The sale of Toney would balance the books better than any Academy graduates or free transfer signings at Brentford, but the former Peterborough striker cost around £4million back in 2020.
But goalkeeper Strakosha came for nothing and would surely welcome the chance to play some football somewhere. Anything has to be better than playing second fiddle to Mark Flekken.
Brighton – Evan Ferguson
Selling Lewis Dunk would make no sense and the potential transfer fee would come nowhere close to what Brighton could get from the sale of Irish striker Ferguson, who is on Manchester United and Chelsea’s radar.
Signed for the youth team in January 2021, Ferguson has 12 goals in 21 Premier League starts and will probably leave for around £100m, because that is the sort of stunt Brighton pull off in their sleep.
We don’t think Chelsea are the right team for the 19-year-old, mind…
Burnley – Han-Noah Massengo
The former France Under-21 international joined Burnley on a free from Bristol City last summer and though he has managed only a handful of substitute appearances this term, the first player born in the 21st century to feature in the Champions League is one of very paths to pure profit for the Clarets.
Chelsea – Armando Broja
Mauricio Pochettino’s side reportedly want £50m for Broja, which is a mission in p*ssing squarely into a gale-force wind.
Still, if Broja can score a few goals while on loan at Fulham, someone will pay a decent wedge since goalscorers are at a premium. Which means he would fetch a considerably higher price than Trevoh Chalobah, while making a lot more sense than selling Conor Gallagher, at least from Pochettino’s perspective.
Crystal Palace – Sam Johnstone
Tyrick Mitchell would cost a pretty penny but the left-back is too important to Palace.
Johnstone, meanwhile, has found himself flitting between the Palace goal and the bench. If Dean Henderson could convince Oliver Glasner that he can be trusted, Johnstone could command a reasonable fee from another Premier League side.
Everton – Lewis Dobbin
The Toffees are likely to have to sell bigger names than their academy graduates, but Dobbin and Dominic Calvert-Lewin represent pure profit to a side looking to balance the books.
As suspect as Calvert-Lewin’s form and fitness has been, they would be perilously light on strikers if they sold the England international. Eleven Premier League appearances – 10 as sub, admittedly – would tempt a Championship side into coughing up a few quid for Dobbin.
Fulham – Adama Traore
Injuries have limited Traore to substitute appearances since he joined for free from Wolves in the summer but given the Spain flying machine was linked with Europe’s biggest hitters not long ago, Fulham could net a decent profit if they chose to cash in after a year.
Liverpool – Curtis Jones
A lot of these suggestions will drive fans up the wall and this is probably the best example. We could hardly pick Trent Alexander-Arnold, could we?
Jones has been outstanding for Liverpool this season and is clearly coming into his own. But will we see the same form under a different manager? We all know Jurgen Klopp is a miracle worker and he is bringing the best out of Jones – who could be sold for a tasty price.
Luton – Chiedozie Ogbene
Luton have been very savvy in the transfer market since gaining promotion to Our League. Ross Barkley could be a contender here but Ogbene has surprised many of us with his performances this season.
Mr. Lewis Oldham knew all about the former Rotherham man and now we are all in the gang. The 26-year-old has blistering pace, is dangerous in one-on-one situations with full-backs, and can be sold for pure profit having been signed for nothing.
Manchester City – Rico Lewis
Never going to happen, but it’s marginally more likely than City selling Phil Foden. And if they did, City could make an absolute fortune.
Lewis is a full England international, can play in defensive midfield, left-back and right-back, and is only 19 years of age. According to Transfermarkt, he is worth a tidy €38m. Transfermarkt is underselling him.
Selling Lewis will not see those 115 charges disappear, mind.
Manchester United – Marcus Rashford
It’s all going a little bit Pete Tong for Rashford at Manchester United, however much he tells us he is committed to his boyhood club.
If PSG are indeed prepared to offer £80million, United should take it. Shouldn’t they?
Newcastle – Sean Longstaff
It was a toss-up between Longstaff and Elliott Anderson, who will probably command a larger fee due to his age, but we like his potential in this Newcastle side.
Longstaff might not bring in the £30m+ Eddie Howe wants to reinvest, but his sale would certainly help and he is a player who has hit his peak under the former Bournemouth head coach. Newcastle should sell while his stock is high-ish.
Nottingham Forest – Ryan Yates
Yates has had a big role to play this season, but he is a rare opportunity to rake in pure profit in this Nottingham Forest squad.
He is a club hero having played a huge role in Forest’s long-awaited promotion back to the big time, so the departure would be a tough pill to swallow. But with the Premier League’s financial regulator breathing down their necks, the City Ground club might not have a choice.
Sheffield United – William Osula
The selling potential in the Blades’ squad is…low. In terms of pure profit, the Blades have Tom Davies – too expensive at free in the summer – and three youngsters.
Osula, Andre Brooks and Ollie Arblaster are likely to get opportunities to catch the eye between now and the end of the season with Chris Wilder seemingly fed up of some of his senior stars. The trio will likely enjoy higher status when United return to the Championship next season, but the Blades might be tempted to cash in on one, with all three tied down to long-term deals.
Tottenham – Oliver Skipp
If Spurs can get £10m for Harry Winks, they can surely get a little bit more for young Skippy, who has already thrived in the Championship on loan at Norwich.
Ange Postecoglou has spent a fair whack since walking through the door and despite his lack of midfield depth, Skipp is clearly the best choice for a hit of pure profit.
West Ham – Divin Mubama
The Hammers are very proud of their youth academy, but David Moyes’ squad is not full of impressive graduates. Mubama and Ben Johnson came through the ranks but both are out of contract at the end of the season. Johnson is almost certain to go; Mubama still might be convinced to renew. That’s the only way the Hammers will receive a profit of any sort for the centre-forward.
Wolves – Max Kilman
Selling your captain is very bold, even if it is to balance the books. This is a no-go but would bring in a massive fee for Gary O’Neil to find a replacement and improve his attack.
Kilman is not just Wolves’ skipper, but their best player. No wonder Napoli were so keen.
