In the first of a two-part series, JAMES SHIPLEE looks at the players who may be sold as Paul Lambert looks to trim down his squad ahead of the Premier League season
Since the season ended Paul Lambert has been working nonstop to bring in reinforcements to “help out” the current squad of players.
We`ve seen 6 of his stated 7 arrive with only 3 heading the other way; Matthew Gill and Jens Berthel Askou both featured rarely last year and Sam Habergham who unfortunately never made it from the academy.
Due to the 25-man squad rules in place in the Premier League there are likely to be a few heading through it soon so I thought I`d take a look at the players who are most likely to leave, who might be sold, who might leave on loan and my opinion on them.
Part One – The Transfers…
Steven Smith
The left back moved from Rangers on a free agent last summer but after recovering from his injury made a few sub appearances and then announced he couldn`t settle in the area.
During his loan spell at Aberdeen he seemed keen to stay up there, but since his expected pay-rise after the promotion he suddenly seems quite happy here.
I would be keen to see him leave soon; we have far better in the shape of Marc Tierney and Adam Drury.
Luke Daley
Never really featured for the first team but when he did he showed a good amount of pace but not much else.
A run of games may have helped in develop but he couldn`t even get more than two substitute appearances at, then League Two, Stevenage on their run to promotion.
He`s currently on trial at League Two Plymouth Argyle although is still contracted to the club.
Stephen Hughes
Didn`t feature much in the Championship but didn`t look too bad in his few games in League One. Was sent out on loan in the latter part of last season and made 6 appearances for MK Dons.
There has been talk of him returning to Scotland but not much has been mentioned since. Very likely to move on.
Owain Tudur Jones
I can only recall seeing the lad play once and when he did he scored an own goal! I had high hopes for him when he signed in 2009 but was clearly not part of Lambert`s plans and hasn`t played much since.
He was sent out on loan to Brentford and made 6 appearances, and I would be very surprised to see him here at the end of the transfer window.
Simon Lappin
A player I have great admiration and respect for. He bided his time during the Roeder era, training with the youth team for over a year but didn`t moan and came back to be an integral part of the League One winning season.
Has shown fantastic professionalism and is an ideal role model for young players, however his chances were limited towards the end of the season with Surman returning to fitness and now with Elliott Bennett and Anthony Pilkington being brought in I doubt he will feature often in the Premier League.
Lappin may be sold so that he can get some first team football although he did sign a new contract in February of this year so Lambert may still have a role for him. I`d love to see him stay, especially so he can get that next goal he`s still after!
Aaron Wilbraham
Brought in as a backup for Grant Holt in my opinion and was starting to get better up until his back injury in February.
With nine strikers on the books is very unlikely to play and I think was brought in as a cheap cover player to get us over the finish line in the Championship. Likely to be sold or released.
Oli Johnson
Looked like a great player on his debut at Carrow Road and scored two vital goals against Southend in the League One season but didn`t feature at all last season and was sent out on loan in the second half.
I just can`t see him making a Championship side this season let alone a Premier League one, and think the best thing for him to would be to move on and join a League One or League Two club where he could thrive.
Anthony McNamee
An impact player but that`s all. With the addition of Bennett and Pilks he`s not likely to make the bench let alone feature in the starting eleven.
Didn`t show too much at Championship level and will probably be sold to a League one or low standard Championship side.
Part Two – The Loans and the Undecided, will be published tomorrow.
You can follow James on Twitter via @James_Shiplee
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