da bet esporte： The English national team has several players who are approaching a career crossroads and have a big decision to make this summer.
da bet nacional： The Three Lions have plenty of starting spots up for grabs with the 2018 World Cup right around the corner, so playing time is now at the forefront of several players’ minds.
Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave captain and all-time leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney out of his latest England squad signifies a generational transition.
Gone is the era of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, which leaves the door open for players such as Dele Alli and Harry Kane to establish themselves at international level, but they aren’t the only players looking to become a hero in Russia.
Although Rooney is almost sure to leave Manchester United this summer, he’s not the only English attacker that is likely heading for their club’s exit.
Here are four English attackers that could greatly benefit from a summer move…
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
The only player of this group that got called up to the latest squad, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has always been flush with talent but has never stayed in the Arsenal starting XI long enough to establish some consistency.
The winger is still only 23-years-old so to say he is in a do-or-die situation would be a little over the top, but he certainly has some things to think about this summer.
Of his 29 league appearances this past season, he only played the full 90 minutes five times and was substituted on 13 times. Oxlade-Chamberlain has never been expected to score 20 goals in a season, but only six goals across all competitions this past season is his Arsenal career-high.
Although he appears set to reject Liverpool to stay with the Gunners, another good option would be a move back to boyhood club Southampton. He would be a sure-fire starter for the Saints and be able to pick up the consistent game time that he has lacked thus far in his career. Oxlade-Chamberlain will surely have an eye on any Arsenal transfer rumours that could affect his role.
ROSS BARKLEY
The Everton youth product has only one year remaining on his contract and is less likely to stay with his boyhood club with each passing day.
Ross Barkley burst onto the scene with a six-goal 2013-14 campaign that drew the attention of Premier League elites like Manchester City and Chelsea and has continued to develop, albeit at a slower pace than most predicted.
The 23-year old attacking midfielder has scored 13 league goals across the past two seasons while missing only two games. Being a good English player, Barkley is very valuable to the Premier League’s top-six and a move for European football seems to be his next career move.
Barkely has only played five Europa League games in his career and if he wishes to establish himself as an England international and Premier League star, he can no longer stay with Everton.
DANIEL STURRIDGE
The 27-year-old forward has had an interesting career path, playing for three of last season’s top four Premier League clubs but also spending plenty of time on the sidelines.
Daniel Sturridge has missed a combined 68 games due to injury in the past three seasons after his extraordinary 2013-14, when his 21 Premier League goals was second in the league only to then-teammate Luis Suarez’s 31.
The left-footed forward is now battling for minutes with Divock Origi, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and youngster Ben Woodburn, so it will be difficult for the Englishman to impress Jurgen Klopp.
Sturridge’s talent is undeniable but with younger and healthier options to choose from, the Manchester City youth product should probably seek a move elsewhere.
ANDROS TOWNSEND
It has been only about three-and-a-half years since Andros Townsend scored on his England debut, but his inability to be consistent has made that day seem like a lifetime ago.
After nine loan moves, the left-footed winger finally earned playing time with parent club Tottenham but only played a first team role for two seasons.
After appearing in only seven games in the first half of the 2015-16 season, Townsend was sold to Newcastle where he scored four times in 13 appearances but couldn’t keep the Magpies in the Premier League. He moved to Crystal Palace last summer and played in a career-high 40 games across all competitions but scored only three times.
The 25-year old didn’t struggle for playing time with the Eagles, playing in 36 league games, but he hasn’t been called up to the England squad in 2017 due to his inconsistency.
He was linked with a return to Newcastle, a move that could greatly benefit both Townsend and manager Rafael Benitez as the Spaniard prepares for the Toons Premier League return.