5 Teams Tom Cleverley May Join

 

After a stop-start career at Old Trafford, it looks likely that midfielder Tom Cleverley will be deemed surplus to requirements under Louis Van Gaal.

However he will have suitors amongst many Premier League teams and The Sports Lowdown take a look at where he could end up next season.

1. Aston Villa

Having just spent the season on loan at Villa Park, Tim Sherwood’s side could be at the head of the que for the England international who is hoping re-ignite his international credentials.

Cleverley had a steady season despite Villa’s troubles at the wrong end of the table and was one of their successes in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

Villa need a few players and with Christian Benteke likely to leave for big money, Sherwood may have the money to splash on the midfielder as well as others as he looks to rebuild the Birmingham club.

2. Everton

Toffee’s boss Roberto Martinez is a known admirer of Cleverley and tried to lure him to Goodison last season. They are reportedly interested again and Cleverley could be rejuvenated under Martinez who is still intent on playing his attractive style of football.

Everton had a less than stellar season themselves and look likely to shake their squad up somewhat in the summer. Cleverley would be a shrewd purchase for the Toffee’s and perhaps offers the best opportunity for the midfielder to break back into the England squad.

3. Leicester City 

A former loanee at the King Power Stadium under current boss Nigel Pearson, after the Foxes dramatic Premier League survival they will be looking to strengthen heading into the new season and with the uncertainty surrounding Esteban Cambiasso and the long-term injury to Matty James, Cleverley could well be in the mind of Leicester fans.

Cleverley knows the club well and the style and management of Pearson and would be an important buy as Leicester look to return to past glories of top 10 Premier League football.

As mentioned, it will rely on whether Cambiasso signs on for another year with Leicester and if he does it is unlikely that Cleverley will want to play second fiddle to the Argentinian legend.

4. Newcastle United

If ever a club needs clearing out and starting again its Newcastle United. Cleverley could play a central role in the rebuilding of the St James’s Park club with a new manager likely to come in and have a clean slate with some cash to work with.

Cleverley could become a Geordie hero, and also offers a better chance than other places for the midfielder to press his claims for an England recall. The Newcastle faithful have been through the mill in recent seasons and the loss of manager Alan Pardew has affected them more than they realised it would.

Whoever comes in, with both Steve McLaren and Patrick Vieira linked with the role, will need Mike Ashley’s backing and Cleverley is the box to box midfielder they need that could see a resurgence in the North-East.

5. West Ham

Another side who are in managerial turmoil at the moment after the departure of Sam Allardyce. However a midfield that includes both Mark Noble and Stewart Downing could be an exciting prospect for the Hammers as they look to move into the Olympic Stadium in the coming seasons.

Again it will depend on the type of football the new manager will want to play. There had been hopes of luring Rafa Benitez back to the Premier League but he looks likely to get the top job at Real Madrid and so the Hammers could get former player Slaven Bilic in after he recently left Besiktas in Turkey.

Whoever it is could do no worse than to pick up a player of Cleverley’s caliber and a move to London May appeal to the midfielder as he reaches his peak years in the game, and with a talented squad in need of a couple of players to move them onto the next level, Cleverley could be their man.