In the most open Premier League campaign in recent times, the league has yet again proven why it’s regarded as one of the most exciting leagues in the world. Surprise packages in the form of Norwich, Newcastle and Swansea have defied ‘certainties’ of the league. Due to the marvelous feats of these teams, there is bound to be a lot of interest in their eminent players when the transfer window re-opens this August.

In this speculative article, I have outlined ten players who have impressed this year and to whom they would be suited if they made the step up to a bigger Premier League side. It is hard to not consider Newcastle a top team at the moment given their current form, but their players make the list due to the financial spending power of other teams in the league (including American-backed under-performers Liverpool).

Here is the top 10 Premier League targets

1. Cheick Tioté (Newcastle United)

Reminiscent of a raw Michael Essien, Tioté has a wealth of ability on the ball, as well as a great deal of close control that has seen him become the driving force of a Newcastle midfield unit that has propelled the club into contention for UEFA Champions League qualification. Due to his strength, imposing figure and vigour going forward, Tioté has garnered comparisons with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira. Coupling power and composure, Tioté would undoubtedly add a depth to the midfield’s of any of the top clubs. Despite signing a 6-year deal in February 2011, Newcastle has a fight on their hands if they are to keep their midfield powerhouse at the club with Chelsea looking to Tioté as a long-term replacement for their aging midfielders.

Ideal Suitors: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United.

2. Papiss Demba Cissé (Newcastle United)

Signed in the January 2012 transfer window, Papiss Cissé is another prime example of Alan Pardew’s attacking unit at Newcastle. Signing for a fee believed to be around the £10 million region, Cissé has already paid back a large portion of his transfer fee having notched up a phenomenal 10 goals in his first 9 appearances for Newcastle. Whether or not Cissé can maintain this run of form is yet to be seen, though his overall team performances and a phenomenal goal against Swansea City prove Cissé definitely has a great degree of talent. A prolific goalscorer by trade, Cissé would bolster any of the top teams’ front-lines. Due to his likeness to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Cissé is a perfect foil for Robin Van Persie and would add a different option to Arsenal’s attack. Cissé would also do a fantastic job for Manchester United, who are in desperate need of a goal-scoring striker to partner Wayne Rooney up front after a downturn in form by Javier Hernandez and uninspiring performances by Danny Welbeck.

Ideal Suitors: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United.

3. Demba Ba (Newcastle United)

It would be easy to fill the list with Newcastle players given their outstanding campaign this year, but Demba Ba is the final Newcastle player to make the list. Despite the performances of Cabaye, Coloccini and Ben Arfa, Ba makes the list due to his efforts in front of goal and his consistent form throughout the season. Netting 16 goals in 29 appearances for Newcastle this season, Demba Ba has proved his doubters wrong and due to the inclusion of a buy-out clause in his contract (suggested to be around the £8 million fee), top teams in the league have been alerted to his availability. Ba would provide any of the top times with good cover at a bargain price. With uncertainty over the futures of Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba at Chelsea, and Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe at Tottenham Hotspur, Ba could provide a great first-team option at either club.

Ideal Suitors: Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur.

4. James McClean (Sunderland)

Flourishing under the tutelage of Martin O’Neill, Sunderland left winger James McClean has made a storming impact on the FA Premier League scoring 4 goals and assisting 5 times from the left-hand side. McClean was frozen out under Steve Bruce subsequent to his summer 2011 arrival at Sunderland, but was identified as a key feature of the squad by new manager O’Neill after seeing him perform in the reserves. McClean has repaid O’Neill’s faith with a series of striking performances, culminating in a fantastic performance at home against Queens Park Rangers that saw McClean play a part in every goal, scoring one himself. It is clear that McClean has excellent technique when it comes to striking a football and a powerful attacking drive that is sure to interest top teams. Due to Liverpool’s weakness on the wings, McClean would supply with a technique missing from the wide-men (excluding Craig Bellamy) at the moment and given recent rumours that Dirk Kuyt will depart Anfield in the summer, McClean would prove a proficient replacement. Unfortunately, McClean would command a high fee given his recent contract extension to 2015.

Ideal Suitors: Liverpool.

5. Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic)

Despite his small stature, Victor Moses is a powerhouse down the flank for Wigan Athletic, filling the hole left by Charles N’Zogbia after his transfer to Aston Villa. The only downside with Victor Moses is his profligacy in front of goal, evinced by his shot completion rate; scoring only 4 goals from 73 shots. It is this wastefulness that is shared by fellow Wigan players which has resulted in the club becoming embroiled in a relegation battle that could have been avoided. Previous interest in Moses is evidenced by Moses’ apparent shun of overtures from the big clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, before his transfer to Wigan from Crystal Palace. Should Wigan get relegated, Moses would be a better option for the bigger clubs than the equally impressive Nathan Dyer of Swansea City due to his greater top-flight experience and availability at a cut down price.

Ideal Suitors: Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur.

6. Anthony Pilkington (Norwich City)

Signed by Paul Lambert in the summer 2011 transfer window for £2 million (£3 million with add-ons), Anthony Pilkington has been nothing short of a revelation since moving to Norwich netting 8 times for the Canaries this season. Pilkington’s record is only hindered by his assist record, having only once aided a fellow player, though he has created frequent chances from the wing this season. With Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson’s disappointing debut seasons at Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish must be lamenting what he could have had for a fraction of Downing/Henderson’s hefty £40 million combined transfer fee. Pilkington’s ability out wide would provide another option and strength in depth to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur’s wings.

Ideal Suitors: Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.

7. Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers)

The young Scottish centre-back has impressed following a string of excellent performances in what has been his break-out season at Ewood Park. Filling the gap left by Phil Jones following his transfer to Manchester United, Hanley has aided the Blackburn backline in their campaign against relegation with a string of fantastic defensive efforts, as well as scoring a goal to boost. It is understood that Hanley recently turn the eye of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson during Blackburn’s performance against the Champions. Now, whispers on the terrace suggest that Hanley could be in line to join former teammate Jones at United in the summer. Arsenal’s defence has been scrutinized for its frailty and as more and more reports suggest Wenger is prepared to spend in the transfer window, Hanley appears to fit the bill perfectly.

Ideal Suitors: Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.

8. Michel Vorm (Swansea City)

The only goalkeeper to make the list is Swansea City’s Dutch stopper Michel Vorm. Vorm has kept 12 clean sheets this season and produced a number of exceptional saves, which has seen the Liberty Stadium become a fortress for Swansea, who have only lost 4 times at home this season; a remarkable record for a newly promoted team shared with Norwich City. Notably, Vorm has caught 62% of all shots he has saved this season. Short of a blunder caused by miscommunication at the Emirates Stadium, Vorm has surely had an almost perfect season that has seen him gain praise from fans and pundits alike. With uncertainty as to how long Brad Friedel can continue to perform at the highest level of English football, Michel Vorm would provide Spurs with an adequate replacement should the club decide to offload the American goalkeeper in the summer.

Ideal Suitors: Tottenham Hotspur.

9. Clint Dempsey (Fulham)

The USA international and last year’s Fulham Player of the Year has yet again amazed for The Cottagers. In his most prolific season in English football to date, the ever-present Dempsey has netted 16 times and becoming the first American to score a hat-trick in the FA Premier League. His relentless performances and goalscoring prowess have led to Fulham manager Martin Jol publicly begging his tireless midfielder to stay, with Dempsey understood to be mulling over a 3-year contract extension. Dempsey is thought to want UEFA Champions League football as he comes into the prime of his career and having been frequently linked with Arsenal, the North-London team could provide the perfect outlet for Dempsey to showcase his skill.

Ideal Suitors: Arsenal.

10. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City – On loan from Hoffenheim)

Another player to have made an instant impact on the Premier League since his loan to Swansea City in the January transfer window, Gylfi Sigurdsson just makes the list. Earmarked as the next Frank Lampard, Sigurdsson has added an astonishing drive to Swansea’s central midfield, scoring 6 goals in 13 games for the South Wales club, as well as aiding the team’s output with 3 assists. Due to his attacking momentum, Sigurdsson could be seen as an ideal replacement for the older elements of Chelsea’s midfield or a provider of the creative spark that has been lacking in Manchester United’s midfield for years. Sigurdsson appears to have the killer instinct going forward that Henderson and Adam have failed to deliver at Liverpool. Alternatively, Sigurdsson could be a cost-effective alternative to Clint Dempsey should Arsenal miss out on the signature of the American.

Ideal Suitors: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United.

Ten honorable mentions:

• Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa)
• Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
• Magaye Gueye (Everton)
• Kerim Frei (Fulham)
• Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United)
• Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United)
• Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United)
• Sebastien Larsson (Sunderland)
• Scott Sinclair (Swansea City)
• Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion).

What are your thoughts? Could a player from your club make this list? Should lower-placing teams hold the bigger teams to ransom in the summer transfer window?

His technique is exquisite. His movement is terrific. His vision is breathtaking. His quality is unquestionable.

He is 22 years of age. He is one of the Bundesliga’s hottest properties. His name is Marco Reus, and he is the latest star to emerge from German football.

After a blistering start to the season, Reus has been thrust into the spotlight, and many top clubs around Europe have taken notice of his fine performances. The Monchengladbach midfielder has started this Bundesliga campaign on fire, and shows no signs of cooling off any time soon. The youngster has scored seven goals in the opening 12 games of this season, including three braces against Hannover, Hertha, and Wolfsburg. His form as earned him numerous call-ups to the Germany squad, but because of injuries, he was only able to make his debut this month. If the midfielder can stay fit, he will be a fixture in the national set-up for a long time.

Born in Dortmund, Reus began playing for Post SV Dortmund in 1995, before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2003. He left for the U-19 of Rot Weiss Ahlen in the summer of 2006, and after breaking into the first team the following year, he helped the third division side earn promotion to 2. Bundesliga. His breakthrough season came in 2008-09, scoring four goals and appearing in 27 games, earning himself a move to Gladbach in May of 2009.

Gladbach were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2008, but the club found themselves in danger towards the end of last season. A horrific start almost saw Gladbach relegated. Then manager Michael Frontzeck led the club to a dismal 16 points from a possible 66, and was relieved of his duties in February after a loss to St. Pauli. The appointment of Swiss tactician Lucien Favre proved to be an inspired move. With a revitalized squad, Gladbach pushed for survival. In front of a watertight defense, the stage was set for Reus to become the hero. His performances helped Gladbach to six wins in the eleven matches with Favre at the helm, and his goal in the return leg of play-off final with Bochum kept Die Fohlen in the Bundesliga.

While saving his club from relegation, he may have also prevented himself from being sold. Had Gladbach dropped through the trapdoor and 2. Bundesliga, the club may have been forced to sell. With a number of clubs ready to pounce, Reus could have been playing in the Champions League this season.

If Gladbach and Reus can continue in the form that they have been showing so far this season, Europe isn’t out of the question. They sit fourth in the table, even on points with Dortmund and Werder Bremen, and trail leaders Bayern Munich by five points. They have conceded nine goals, scored 15, and have earned impressive wins over Bayern and Wolfsburg in the process. Favre’s team plays with high pressure, forcing their opponents into making mistakes, which Reus and company look to exploit.

A number of questions remain, however. Will Gladbach be able to continue their fine form through the rest of the season? Will Reus maintain his level of performance? Will he stay fit? Will he remain a Gladbach player for long?

Naturally, a number of clubs are interested in acquiring the services of the German international. In the Bundesliga, Bayern and Dortmund look to be leading the chase.  Bayern’s Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has called him “an interesting player”, while Dortmund’s Michael Zorc has admitted that the club should have pursued a deal in the summer.

Abroad, Reus has caught the attention of both Manchester City and Arsenal. City’s technical director Mike Rigg has confirmed that they are interested in the prospect of bringing the German to the Etihad Stadium, and with the unlimited funds at their disposal, Manchester could be a likely destination. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was given a glowing recommendation of the player by his former goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann. Wenger will undoubtedly have had his eye on Reus for quite some time, but may be tempted to finally make a move for the player in January.

Many are unsure if now would be the right time for Reus to move on. Whether it is to another Bundesliga club or to a side in the Premier League, the jury is still out as to whether he is ready to make the step up. A number of young German stars have tried and failed at Bayern, and European footballers have always found adjusting to life in England’s top flight very difficult. While there is no dispute as to his ability on the pitch, the best place for Reus at the moment is believed to be with Gladbach.

Of course, Lucien Favre will be in no mood to lose his star man. Reus has almost single-handedly won games on his own this season, and he is the main reason that Gladbach are currently pushing for a place in Europe. His contract runs out in 2015, but the buy-out clause in his contract takes effect in 2012, and interest in the player grows after every match.

Next up for Gladbach is the visit of Werder Bremen this weekend. The side currently sits third in the table and have enjoyed a good start to the season after a disappointing finish to the last campaign. All signs point to an enthralling encounter, and Werder will know who they will need to keep quiet in order to get a result. If not, another brilliant performance from Reus could see Gladbach win all three points and third spot in the Bundesliga.

After a humiliating 8-1 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich last weekend, FC St. Pauli’s drop to the second tier of German football was confirmed. A horrid run of ten games has seen the club gain only a single point, and any hopes of a miracle escape were crushed by the rampant Bavarians. The Pirates of the League have enjoyed a brief yet entertaining stay in Germany’s top flight (and were outside favourites in online betting to survive at the start of the season). Now that one automatic relegation place has found a suitor, there is one more to be filled, in addition to the play-off place. Three clubs find themselves in danger of occupying these two spots by the time the final whistle blows on this weekend’s round of matches. The players and supporters of VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Eintracht Frankfurt have a nervous week of waiting ahead, a week that could ultimately end in disaster.

Last weekend, only Monchengladbach were able to add to their points total and improve their chances of staying in the top flight. A well-earned 2-0 win over Freiburg was their third on the bounce, and helped them leapfrog Frankfurt out of an automatic relegation place and into the play-off spot. Die Fohlen suffered a dreadful start to the season. Manager at the time Michael Frontzeck led the club to a dismal 16 points from a possible 66, and was relieved of his duties in February after the loss to St. Pauli. The appointment of Swiss tactician Lucien Favre has proved to be an inspired move. The manager has lifted the squad from the foot of the table, earning six wins in his eleven matches at the helm. The brilliance of midfielder Marco Reus and a watertight defense have proved crucial to Monchengladbach in the last three weeks. With a trip to Hamburg ahead of them on the final day, Monchengladbach will need to continue their fine run of form to avoid the automatic drop and at least earn the play-off spot.

Champions in 2009, no one would have expected VfL Wolfsburg to fall as fast as they have. Early signs showed promise. The arrival of manager Steve McClaren from Dutch champions FC Twente, as well a return to the Bundesliga for Brazilian star Diego, had Wolfsburg supporters excited in expectation. The club had also been able to secure the services of in-demand striker Edin Dzeko for a while longer. After three losses to begin the season, the club found good form and rose to sixth in the table, then ahead of struggling giants Bayern and Schalke. However, this was as good as it got. A strange stretch of seven straight draws and one win was followed by four consecutive losses. Dzeko left for Manchester City in January, and after being shown the board’s support in December, McClaren was fired in February. Felix Magath, who had been sacked from Schalke less than 24 hours earlier, took charge at the Volkswagon Arena. After earning nine points from seven matches under his watch, Wolfsburg find themselves out of the relegation zone, but on goal difference only. They are away at ninth-placed Hoffenheim on the final day. They will hope to maintain their top flight status so that they may begin to rebuild their squad and fight for the title next season.

It is difficult to find a word to describe Eintracht Frankfurt’s season since the winter break. After ending the first half of the season within striking range of a Europa League spot, Frankfurt have only gained eight points from their last 16 games. As if it could not get any worse, they have only scored six goals since the turn of the year. The club is the league’s lowest scoring side with 30, 16 of which have come from Greek striker Theofanis Gekas and only 14 from the rest of the squad. It is no wonder that they find themselves in such a horrible position going in to the final day. After a horrible run of form, the club parted ways with manager Michael Skibbe after the win over St. Pauli back in March, Frankfurt’s only win of 2011. Skibbe was replaced by the controversial Christoph Daum. Under Daum, Frankfurt have not shown great improvement. After earning only three points from his six games in charge, Frankfurt sit in the second automatic relegation place, a point behind both Wolfsburg and Monchengladbach. As if Frankfurt’s situation was not difficult enough, they travel to the Westfalenstadion on the final day to take on Borussia Dortmund. The newly crowned champions will want to win their final game in front of their supporters before they collect their medals and lift the trophy. With the odds stacked against them, Frankfurt need to find a way to crash Dortmund’s Black and Yellow party and avoid the drop.

With all three of the relegation-threatened sides playing away from home in the final round of the Bundesliga season, anything can happen. Frankfurt, in their current form, are the favorites to be relegated automatically. The fight for safety between Wolfsburg and Monchengladbach will be important, as both sides will know that a spot in the play-off does not guarantee them a spot in the Bundesliga next season. It is difficult to see any change at the bottom of the table after all is said and done, but this league is unpredictable, and stranger things have certainly happened before.