Charlie Adam to Liverpool? Scott Parker to Tottenham? Five relegated players who could return to the Premier League this summer

ANALYSIS
By Greg Stobart & Wayne Veysey

With the curtain drawn on the 2010-11 Premier League season, England’s elite league clubs are already casting their eyes on the squads of the sides bowing out of the top flight.

Birmingham City, Blackpool and West Ham will be playing Championship football next season, but as the clubs prepare to tighten the purse strings ahead of the drop, they could be forced into parting with their prized assets ahead of a season in the second tier.

Goal.com brings you a special guide on the players whose top flight omission is likely to be minimal, and the clubs interested in securing their swift return to the Premier League.

The Blackpool captain is certain to leave Bloomfield Road in the summer after catching the eye this season with consistently excellent performances for the relegated side.

It shows just how much Adam has impressed that Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are the clubs most strongly linked with his signature.

The central midfielder, 25, scored 12 Premier League goals for Ian Holloway’s side and was the talisman for the Tangerines with his driving runs and passing ability.

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Adam’s corners alone are worth £10 million, but the Scot should be available for around half that price following Blackpool’s relegation – and Holloway has accepted he will lose his star man.

Agreeing personal terms will not be a problem as Adam – who was priced out of a dream move to Liverpool in January – earns just £12,000-a-week at Bloomfield Road. That salary would actually be halved were he to stay at Blackpool in the Championship.

It is not a matter of if the Senegalese striker leaves relegated West Ham this summer, but where he goes.

Sunderland and Newcastle lead the chase for Ba, who scored seven goals in the Hammers’ ultimately vain bid to retain their top tier status following a January switch from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim.

Controversy tends to stalk the 26-year-old. A move to Stoke City fell through during the winter window and West Ham have now made an official complaint to the Premier League that Sunderland have made an illegal approach for the player.

He is not short of admirers after adapting rapidly to English football and his current employers have reportedly offered to double his wages to help fire them back into the Premier League.

Ba has said he is keeping his options open. With three years remaining on his contract, it will cost around £7-8m to tempt West Ham to sell.

The vultures will be circling around St Andrew’s following Birmingham’s relegation – and Foster will be one of the most in-demand players.

For so long Foster was touted as a goalkeeper with great potential but only this season, at the age of 28, has he begun to live up to the hype that surrounded him when he was a youngster at Manchester United.

Foster cost Birmingham £6m last summer but the Blues are believed to be in serious financial trouble and may struggle to make their money back, even though his reputation has been enhanced.

City rivals Aston Villa are believed to be leading the race for the former England international, with Brad Friedel out of contract and expected to join either Tottenham or Liverpool on a free transfer.

Tottenham are themselves monitoring Foster’s situation while West Brom have also been linked as they look for a goalkeeper who can command the defence and also make excellent reaction saves.

Harry Redknapp has been openly fluttering his eyelashes at the Football Writers’ player of the year but that does not mean he will be wearing a Tottenham shirt on the opening day of next season.

There is concern in the White Hart Lane boardroom as to whether Parker represents good value, given his age – he turns 31 in October – wage demands of around £70,000-a-week and transfer fee.

However, Redknapp is a big admirer of Parker’s midfield screening qualities and believes his experience and availability make him an excellent short and medium term option. The West Ham man was the subject of an £8m bid from Spurs last summer and a further approach in January.

Redknapp has claimed that Arsenal and Liverpool are also pursuing the England international, although the Champions League calibre clubs will all have to free up some space in their midfields if they are to lure Parker.

As sensational as Adam was for Blackpool, it was his midfield partner who was voted as the club’s player of the year by the fans who saw him every week.

Vaughan is out of contract and is attracting serious interest from Sunderland, Everton and West Brom following his highly impressive displays for Blackpool.

There have even been suggestions that the Wales international has already agreed a three-year contract to join Sunderland on a free transfer.

Vaughan, 28, cost Blackpool £200,000 when he signed from Real Sociedad in 2008 and has finally fulfilled his potential at Bloomfield Road, proving he has what it takes to perform in the Premier League.

He suggested he is ready to move on following Blackpool’s relegation last Sunday, saying: “I don’t know what the future holds just yet but if I do go somewhere else I will take away nothing but happy memories.”