THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN!

WHEN is a Premier League player not a Premier League player? When nobody in the Premier League will offer them a contract

Any aspirations of top-flight football are fading fast for players released by England’s top 20 clubs this summer.

Most sides have too many bodies to pack into their permitted 25-man squad, meaning free agents will need to look elsewhere for employment.

For some, that means the riches of Saudi Arabia. For others, a new life in the MLS. But for those who wish to remain in Blighty, the EFL is where it’s at. Here are seven former Premier League players currently out of contract who could be tempted by an offer…

LYLE TAYLOR FORWARD AGE: 33

Taylor’s availability is something of a surprise. Having failed to secure a move away from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2022, the rangy striker’s contract expired in May and a scramble for his signature was widely anticipated.

Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Rotherham were all credited with an interest but, four months on, Taylor is still on the market.

At 33, age is certainly a factor. So, too, is inactivity. Taylor’s last competitive game came on loan at Birmingham on the final day of the 2021-22 season, meaning he has not kicked a ball in anger for almost a year and a half.

What Taylor does have is a proven track record in the EFL, especially in League One where he scored 21 goals in 41 games for Charlton in 2018-19. The third tier is Tayor’s most likely destination but, if his salary demands are reasonable, a supporting role at a Championship club is not out of the question.

LUKE FREEMAN MIDFIELDER AGE: 31

Lady Luck has not been in Freeman’s corner over the last four years. Since joining Sheffield United in a £5m switch from QPR following the Blades’ promotion to the Premier League, the 31-year-old has endured four surgeries in as many years.