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Yohan Cabaye recently completed a move to Crystal Palace. He was previously playing for Newcastle in the Premier League before making the move to French champions, PSG in January 2014.
It was a good move for him - he'd be playing with better players, in the Champions League and winning trophies. However, he was never really a fixture in the starting eleven and struggled for game time. Inevitably, he lost his place in the France team.
And so, he moved back to the Premier League, but not for a team in the top six but for Crystal Palace. It was certainly a step below but all for the right reasons. Constant game time at a team where he'd be valued and is arguably their best player already. Cabaye may have stagnated in the last year but we'll truly see the best of him soon. Likewise, there are many other players who need a move from their current clubs for their own good. Here are three of them.
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Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is arguably in the top three best pure forwards in world football. His scoring record says it all: 22 goals this past season, 24 in 2013/2014, 20 in 2012/2013, 32 in 2011/2012 and 26 in 2010/2011.
Benzema has guaranteed a minimum of 20 goals each season since 2010/2011 and he's only 27-years-old, a few years away from the usual age of a striker in his prime.
The thing is though, that he could be scoring even more, if he left Real Madrid. The reason why he's so vital for Madrid is because not only is he a top striker, but he also compliments Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale so well. The duo are above him in importance so Benzema has to sacrifice playing to his full level in order to support them.
This is a huge shame because Benzema could easily be the best striker in world football if he played in a team that was built around him or at least, a team that had him as his spearhead.
He's been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal in recent years, and while they're step downs from Madrid (although not by much), he'd be better suited there. After all, he's won everything there is to win with Real Madrid anyway.
Juan Cuadrado - Chelsea
If you watched the World Cup, you were probably thrilled by Colombia's performances as they reached the quarterfinals in Brazil. One player aside from James Rodriguez who stood out was Juan Cuadrado.
Playing for Fiorentina at the time, Cuadrado was another Colombian who was playing well (and those performances weren't even half of what he usually did in Serie A) which led to interest from many clubs.
He'd eventually leave for Chelsea in the 2015 January transfer window, but as a replacement for the departing Andre Schurrle. The problem was, the German was a substitute and wanted game time.
So basically, Cuadrado left a team where he was the star to replace a substitute. And whenever he did feature for Chelsea (mostly off the bench), he's just looked clueless and out of place with not a single goal or assist to his name since.
He's been rumored to leave the Blues already and despite joining a few months ago, it'd be much better for his career if he did that. It doesn't look like he'll be a starter for Chelsea in the near future at all with the trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian, and he is too talented to be a backup player.
Mario Gotze - Bayern Munich
It's been a mixed few years for Mario Gotze. He broke out as the next big talent with his performances for Borussia Dortmund, helping them win two consecutive Bundesliga titles.
However, he went on to sign for rivals Bayern Munich - in a German record transfer deal - and had a mixed first season as while he won a couple of trophies, he didn't perform even close to the level he was showing at Dortmund.
But then the World Cup came where Gotze famously scored the winner in extra time to etch himself in German folklore. Things should have been looking up since but quite frankly, haven't. He had another mixed year where despite injuries to Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, he has failed to consolidate his place in the team.
He was even voted the second worst player in the Bundesliga by his fellow peers.
The talent is quite clearly there but for it to be utilized, Gotze needs a change of scenery and should go to a team which would build their side around Gotze rather than him being a luxury backup option like he is in Munich.
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