Which five players should have moved to the Premier League? Robert Lewandowski and Ronaldinho make the grade on It’s All Kicking Off… but there’s no room for Lionel Messi!

In recent weeks, transfer talk has been dominated by France star Kylian Mbappe.  

The French superstar has been chased by Real Madrid for years and rumours he could join intensified after informing PSG he would be leaving in the summer. 

Following his decision, rumours have also begun circulating that suggest Mbappe could make a move to the Premier League with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal interested.

However, given Madrid’s long-standing interest in the forward, it appears England’s top flight is going to miss out on seeing the star week-in, week-out.

In light of this, Mail Sport’s Dominic King has given a list of the five players he wished had made the move to the Premier League. 

It’s All Kicking Off guest Dominic King named the five players he wished played in England

Speaking on the latest episode of It’s All Kicking Off, King said: ‘So I want to talk about the five players that I wish had come to the Premier League.

‘Number five, Gabriel Batistuta. Could have signed for Ipswich in 1994. Wouldn’t it have been brilliant to see?

‘Number four, Robert Lewandowski. Could have signed for Blackburn. Was on his way to see Sam Allardyce, but the ash cloud and the volcano stopped him flying from Poland.

‘He couldn’t come over, and the rest is history. Ended up staying in Germany, and so he stayed in Poland, went to Borussia Dortmund, and we know what happened next.

‘Number three, Ronaldinho. 2003, when David Beckham left Manchester United to go to Real Madrid, he had a choice between PSG and Manchester United. 

‘Number two, Paolo Maldini. The greatest defender of all time. Alex Ferguson wanted to sign him. What a fantastic thing that would have been to see Paolo Maldini in our league. 

King named striker Robert Lewandowski (L) and playmaker Ronaldinho in his top five list

Former AC Milan defender Paulo Maldini also made his way onto King’s top five list

‘Number one, last but not least, Zinedine Zidane. Could have signed for Blackburn,’ claimed King. 

His co-host, former Blackburn player Chris Sutton then interjected: ‘He wouldn’t have gotten in the team!’.

King jokingly then replied: ‘No, because you had Tim Sherwood!’ 

He then continued: ‘I don’t know whether, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have distorted things so much that we don’t appreciate what a genius he was. 

‘He could do everything. He’s a good chap. Balletic, powerful, scored goals, pass, just every time you watched him he just mesmerised you’. 

Former Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane – who nearled joined Blackburn – topped the list 

King claimed that he left Lionel Messi off the list as he never wanted the star to leave Barcelona

Sutton then chimed in again to question why seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi failed to make the list, despite never playing in England. 

King then responded: ‘I absolutely adore Lionel Messi. And the reason I never put him in this top five is this. I never ever wanted him to leave Barcelona’.

I wanted him to stay at Barcelona forever. And I think seeing him in the PSG kit, seeing him in the Inter Miami kit, I just don’t think it looks right. 

‘I don’t think it would have looked right seeing him in an English kit.’