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The 2017-18 season of the Indian Super League is almost upon us as the 17th November kick-off inches closer and closer. While the big attraction now is October's FIFA U-17 World Cup, ISL clubs are getting the preseason underway with one club, Bengaluru FC, already roughing it out in the AFC Cup's latter stages.
With the ISL's new, expanded format, there have been quite a few changes to the structures of every team and hence, we could see some well-known faces from past ISL campaigns strutting their stuff for some other club. With new head coaches - 9 out of the 10 clubs' head coaches will experience the ISL for the first time - changes in personnel were also expected and that is exactly what transpired after the end of the ISL transfer period on 12th September.
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While new entrants Jamshedpur FC focused on recruiting proven ISL performers of the past, a few other clubs would live to regret their decision of not retaining some of the big foreign names from the past seasons. That said, the retooled ISL is a new lease of life for most clubs and hence, starting with a clean slate was the approach that most clubs took.
Let us take a look at the top five ISL clubs who will see their former players plying their trade at other ISL clubs this coming season.
#6 FC Pune City - 1 player
FC Pune City have three proven ISL players in their foreign contingent this term but they will also see a familiar face in the colours of Delhi Dynamos. Nigerian forward Kalu Uche played for the Balewadi Stadium-based outfit during the 2015 edition of India's popular franchise league and he was signed by Delhi Dynamos earlier this summer.
The 34-year-old is an experienced head, but he no longer remains an attacking threat like the one La Liga fans witnessed during his time at Almeria, but Pune City will still have to keep a watch on the man who scored four times for the Stallions in ISL-2.
#5 Kerala Blasters - 1 player
What makes Kerala Blasters feature above Pune City is the fact that Uche played in the 2015 ISL, while Jamshedpur FC's Kervens Belfort was one of the most prominent attackers in the ISL only last season. Tata Steel's new club have recruited smartly this summer, and Belfort could be the signing of the summer.
Strong with the ball at his feet and also with his movement off the ball, Belfort was the Blasters' star performer on their road to the final last season. The Haitian scored three goals in 15 appearances but was a constant menace to opposing defences in 2016 and is expected to trouble the Kerala rearguard when the two clubs meet in the 2017-18 campaign.
#4 FC Goa - 2 players
FC Goa might be the most relaxed out of all the clubs on this list since Jonatan Lucca played for FC Pune City in 2016 and Trindade Goncalves made only one appearance last season. That said, the two players will turn out for Pune City and Jamshedpur respectively and will look to get one over their former employers when the teams go head to head in the 2017-18 season.
The Gaurs have signed a host of Spanish players which gives an idea of how they will play next season - distinctly different style - but both Lucca and Goncalves will be vital in providing inputs to their respective clubs when FC Goa come to town, or they head to Goa.
#3 NorthEast United - 3 players
The Highlanders have again undergone a complete revamp of personnel but retain the same Portuguese flavour they had last season with Nelo Vingada. Joao De Deus is their new head coach but it will be the Highlanders' faithful who will remember the likes of Andre Bikey, Emiliano Alfaro and Mailson Alves from previous seasons.
All three of the aforementioned players will ply their trade this season at other clubs, and it will be the loss of Alfaro to Pune City that will sting the most since the Uruguayan scored the most number of goals for the club last season. Bikey, too, was a rock at the back for the Highlanders two seasons ago, while Mailson has returned to Chennaiyin after a solid campaign in 2016.
#2 Delhi Dynamos - 3 players
The Lions will be among the clubs who will be hit the hardest if we look at the players that have moved on from the club to other franchises this term. ISL 2016 Golden Boot winner Marcelinho will wear Pune City's colours this term, while their metronomic midfield duo of Marcos Tebar and Memo has also switched allegiances over the summer.
Memo will turn out for Jamshedpur, while Tebar is Marcelinho's teammate at Pune City. Along with a host of star Indian performers like Anas Edathodika and Kean Lewis, the Lions could be left to rue their decision of letting go some of their more impressive performers from last season's squad. However, it remains to be seen how they fare with their new-look unit.
#1 ATK - 5 players
Champions ATK head this list with the most number of foreign players who previously played at the Kolkata-based outfit joining other ISL clubs this summer. Among the prominent names are Iain Hume and Sameehg Doutie - two stars in their title-winning campaign in 2016. Apart from the two forwards, defensive stalwarts Tiri and Henrique Sereno will turn out for other ISL clubs this season, while Jaime Gavilan - their 2015 star - will play in Chennaiyin's colours in 2017-18.
While the champions have recruited well, it remains to be seen whether their former players come back to bite them during the course of the 2017-18 season.
