There are big clubs all over Europe with cash to spend this summer and they are all looking to get themselves an advantage next season. Take a look at the biggest names that are likely to be making the biggest moves this transfer window.
The biggests teams in Europe are looking forward to the summer transfer window and there are lots of big names flying around. Several stars are out of contract this summer, among them Leo Messi, and others are being prised away from their clubs despite extra fees, like Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.
So let’s take a look at some of the biggest moves that look to be coming this summer, according to ‘The Athletic’.
Lionel Messi
The Argentinian star has several options on the table as his contract with PSG expires at the end of June. There has been much speculation about the possibility of a move to MLS with Inter Miami, but the star’s team denies having received any offers from the American side.
There have also been a lot of rumours about a last dance at Barcelona, the club that saw Messi become the star he is today over 12 seasons. The main roadblock here would be the financials of the deal, as Messi won’t come cheap and Barca are still struggling with ‘Financial Fair Play’ regulations.
It looks like the most likely option for the almost-36-year-old will be a move to the Saudi league with Al Hilal, who have reportedly sent emissaries to Paris to close the €400 million-a-year offer. It is expected the star will give a reply shortly, as the club are eager to announce his arrival.
Christian Pulisic
Chelsea are very keen to offload one of their highest earners this summer, as new manager Pochettino doesn’t see a place for Pulisic in his future plans. Signed from Dortmund in 2019 for £58 million, the American has one year left on his contract and reportedly is willing to take a pay cut if it will help him leave the London side.
According to ‘The Athletic’, his most likely options are another Premier League team or a move to Italy – but the Blues might also try and use him as part of a swap deal to save themselves some more cash.
Jude Bellingham
There have been rumours flying for months about the Englishman making a move this summer. Initial suitors for the Bundesliga Player of the Year included Liverpool and Manchester City, but now it looks like the last side standing is Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
It seems that he is close to a long-term move to the Santiago Bernanbeu, despite an enormous fee, reported to be somewhere in the region of €150 million. He is out of contract with Dortmund in 2025 and has apparently expressed little interest in signing an extension with the Germans, instead voicing his preference for a move to Spain.
The midfielder would be a big part of Madrid’s squad boost, as they have announced the four consecutive departures of club legends Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard.
Alexis Mac Allister
Brighton’s star this season is one step away from sealing his move to Liverpool. He has been linked with a move to the club for several weeks and recent reports indicate that all that remains are his medical tests before he signs a long-term contract with the Reds.
Despite having a contract with the Seagulls until 2025, Mac Allister’s move will cost Liverpool less than £70 million. The Argentinian doesn’t appear to be looking elsewhere and has previously said he believes the Premier League is “one of the best leagues in the world”, and “would like (his) next club to be in the Premier (League)”.
James Maddison
Maddison’s Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season and the 26-year-old is now looking for a move. Several PL clubs have shown interest in the England international, including Spurs, Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle United.
It’s been reported that his market value lies somewhere around £40 million, but Leicester would be looking to get that number closer to £50 million with a bidding war.
Maddison brought his club 10 goals and nine assists over the season and has been included in Gareth Southgate’s Euros Qualifiers squad this month.
Kai Havertz
Havertz is another player who will not feature in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans for Chelsea. The German joined the London side three years ago from Bayer Leverkusen but not had a stellar season yet.
The desire for him to leave the club may be mutual, as the lack of European Football for Chelsea next season might be a deciding factor for the player.
He is reportedly on Madrid’s shortlist as a reinforcement up front and several outlets have reported that a deal is in fact almost imminent. This would see him return to Champions League football with the Spaniards, and no doubt get more game time than he would by remaining with the Blues.
Declan Rice
Rice has been circling the rumour mill since he was linked with a move to Arsenal earlier this month. Rice has already reportedly turned down three offers of extension from West Ham, who will play in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday.
Despite his hefty £100 million price-tag, several clubs have shown serious interest alongside Arsenal. Their most serious competition looks to be Bayern Munich who could be able to match West Ham’s offer, but Rice appears to favour a move that keeps him in the Premier League.
Manchester United had also been keeping an eye on the midfielder, but with the heavy fee and Ten Hag’s priorities lying elsewhere, a move up north looks less likely.
Granit Xhaka
Arsenal veteran Granit Xhaka looks like he is ready for a move to the continent. After seven seasons with the London side, the Swiss international is getting ready for a move to Germany, with a deal with Bayer Leverkusen reportedly already in motion.
The midfielder is not the sort to be happy playing second fiddle to someone like Declan Rice and so the 30-year-old is looking for new challenges. In what looked to be his final game for Arsenal, he contributed two goals as his side thrashed Wolves 5-0.
The move will apparently bring in £13 million for Arsenal this summer, as they say goodbye after a terrific season that saw them finish 2nd in the Premier League.
Harry Kane
Kane has kept very quiet about his future so far this year, despite being the number choice for Spanish giants Real Madrid as a replacement for Karim Benzema. Madrid coach Ancelotti has spoken quite highly of the England international.
Tottenham might be reluctant to part with their captain and all-time top goal-scorer, but Kane is out of contract next season and the club would benefit much more by selling him this summer than watching him walk away a free agent.
The striker might be getting frustrated with the London club as during his decade there, they have failed to win any silverware, and the offer of joining titans Real Madrid in the Champions League might be enough to get him to make the move.
Mason Mount
Talks over extension have reportedly broken down several times between the England international and Chelsea, making his move practically inevitable. There are several clubs interested both within the Premier League and abroad. Arsenal, Juventus and Liverpool are among the candidates.
The most likely move looks to be to Manchester United, who are keen to sign him early in the window so he is available for the pre-season. Negotiations have started but the London team want somewhere in the region of £70 million for the 24-year-old and United could be hesitant to pay that much.
Mount only has 12 months left on his contract, which would see him a free agent next season, making his departure much easier to negotiate then. This isn’t such a good option for Chelsea who are looking to make some money off their large and expensive squad this summer.