As the Premier League season enters its final stretch, clubs are already looking towards the summer transfer market. For those who qualify for the Champions League or Europa League, they will have the ability to attract some of the best players in the world. Meanwhile, those who avoid relegation or secure promotion from the Championship will have funds to compete among England’s top 20.
At the top end of the division, early signs suggest that there will be some serious business being done. Here are some of the huge Premier League deals that could be in the offing this summer.
Chelsea are determined to build a team that can challenge at the top for years to come and Christopher Nkunku will only aid them. The 25-year-old made his name with Paris Saint-Germain but has really kicked on since joining RB Leipzig, scoring 64 goals and providing 52 assists in 163 games. A player who can shine right across the front three, the Blues will be delighted to get this deal done as they look to continue their rebuild in the Todd Boehly era.
Harry Kane is facing an uncertain future with Tottenham and with a contract that expires in 2024, it means that the north London side face their last chance to attract top dollar for the player. Now 29, Kane wants the chance to win major silverware and with Manchester United looking up under Erik ten Hag, it could be a match made in heaven as the Red Devils look for a proven goalscorer to lead their line.
A move that appears unlikely, but one that you can never rule out while Pep Guardiola is in charge. Lionel Messi is facing an uncertain future with his Paris Saint-Germain contract set to expire, albeit with the French side moving heaven and earth to try and retain his services. Barcelona, Inter Miami and a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia have all been touted, but in Guardiola, City may just have an outside chance of signing the GOAT and bringing him to the Premier League.
Another player who looks very likely to be on the move in the coming months is Declan Rice. Having established himself as a talismanic figure for West Ham, Rice continues to attract interest from the Premier League’s biggest clubs with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all heavily linked with a move. It’s suggested that a move to Arsenal is the most likely outcome for Rice, who will be hoping to challenge himself at the highest level on world football.
The talented midfielder Jude Bellingham is regarded as one of the top young players in world football, particularly after his stunning World Cup displays. Bellingham is shining for Borussia Dortmund but is now ready for a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs with Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid all keen. However, it’s a move to Liverpool that is getting the most attention, particularly given his close friendship with England teammate Jordan Henderson.
Tottenham could be preparing for a summer of flux with Antonio Conte now sacked. Hugo Lloris is currently the club’s captain, but with the French star moving into the autumn of his career, Spurs could benefit from bringing in a new, reliable goalkeeper. Pickford is committed to Everton, but should a move to a top six club become available then it could be a deal that suits all parties.
The Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been regularly linked with a move away in previous seasons but now he’ll finally get his chance. Zaha is out of contract this summer which means he can move on a free transfer, leaving him to decide where is the best place for him to continue his career. While Arsenal have previously been linked, a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League has been mooted in previous weeks, a deal that could be very tempting indeed if the forward fancies a fresh challenge.
While Guardiola continues to build one of the best squads in world football, he looks likely to allow one of his most trusted stars to move on. Ilkay Gundogan is in the final few months of his deal at the Etihad Stadium and with no extension agreed, it seems that the German star is looking for a fresh challenge. Barcelona are being heavily linked and with the player available on a free transfer, he may well be the perfect addition for the cash-strapped giants.
The Brighton star Moises Caicedo was the talk of the January transfer window after he pushed for a move to Arsenal in the final days. That move didn’t come off and Caicedo penned a new contract on the south coast, but the Seagulls would be naive to think that the interest has gone away. With age firmly on his side, the 21-year-old looks ready to challenge himself at the top and with Arsenal looking for midfield options, you wouldn’t bet against them coming back in for the player.
Eddie Howe’s side Newcastle United could be gearing up for a big summer in the transfer market as they look to continue their evolution under Amanda Staveley and the Saudi Arabian PIF. Recent windows have showed that Newcastle won’t throw cash around for the sake of it, but in James Maddison there’s a player who is the perfect attacking addition to their midfield. Leicester are struggling and if the opportunity comes to join the high-flying Magpies then he’d be foolish not to take it.