With just a few days of the summer transfer window remaining, Premier League clubs are running out of time to get deals over the line for their top targets.
The English top flight has already spent a ridiculous combined sum this summer – epitomised by Manchester United completing a club-record £89million swoop for former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba – but with plenty of stars from the Premier League and yonder still up for grabs, we’ll almost certainly see clubs splash out more in the coming days.
With that in mind, Football FanCast have taken a look at the 27 biggest names, all linked with or expected to leave Premier League clubs, who could move onto new horizons before the summer deadline.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Everton are all involved in our 27-strong list; let us know which deals you’d like to happen most in the comments section below!
Moussa Sissoko
Moussa Sissoko has been linked with Hollywood clubs from the Premier League and yonder since his Euro 2016 Final heroics, not least including Liverpool, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. But no club is yet to come good on their interest in the France international, who Newcastle reportedly rate at a whopping £35million.
ALVARO MORATA
The Daily Mail claimed earlier this year that Real Madrid would re-sign Alvaro Morata to sell him on at a massive profit in the space of a single transfer window. The Spaniard has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea but remains at the Bernabeu and even started for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup final earlier this month.
ROMELU LUKAKU
Chelsea have reportedly tabled a £65million bid for Romelu Lukaku continue to be linked with their former starlet, who bagged a career-best 18 Premier League goals last season. The 23-year-old appears ready for the next level but understandably, the Toffees are reluctant to sell him so late in the transfer window.
JAMES RODRIGUEZ
The media seem almost completely split on James Rodriguez’s future at Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane appeared to rule out a summer departure earlier this week, but other sources claim Jorge Mendes has offered him to Arsenal and Chelsea at a cost of £65million. The former Puskas winner is certainly talented, but hasn’t hit the heights expected at the Bernabeu.
JOSE FONTE
Top-class centre-backs are currently a rare commodity, which has seen cheaper, older and more experienced alternatives increase in demand throughout the summer. Following his Euro 2016 heroics with Portugal, Southampton captain Jose Fonte has emerged as a target for Arsenal and Manchester United, both of whom have entered the season with injury problems and unconvincing backlines. The Saints have offered the 32-year-old an improved contract, but The Telegraph have suggested they could sell for bids above the £10million mark.
SHKODRAN MUSTAFI
A few weeks ago, Shkodran Mustafi appeared destined to join Arsenal, with Sky Germany reporting that the north Londoners had opened talks to sign the German World Cup winner and The Guardian claiming an agreed contract. There’s been a worrying lack of progress since, despite the Gunners enduring an injury crisis at the back. But a few more ropey performances defensively before the transfer window closes could convince Arsene Wenger to meet Valencia’s alleged £25million valuation.
Jonny Evans
Another defender reportedly in Arsenal’s sights is West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans – who was strongly linked after Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista were stretchered off in pre-season. Manager Tony Pulis has admitted he could let the northern Ireland international go if the Baggies sign a replacement first, but the defender merry-go-round may be tricky to pull off so late in the transfer window.
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE
Alexandre Lacazette started the summer being linked with West Ham but has since emerged as a prime attacking target for Arsenal, who have already seen a bid for the France striker rejected by Lyon. But the Gunners are still in need of added firepower and the supporters are growing increasingly restless, so we could see an improved offer before the transfer window slams shut.
MARIO BALOTELLI
Epic Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli is somehow still on Merseyside. Various clubs have been linked, but the Italian appears to be waiting for the right offer to come along. In a new low for the former Premier League title winner, he’s recently been tipped for a shock move to League One side Port Vale.
YAYA TOURE
Controversial agent Dimitri Seluk insists Yaya Toure wants to stay at Manchester City, but he’s clearly not a part of Pep Guardiola’s first team plans. The Ivory Coast international may be well past his best but the 33-year-old is still a match-winner and has too much quality to sit on the bench. Whether it’s a Premier League or foreign club, Toure will almost certainly be offered an escape route within the next fortnight.
CESC FABREGAS
Reports of Chelsea offering out Cesc Fabregas to foreign clubs have circulated over the last week or so. The Spain international is a huge talent but was found wanting last season and Antonio Conte suspiciously left him out of the starting Xi that beat West Ham 2-1 on Monday evening. He could well leave Stamford Bridge in a last-minute deal, but the Blues appear yet to find a buyer.
SAIDO BERAHINO
The Saido Berahino transfer saga has lasted for three windows, but with his West Bromwich Albion contract set to expire at the end of the season, it seems inevitable he’ll leave the Hawthorns this summer. Stoke City and Crystal Palace have both tabled bids for the 22-year-old striker, but the Baggies appear reluctant to let him leave before signing a replacement.
LEONARDO BONUCCI
Leonardo Bouncci was heavily linked with Manchester City and Chelsea earlier in the transfer window but the rumours have since dried up. With world-class defenders becoming an incredibly rare breed, however, a Premier League club may eventually decide to meet Juventus’ demands of a record transfer fee for a centre-back.
PATRICK BAMFORD
Patrick Bamford’s proven pedigree in the Championship, claiming the division’s Player of the Year award in 2015, has seen the Chelsea youngster linked with a return to the second tier. ESPN and The Telegraph both claim Aston Villa are eyeing the 22-year-old striker, although it’s unconfirmed whether they’re keen on a loan deal or permanently. The former scenario appears more likely.
James Wilson
Another promising young striker seemingly set to go out on loan, Jose Mourinho has reportedly told James Wilson to find first-team football elsewhere this season. Fulham are believed to be targeting the 20-year-old, who bagged five Championship goals whilst on loan at Brighton last season.
JUAN MATA
Jose Mourinho appears surprisingly happy to have Juan Mata at his disposal this season, starting the Spain international in United’s first two Premier League fixtures. But notoriously deemed ill-fitting of his philosophy at Chelsea, a decent transfer bid would likely make the Portuguese think twice – and a number of Premier League clubs could do with a playmaker of Mata’s pedigree.
JOE HART
With Pep Guardiola targeting the aforementioned Claudio Bravo, Joe Hart’s Manchester City career looks set to come to an abrupt end this summer. The England international has been linked with a move to Everton although it remains to be seen whether his deal will be a loan or permanently.
WILFRIED BONY
Wilfried Bony’s nightmarish 18 months at the Etihad look set to come to an end this summer, with the Ivory Coast international not a part of Pep Guardiola’s plans. West Ham are in the mix to snap up the former Swansea City man, although there have also been surprising links with Arsenal.
MAURO ICARDI
Mauro Icardi is one of Serie A’s most exciting strikers and he’s never far from being linked with a move to the Premier League, in no small part due to his wife and agent Wanda Nara. Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked, but new Inter Milan boss Frank de Boer insists the Argentina international will be staying at the San Siro.
LAMINE KONE
Lamine Kone’s intrinsic role in Sunderland’s survival last season has seen him emerge as a target for Everton and Chelsea. Furthermore, the Frenchman has just rejected an improved contract at the Stadium of Light – suggesting he’s looking to move on this summer.
Antoine Griezmann
If the Premier League pulls off one more show-stopping deal this summer, it could well come in the form of a swoop for Antoine Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid striker, who finished as top scorer at Euro 2016, has an £85.5million release clause in his contract – meaning a club could whisk him away from the Spanish capital with little notice if they’re prepared to pay up. Most recently, Arsenal have been linked.
KALIDOU KOULIBALY
The latest reports claim Chelsea have launched a £60million approach for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, who has rapidly emerged as one of the summer’s most in-demand defenders. He measures in at a whopping 6 foot 5 and appears reluctant to sign a new contract with the Serie A outfit, suggesting they’ll eventually be forced to sell.
JULIAN DRAXLER
Julian Draxler has made no secret of his hopes to leave Wolfsburg this summer. The Gunners have been tracking the 22-year-old for a while now and recent reports have linked them with a £41million deal.
GEORGES-KEVIN N’KOUDOU
Tottenham Hotspur’s deal for Georges-Kevin N’Koudou was on, off and now appears to be back on again. The French prodigy bagged ten goals across all appearances last season and is highly-rated by Ligue 1 viewers. Spurs youngster Clinton N’Jie is expected to move the other way.
ISLAM SLIMANI
The Portuguese press claim Islam Slimani is keen on a move to the Premier League and summer suitors are in copious supply for the Sporting Lisbon striker, who finished up as second-top scorer in the Primeira Liga last season. The Sun have recently reported on interest from Everton and Southampton, whilst other sources claim West Bromwich Albion have already tabled a club-record bid.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Ricardo Rodriguez has established himself as one of the world’s most exciting left-backs since signing for Wolfsburg in 2012 and a number of top Premier League clubs could do with bolstering their options at No.3. Man City were mooted by Bleacher Report earlier in the transfer window, although more recent speculation has claimed Chelsea are considering a £22million bid.
Fabinho
Jose Mourinho is reportedly keen to sign a right-back before the end of August, with Monaco defender Fabinho his preferred target. The Daily Mail claim the French big-spenders have agreed to let the Brazilian leave this summer – but United must meet their £25million valuation.