With the transfer rumour mill set to kick into a frenzy throughout this month's European Championships, Goal.com looks at which players could be heading for England this summer
ANALYSIS
By Jamie Dunn
As the opening of the transfer window draws ever closer and speculation grows, many clubs will be waiting for this summer’s major tournament to play out before choosing to part with their cash.
For wantaway players, Euro 2012 will provide a platform to showcase their ability on a grand stage, while those already touted for moves will no doubt see the showpiece in Poland and Ukraine as an opportunity to better their hand in negotiations.
Over the next four days, Goal.com takes a look at the players competing in the European Championships who could be Premier League bound this summer. Next up is Group B, containing Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.
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Christian Eriksen
MIDFIELDER | DENMARK |
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If Denmark fail to progress from Group B, which could prove to be extremely difficult given their competition, the tournament will be worse off for having lost Christian Eriksen in its early stages.
Eriksen caught the eye of English onlookers in an impressive display as Denmark lost 2-1 to Fabio Capello’s side in February 2011, while Manchester United are understood to have become interested after the Dane’s performance for Ajax at Old Trafford in the Europa League. AC Milan have also been linked over the last few transfer windows, but the player is said to be keen to continue his development in Amsterdam for the time being.
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Simon Kjaer
CENTRE-BACK | DENMARK |
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Danish centre-back Simon Kjaer was highly rated and linked to some of the biggest clubs in Europe in 2010, before making the somewhat surprising move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
But after just one season in Germany, the defender made a loan switch to Roma for the 2011-12 campaign, and with the Serie A side reportedly undecided as to whether or not to sign the 23-year-old on a permanent basis, a number of Premier League clubs could rekindle their interest – if Kjaer impresses with Denmark this summer.
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Mario Gotze
MIDFIELDER | GERMANY |
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That the extremely talented Mario Gotze is unlikely to feature in Germany’s starting XI in Poland and Ukraine is testament to the amount of talent Joachim Low has at his disposal.
The Borussia Dortmund playmaker signed a contract extension which could see him stay with the Bundesliga champions until 2016, but there are a number of potential suitors across Europe for Gotze, including Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger was suitably impressed and admitted his interest when the two sides met in the Champions League last season.
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Andre Schurrle
STRIKER | GERMANY |
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Andre Schurrle only scored nine goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season, but with four goals in the final six Bundesliga games of the season, the forward appears to be on a hot streak heading into Euro 2012.
Like Gotze, Schurrle is not guaranteed a place in the German starting XI this summer, but with a goal in each of the warm-up friendlies against Israel and Switzerland, the 21-year-old could still be given the chance to impress and attract the attention of Chelsea - who wanted the striker last year according to Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller - once again.
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Gregory van der Wiel
FULL-BACK | NETHERLANDS |
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Netherlands right-back Gregory van der Wiel’s declaration of his desire to leave Dutch champions Ajax after Euro 2012 – preferably for England or Spain – is likely to spark a bidding war for a firmly established player with Champions League experience across the continent.
Van der Wiel has suggested he would be open to a move to Chelsea this summer and the Blues have allowed Jose Bosingwa to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer, so a bid for the defender - who would be available relatively cheaply - could be on the cards.
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Luuk De Jong
STRIKER | NETHERLANDS |
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Luuk De Jong may not be in the Netherlands first XI due to the likes of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Ibrahim Afellay, but the forward has attracted plenty of interest after a season in which he scored 25 goals in the Eredivisie alone with Twente.
Prior to the announcement of Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager, De Jong’s agent declared the attacker was a wanted man at Anfield, while Newcastle United have also been monitoring the player, who would be perfect for the Premier League - according to Steve McClaren - though the Dutch side’s manager won’t let the player go for less than £12 million.
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Joao Moutinho
MIDFIELDER | PORTUGAL |
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Suggestions that Portugal are a one-man team revolving around Cristiano Ronaldo are especially short-sighted when considering the presence of a player like Joao Moutinho. The midfielder has been in and out of the national squad since making his debut as a teenager in 2005, but looks set to feature heavily at Euro 2012.
Moutinho was one of several players linked with Chelsea upon the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas, but with the player suggesting he could leave Porto should an interesting offer become concrete, this summer's tournament could be the perfect platform to alert the Champions League winners to his qualities.
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