Julian Alvarez, Elliot Anderson and 30 players who will define the 2026 summer transfer window

Ever since Karim Adeyemi switched agent to be represented by Jorge Mendes back in August, it has been clear that he has his sights set on leaving Borussia Dortmund behind, and the Germany international has subsequently been linked with a host of top European clubs ever since.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Tottenham and Napoli are just some of the clubs who have either shown an interest in or have been offered the chance to sign Adeyemi, whose contract at Signal Iduna Park is about to enter its final 12 months, and thus the 24-year-old could be available for a cut-price as BVB consider offloading one of their star forwards while he still possesses some value.

Julian Alvarez's main focus heading into the summer will be on leading the line for Argentina as they aim to successfully retain the World Cup, but talk over his club future has already hit boiling point after Barcelona tabled a €100 million (£87m/$116.5m) offer for the Atletico Madrid forward in the days following the conclusion of the Spanish season

Barca believe Alvarez would be the ideal No.9 to replace Robert Lewandowski, though Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG are all also interested, which Atleti hope could lead to a bidding way. The Rojiblancos are hopeful of receiving a fee closer to €120m (£104m/$140m) before they consider selling 26-year-old Alvarez.

Elliot Anderson has the potential to have a life-changing summer. After establishing himself as a starter alongside Declan Rice in the England midfield, the Nottingham Forest man is set to be one of the breakout stars of the World Cup. Factor in the ever-growing transfer interest in his services and the 23-year-old's profile could reach previously unthought of levels in 2026.

Both Manchester United and Manchester City are extremely keen on Anderson as they aim to beef up their respective midfields ahead of next season, and though a fee of £100m ($134.5m) may be required to get him out of the City Ground, Anderson's potential would likely make that a worthwhile investment.

Carlos Baleba almost left Brighton last summer as Manchester United showed concrete interest in bringing the Cameroon international to Old Trafford, and it seems as if that increased scrutiny had an impact on his performances on the pitch. However, despite not hitting the same heights as in 2024-25, the 22-year-old is still expected to be on the move in the coming weeks.

United have seemingly dropped their interest despite needing to bolster their midfield ranks following the departure of Casemiro, but that could open the door to Tottenham, with Roberto De Zerbi keen to reunite with Baleba following their time together on the south coast.

One of the top prospects emerging within French football, Ayyoub Bouaddi made headlines last season when he produced dominant displays for Lille against the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League while being just 17. A rangy holding midfielder, Bouaddi looks tailor-made for the way football is currently being played within in Europe, and thus he is on the radar of a number of big clubs heading into the summer.

PSG are thought to be the favourites to sign the now-18-year-old, though Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been mentioned as alternative destinations. Lille were able to convince Bouaddi to sign a new contract with them in December, but that was merely a tactic to drive up the price for their prized homegrown asset, whom they will hope can increase his value further at the World Cup after switching his allegiance away from France and instead represent Morocco this summer.

West Ham's relegation from the Premier League is set to lead to something of a fire-sale at the London Stadium, even if Nuno Espirito Santo's decision to remain with the club has offered some hope of a swift return to the top-flight from the Championship. Near the top of that list of likely departures is club captain Jarrod Bowen, with the England forward certain to have a decent market.

Only two players provided more assists in the Premier League last season than Bowen (11), and only four bettered his combined goal and assist total (20). At 29, Bowen certainly still has some of his best years remaining, while he will be keen to show Thomas Tuchel what he is capable of at the highest level possible after missing out on World Cup selection. Manchester United, Chelsea and Everton have all been mooted as potential landing spots.

This time 12 months ago, Yan Diomande had only made 10 senior appearances for La Liga strugglers Leganes. However, after a meteoric rise, the Ivory Coast international now looks set to have his pick of Europe's elite this summer while RB Leipzig hope to raise around €100m (£87m/$116.5m) from the winger's sale having paid just €20m to acquire him last summer.

Diomande has been one of the breakout stars of the Bundesliga season, and was named the German top-flight's Rookie of the Year after a campaign that saw him score 13 goals and provide 10 assists. Liverpool, who Diomande supported when growing up, and PSG are at the front of the queue for the 19-year-old right now, but others are monitoring his situation very closely.

From the moment he produced a midfield masterclass in the 2024 Europa League final, Ederson has seemed destined to leave Atalanta, and the summer of 2026 looks likely to be when the 26-year-old finally takes the next step in his career.

Atletico Madrid came close to signing Ederson during the January window, though they now seem to have been usurped in the queue by Manchester United, who are aiming to pay around £35m ($47m) and make the Brazil international the first signing of the Michael Carrick era.

He may have suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League, but Mateus Fernandes has caught the eye for both Southampton and West Ham, and those at the other end of the table have been taking interest. Likely to be the most expensive of the Irons' sales this summer, the 21-year-old creativity and relentlessness would make him a valuable addition to a number of Champions League-level squads.

Manchester United have been most heavily linked with Fernandes as they look to find an eventual heir to his namesake, Bruno, while Arsenal and PSG are also both keeping tabs on the Portuguese playmaker as he prepares to depart east London.

Enzo Fernandez's time at Chelsea looks set to come to an end this summer after one of the more public come-and-get-me pleas of recent years. The Argentina midfielder's flirtation with Real Madrid became so blatant that the Blues felt forced to suspend Fernandez for two weeks in April, and while the arrival of Xabi Alonso could have appeased the ex-Benfica schemer, a lack of European football next seasons seems to have been the final straw for Fernandez in deciding his future should lie beyond Stamford Bridge.

Madrid are certainly in the market, though whether they are willing to pay Chelsea's £120m ($161m) asking price is another matter altogether. Man City are also said to be considering Fernandez amid their own midfield rebuild, with presumed new coach Enzo Maresca very familiar with the 25-year-old's game.

Something of a forgotten man, an increasing number of reports seem to be suggesting that Josko Gvardiol's time at Manchester City could end this summer. The Croatia international missed almost the entire second half of the season due to injury, and while Gvardiol has been on the sidelines, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly have established themselves on the left side of the City defence to the point that it's difficult to see either of them being displaced.

At 24 and with the versatility to play centrally or as a left-back, Gvardiol is one of the should be one of the most sought-after defenders anywhere in Europe. It's no surprise, then, to see the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona sniffing around him already.

There's a real chance that Liverpool kick-off next season without a Scouser in their squad given Curtis Jones is being pushed towards the Anfield exits during the early stages of the window. The versatile midfielder started just 22 games across the Premier League and Champions League last term, and the Reds are keen to cash in as Jones enters the final year of his contract.

The 25-year-old England international is being chased by Serie A champions Inter, though they and Liverpool are currently some distance away when it comes to the transfer fee, with the English side holding out for in excess of £30m ($40.3m).

A player who is now certain to leave Liverpool this summer is Ibrahima Konate, with talks over a new deal for the France defender having once again stalled, meaning he is now set to depart as a free agent when his contract expires in June.

Real Madrid's previous interest in Konate has seemingly diminished following his error-strewn season on Merseyside, and few other clubs have been linked with the 27-year-old to this point. That will surely change in the coming days and weeks, however, given Konate at his best remains a high-level performer.

One of the revelations of the English season, Junior Kroupi arrived at Bournemouth to little fanfare and proceeded the break the Premier League record for the most goals scored by a teenager during their debut campaign, with his strike against Manchester City that helped hand Arsenal the title the 13th of Kroupi's superb first year on the south coast.

There is a fear among Cherries supporters, however, that 2025-26 will also prove to be Kroupi's only year at the Vitality Stadium, with Arsenal and Chelsea among the clubs sniffing around the 19-year-old with unerring finishing ability. Bournemouth's hope is that guaranteed minutes for a team playing in Europe for the first time will convince Kroupi to stay, but his future is far from certain right now.

Even before Robert Lewandowski's departure from Barcelona was confirmed in early May it had long been presumed that the veteran Pole would be leaving Camp Nou upon the expiration of his contract this summer, with many expecting him to head for the Saudi Pro League or MLS. Lewandowski's career in Europe might not, however, be over.

Juventus and Chelsea have been mentioned as potential landing spots for the 37-year-old, though whether either can afford his salary without Champions League football could prove to be a sticking point.

Newcastle missing out on Champions League qualification means they will need to cash-in on a number of players this summer so as to avoid breaking any financial rules, with Anthony Gordon the first out of the St James' Park door. Tino Livramento, meanwhile, was linked with a move away from Newcastle last summer, meaning the England full-back is a prime candidate to follow Gordon away from Tyneside should that interest remain.

Manchester City and Arsenal have both been linked with the former Chelsea youth star, though it remains to be seen whether Livramento's less-than stellar injury record counts against him when it comes to negotiations over a move.

For the majority of the season, Marcus Rashford remaining at Barcelona on a permanent basis has felt like a foregone conclusion. The Manchester United forward has enjoyed a productive loan spell at Camp Nou, while the agreed €30m (£26m/$35m) fee is far from prohibitive. However, Barca's early summer dealings have now cast major doubts over whether they will opt to keep Rashford or send him back to Old Trafford.

With Anthony Gordon through the door and bids in for Julian Alvarez, there doesn't seem to be space for Rashford within Hansi Flick's attacking ranks unless a surprise sale is on the way. As such, the England international could find himself back in limbo, especially if Michael Carrick is of the same mind a Ruben Amorim when it comes to Rashford's prospects in Manchester.

With Pep Guardiola gone and Manchester City looking to spend big on midfielders this summer, Rodri could well be on the chopping block, particularly with his contract about to enter its final 12 months. City have been happy to allow their club icons to run their deals down in the recent past rather than chase cut-price fees, but Rodri does have suitors should the Premier League runners-up look to raise funds through a sale of the Spain international.

Real Madrid's interest in Rodri is no secret, and though Los Blancos have favoured signing free agents in recent years, two years of no trophies and the appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager could force a change in strategy from Florentino Perez - presuming he remains club president amid the upcoming elections. Bringing the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner to the Bernabeu would certainly feel like a coup, even if Rodri has not been at the same consistent level since he tore his ACL shortly before collecting the Golden Ball some 18 months ago.

Morgan Rogers' highlight reel for the 2025-26 season would be worth watching again and again as the Aston Villa midfielder unleashed spectacular strike after spectacular strike, capping his superb campaign with another stunner in the Europa League final. Rogers' 14 goals and 11 assists could even earn him a starting berth for England at the World Cup ahead of Jude Bellingham, and it's form that's unsurprisingly caught the eye of other clubs.

Arsenal are weighing up a big-money move for Rogers, though Villa will likely drive a hard bargain given they once more have Champions League football to look forward to and the financial boost that comes with playing in Europe's premier competition.

Cristian Romero only signed a new four-year deal at Tottenham last summer, but his time in north London could be coming to an end 12 months later. After Kevin Danso impressed during the run-in alongside Micky van de Ven, and with Marcos Senesi set to join Spurs from Bournemouth while talented teenager Luka Vuskovic is returning from his superb loan spell at Hamburg, Roberto De Zerbi suddenly has a surplus of centre-backs.

Romero, meanwhile, twice publicly called out the Tottenham hierarchy during last season before he was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on the final day of the season after he planned to return to Argentina rather than attend Spurs' relegation decider, further straing his relationship with the club. Fans, meanwhile, have grown tired of the club captain's ill-discipline, and few would now be upset to see Romero leave. As they were last summer, Atletico Madrid are showing interest.

There was a point ahead of the January transfer window where it felt like Mohamed Salah's Liverpool career was already over, and though the legendary forward was able to reconcile with manager Arne Slot following his explosive admission that he believed he was being forced out of the club after being left on the bench for three successive games, it still seemed inevitable that 'The Egyptian King' would depart Anfield at the end of the campaign, and so it proved as the Reds released one of their greatest-ever players one year before the end of his contract.

Saudi Pro League clubs have previously fallen over themselves to welcome the most recognisable Arab footballer on the planet, and they should have no problem in finding an agreement before the start of next season.

Savinho seemed to be on the chopping block last summer when was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham amid Man City's interest in Real Madrid forward Rodrygo. And though neither move came to pass, Savinho failed to boost his standing at the Etihad Stadium over the course of the season while facing more competition for minutes from January addition Antoine Semenyo.

As such, the 22-year-old Brazil international will likely be on the move in a bid to earn starting opportunities elsewhere, with Spurs seemingly still keen on bringing Savinho to north London to help supercharge their attack.

Another high-profile free agent, Bernardo Silva remains full of running and brimming with quality at the age of 31, as he showcased through the final weeks of his time as a Manchester City player. And so while there was some initial talk of a move to Saudi Arabia given the number of Portuguese players who have switched to the Middle East in recent years, Bernardo still has plenty to give in Europe first.

Atletico Madrid are very keen to add his experience to Diego Simeone's engine room, but after years of being linked to Barcelona, Bernardo himself is keen to finally secure a move to Camp Nou.

Kees Smit has been compared to Kevin De Bruyne ever since he broke into the AZ Alkmaar first team, and not just because he bears a passing resemblance to the former Manchester City star. A creative midfielder with a brilliant eye for a pass and excellent close control, Smit has forced his way into the Netherlands squad after a series of impressive Eredivisie displays.

Pretty much every single elite European club has been linked with the 20-year-old over the past 12 months, with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Newcastle those to have been most regularly brought up as holding the most interest in obtaining Smit's signature.

Signing midfielders is a priority for Real Madrid this summer, but that doesn't mean Los Blancos won't be willing to sell a central player if the price is right. The most vulnerable right now looks to be Aurelien Tchouameni, with it still unclear how the France international is regarded within the dressing room following his high-profile altercations with Fede Valverde in early May.

Jose Mourinho will surely not want to risk any internal tension upon his return to the Bernabeu, and thus Tchouameni may need to be sacrificed. Manchester United are believed to be interested in doing a deal for the 26-year-old.

Stories broke on deadline day in January that Arsenal were looking into the possibility of signing Sandro Tonali, and though the Gunners never came close to getting a deal done for the Italy international, it put the wheels in motion for Tonali's expected departure from Newcastle this summer.

The Magpies' failure to qualify for the Europe has, meanwhile, hastened the need to sell, and Manchester United have now joined Arsenal in the race to secure the 26-year-old former AC Milan star.

James Trafford returned to boyhood club Manchester City last summer under the illusion that he would be the starting goalkeeper at the Etihad, only for him to be usurped by Gigi Donnarumma just three games into the campaign. Trafford bounced back to play a key role in City's two domestic cup triumphs, but given he is regarded as a potential England No.1 of the future, he needs to be playing week in, week out.

Newcastle almost signed Trafford from Burnley a year ago before City swooped in, and the Magpies could be in the running again this time around. They are likely to face competition, however, with Aston Villa and Tottenham also keen on the 23-year-old 'keeper.

Vinicius Jr has been linked with a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia for the best part of 18 months, and his departure from Real Madrid never seemed closer than when he fell out with Xabi Alonso, with reports in November claiming that the Brazilian was refusing to enter contract talks despite his current deal only running until the summer of 2027.

A fresh deal remains unsigned, meaning Madrid could be forced to sell Vinicius or risk losing him for free in 12 months' time. There is reason to believe that letting the former Flamengo starlet go could be beneficial, too, with it having become clear that he and Kylian Mbappe cannot thrive in the same line up, while it remains to be seen how Vinicius would take to Jose Mourinho's appointment as manager given the coach's controversial reaction to the alleged racist abuse suffered by the Madrid forward during February's clash with Benfica.

One of the more intriguing prospective free agents, Dusan Vlahovic has not lived up to the hype that accompanied his €70m move to Juventus back in January 2022. The Serbia international mustered 68 goals in 168 appearances for the Bianconeri, and has gradually fallen down the pecking order during his four-year stint in Turin, with him currently set to leave this summer.

Despite that, Vlahovic has been linked with the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Tottenham, meaning he is likely to have a decent market as he aims to get his career back on track at the age of 26.

Crystal Palace fans have grown used to losing their star players given their place in the football food chain, but with Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi both having left in the past 12 months, they will be loathed to potentially lose star midfielder Adam Wharton this summer.

The England international has plenty of admirers, though, with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool among those keen on signing the 22-year-old pass-master. Palace will likely drive a hard bargain with Wharton given he still has three years left on his contract, but another high-profile departure from Selhurst Park could yet be on the cards before the year is out.