Viktor Gyokeres, Florian Wirtz & 50 players who will define the 2025 summer transfer window

One of the most consistently impressive left-backs in the Premier League over the last few years, Rayan Ait-Nouri is now being tipped to take the next step in his career. With his contract set to expire in 2026, the Algeria international is expected to be available for around £45m ($60.5m), making him a potential bargain buy if he continues to develop at the same rate he has at Molineux.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham have been linked with Ait-Nouri in the past, but Manchester City now seem to have leapfrogged to the front of the queue after launching an enquiry as to the availability of the 23-year-old defender.

Six months ago, the number of potential suitors for Antony could probably have been counted on one hand. Regarded as one of the biggest transfer flops in Manchester United history, any hope of the Red Devils recouping even half of the £85 million ($114m) they spent on the winger seemed fanciful at best, and downright delusional at worst.

However, after reviving his career during a loan spell at Real Betis that saw him directly contribute to 14 goals in 26 appearances and earn a Brazil recall, Antony has re-emerged as a viable option for clubs around Europe this summer with United open for business. Betis are desperate to keep hold of the former Ajax star, though they could face competition from Atletico Madrid, amongst others.

Ready to step out of his brother's shadow, Jobe Bellingham is set to get his first taste of top-flight football in 2025-26 after earning increasingly rave reviews with his performances for Sunderland in the Championship over the past two seasons. The midfielder played a key role in the Black Cats' promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs, but their return to the top tier in England won't necessarily be enough to keep Bellingham at the Stadium of Light.

A host of Bundesliga clubs, including Jude's former side, Borussia Dortmund, have shown an interest in the younger Bellingham, but the 19-year-old has already rejected the opportunity to join Eintracht Frankfurt, meaning his future remains very much up in the air heading into the window.

Juventus fans breathed a sign of relief when the January window finally closed as they'd been fearing a deadline-day move to Manchester City for Andrea Cambiaso. At one point during January, the deal looked a formality, and, according to widespread reports, the Bianconeri were willing to cash in on Cambiaso in order to strengthen the squad elsewhere.

However, no agreement was reached over the fee, with Juve said to have demanded somewhere in the region of €80m (£67m/$82m) for the Italy international. This saga is far from over, though, as it's widely expected that City will return for the 24-year-old during the summer, with Pep Guardiola apparently feeling that the versatile left-back, who can also play on the right-hand side, can be a key component in his Etihad rebuild.

Eighteen months ago, Alvaro Carreras was making his way back to Manchester United after having his underwhelming loan spell at Getafe cut short. Previously a star of the Red Devils' academy, Carreras had shone during an earlier loan at Preston North End, but his first taste of top-flight football had not gone to plan. It was at that point he joined Benfica on a temporary deal, and he hasn't looked back.

Having paid €6m (£5m/$6.8m) to make Carreras' move to Portugal permanent last summer, Benfica have seen the 22-year-old develop into one of Europe's most well-rounded left-backs, and the Spaniard now looks set to return to his homeland this summer as Real Madrid close in on a €50m (£42m/$56.8m) deal to bring Carreras to Santiago Bernabeu as part of Xabi Alonso's Blancos rebuild.

For those who followed Rayan Cherki's development and emergence into the Lyon first team as a teenager, it's shocking that he still on the books with the Ligue 1 outfit at the age of 21. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund were among the teams linked with the attacking midfielder over the years, but questions over his attitude and work rate, as well as a couple of injuries, have kept him at the Groupama Stadium.

Cherki will eventually be on the move this summer, however. The France Under-21 international confirmed as much upon the completion of the campaign, and Manchester City have forced themselves to the front of the queue for one of the most dynamic young playmakers in European football. Given Cherki is available for around £25m ($33.7m), he could prove an absolute bargain.

Given his record of winning titles - only once (2023-24) has he failed to finish top of the league over the course of his career - you would think that Bayern Munich would be loathe to lose Kingsley Coman. However, after he started just 20 games last term under Vincent Kompany, the France forward has been told he can leave the Allianz Arena this summer.

Arsenal and Barcelona have been mooted as potential destinations for the man who scored the winning goal in the 2020 Champions League final, but Coman feels far more likely to end up in the Saudi Pro League despite the fact he won't turn 29 until July.

A perennial figure within the transfer rumour mill over the past few years, Diogo Costa could finally leave Porto this summer amid interest from the Premier League. The Portugal No.1 is on the radar of both Manchester clubs as they weigh up their own goalkeeping situations, while Porto's failure to secure Champions League football for next season may lead to Costa wanting out.

The 25-year-old has a €75m (£63m/$85m) release clause written into his contract, but there is a belief that a lower fee could be negotiated, particularly on the City end, as new sporting director Hugo Viana considers heading back to his homeland to sign a new shot-stopper.

Jonathan David is one of the most intriguing names on the market right now. The Canada international, who was integral to Lille sensationally progressing directly to the last 16 of the Champions League, has announced that he is leaving Lille after running down his contract in France.

David has scored 109 goals during five seasons at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy and it's rare that such a quality forward becomes available for nothing. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea have all been linked with the 25-year-old, but it is Serie A champions Napoli who are now favourites to get a deal done.

For the second-successive summer, Luis Diaz's future is up for debate. The Colombian was heavily linked with Barcelona 12 months ago, but after the Catalans failed to raise the funds for a bid, Diaz played a key role for Liverpool in their run to the title as he returned 18 combined goals and assists over the course of the Premier League campaign.

Now, a move to the Saudi Pro League could beckon. Diaz has been earmarked by Al-Nassr as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo should the five-time Ballon d'Or winner depart on a permanent basis this summer, and they are reportedly willing to pay at least £70m ($96.5m) to get the 28-year-old out of Anfield.

There wasn't much to like about Southampton as they surrendered to relegation from the Premier League in a meek fashion, but the emergence of Tyler Dibling did catch the eye of many onlookers. The 19-year-old earned his first regular taste of first-team football over the course of the campaign and didn't look out of place, with his languid dribbling style a key feature of his game.

Bayern Munich, Everton and Newcastle have been cited as potential Dibling suitors, but Tottenham find themselves at the front of the queue right now. The Europa League winners believe they can agree a £50m ($67.3m) deal with the Saints to get one of English football's most-talented teenagers to north London.

Another player to suffer relegation from the Premier League this past season, Liam Delap was already being touted as being one of the most-wanted strikers on the market months before the campaign came to an end. This will not be a drawn-out saga, however; on the contrary, Delap is now just a couple of steps away from completing a move to Chelsea.

Delap's 12 league goals for Ipswich Town last term convinced the Blues to pay his £30m ($40.4m) release clause as they fought off competition from Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton to land the England U21 international. The question now is whether Delap can provide the answer to Chelsea's striker problems of recent years.

It was 12 months ago that Ederson was first linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, and though Manchester City convinced the goalkeeper to stay at the Etihad Stadium last summer, they will likely be more open to him departing this time around after a season that showcased both the best and worst of the Brazil international.

Ederson's four Premier League assists highlighted the game-changing ability he possesses with the ball at his feet, but the 31-year-old continued to be something of a liability when tasked with keeping shots out of his net, and it is believed that Guardiola is keen to make a change between the sticks this summer.

While Omar Marmoush left Eintracht Frankfurt for Manchester City in the January window, his partner-in-crime, Hugo Ekitike remained in Germany to get the job done. The former-Paris Saint-Germain forward fired Eintracht to a third-placed finish in the Bundesliga as he ended the campaign with 34 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, that has led to growing interest in Ekitike, and it has been reported that Chelsea and Liverpool, in particular, are keen on getting a deal done for the 22-year-old. He won't come cheap, though; Eintracht have placed a €100m (£84m/$113.5m) price tag on Ekitike!

Few would blame Bruno Fernandes if he were to leave Manchester United this summer. Ever since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020, Fernandes has carried United on his back, and their current predicament would likely be considerably worse were it not for the efforts of their Portuguese captain.

Fernandes' patience, though, might have finally run out. The prospect of a season without European football is not something the ex-Sporting CP midfielder would have ever considered, but with such a scenario now confirmed for 2025-25, Saudi side Al-Hilal are looking to take advantage and lure Fernandes to the Middle East by making him one of the best-paid players in world football. United would also pocket £100m ($134.6m) for letting their inspirational skipper go.

While Amorim might be loathe to let Fernandes leave United, the same cannot be said for Alejandro Garnacho. The pair have fallen out on numerous occasions since the manager's arrival in November, and after Garnacho reacted angrily to being left on the bench for the Europa League final, he was told to find a new club this summer.

The Argentina winger came close to leaving Old Trafford back in January when both Chelsea and Napoli showed interest in signing him, and both could come back in again now United's negotiating position has been weakened. AC Milan, Tottenham and Al-Nassr have also been spoken of as potential destinations for the 20-year-old.

Given the way they gate-crashed the upper reaches of the Premier League this past season, it would not be a shock if Nottingham Forest were to come under pressure to sell some of their star players this summer. The jewel in the City Ground crown is undoubtedly Morgan Gibbs-White, and he may well fancy testing himself in the Champions League after Forest missed out on qualification in the final weeks of the campaign.

Manchester City are considering a move for the England international as they look to replace the departed Kevin De Bruyne, and Gibbs-White has certainly shown he has the creative capabilities to make such a step up.

One of a host of English players who impressed on foreign soil during the 2024-25 campaign, Jamie Gittens has developed into a dangerous winger for Borussia Dortmund after arriving from Manchester City's academy, and now looks set to return to his homeland this summer as Premier League clubs circle around a player who the Bundesliga giants are willing to listen to offers for.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle have all been credited with interest in the 20-year-old, and as other more expensive forward options begin to come off the board, Gittens could become one of the most sought-after players of the window as it develops.

Another young Englishman who plies his trade on continental Europe, Angel Gomes is a free agent this summer after running down his contract at Lille. Despite making his Three Lions debut back in September, Gomes only made 10 league starts over the course of the campaign as it became clear he would be leaving LOSC, and thus is looking for something of a reset.

Tottenham, West Ham and Marseille are said to be among the former Manchester United academy star's options, meaning a return to the Premier League for Gomes is not out of the question.

The writing has been on the wall for some time at Manchester City for Jack Grealish. The £100m man hasn't lived up to expectations at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival in 2021, and he now looks certain to be moved on this summer after he remained on the bench despite City chasing the game in the FA Cup final before he was left out of Guardiola's squad altogether at Fulham the following week.

Grealish turns 30 in September and thus has no time to waste as he aims to get the most out of his undoubted talent. Newcastle, Tottenham and Everton have emerged as early options in what looks likely to become something of a saga in the coming weeks.

Tottenham launched a desperate £70m move for Marc Guehi during the closing stages of the January window, and though it was a very generous offer, Crystal Palace simply weren't in a position to accept given their lack of numbers in the centre of defence and the fact that they would have had very little time to find an adequate replacement.

It could be a different story this summer, though. Palace only barely managed to hold onto Guehi last summer amid intense interest from Newcastle, but with the England international now entering the final year of his contract, it feels more likely than ever that he will depart Selhurst Park before the end of August.

Viktor Gyokeres is almost certain to leave Sporting CP this summer. The only real doubt lies over where he will end up, as the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all consider moves for a man who scored 54 goals in all competitions for the Portuguese champions this past season.

Wherever he goes, it's likely Sporting will bag a €70m (£59m/$79.5m) fee for a player that they signed from Coventry City in 2023 for just €20m. The answer to that question of Gyokeres' next destination, however, is anyone's guess right now.

With Erling Haaland having committed himself to Manchester City until 2034, Alexander Isak is undoubtedly the most in-demand attacker in England right now. There's not a single club that wouldn't love to sign a player who absolutely tore up the Premier League this past season.

The problem is the price. Even accounting for Newcastle's ongoing issues with Profitability & Sustainability Rules (PSR), the club's Saudi Arabian owners wouldn't accept anything less than a nine-figure fee for Isak, especially after Champions League football was secured for 2025-26. The chances of anyone getting the Sweden international out of St. James' Park might, then, have slipped away for the time being.

After two successive summers of keeping hold of Caiomhin Kelleher despite him wanting to leave Liverpool, the time has finally come for the Reds to acquiesce to their back-up goalkeeper's wishes and allow him to move on. The Ireland international has made it clear he wants to be first-choice going forward, and the Reds already have Giorgi Mamardashvili on the way to support Alisson Becker.

Unsurprisingly, given his impressive performances in relief of Alisson over the years, Kelleher hasn't been short of suitors, with West Ham and Leeds United among those keen on the 26-year-old. However, it has been reported that Brentford will win the race for Kelleher after striking an £18m ($24m) deal with Liverpool, and he will replace current Bees No.1 Mark Flekken, who is set to join Bayer Leverkusen.

Bournemouth have already seen Dean Huijsen depart for Real Madrid this summer, but he is unlikely to be the only defender on his way out of the Vitality Stadium as the vultures continue to circle above Milos Kerkez. The Hungary international has shown himself to be one of the brightest young left-backs in the game since arriving into the Premier League, and now looks set to climb the ladder once more.

Liverpool have long been believed to be at the head of the queue to sign Kerkez, though Manchester City are also said to be monitoring his situation with the Cherries valuing their 21-year-old starlet at £45m ($60.5m).

AC Milan's failure to qualify for European football next season has left them open to losing some of their biggest names this summer. Theo Hernandez has been widely expected to leave for a number of months now, and he could be joined in heading for the exits at San Siro by former Serie A MVP Rafael Leao.

The Portugal forward has flattered to deceive at times in recent seasons, and Milan may now look to cash in on one of their prized assets ahead of returning manager Massimiliano Allegri plotting a route back to the top of Italian football. Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal will be watching this one closely...

It would have felt unthinkable that Manchester United might consider selling Kobbie Mainoo at this time last year, but there is now a real chance that the homegrown midfielder moves on this summer. Mainoo has struggled to hold down a role in Ruben Amorim's line up, and as an academy graduate, he would represent 'pure profit' if United needed to boost their finances after failing to qualify for Europe.

Chelsea showed an interest in the teenager during the January transfer window, and the Blues are said to be again considering bringing Mainoo to Stamford Bridge.

Emiliano Martinez has gone from being a little-known Arsenal reserve goalkeeper to a two-time Yashin Trophy winner at the Ballon d'Or ceremony during his time at Aston Villa, but it now seems that the Argentina shot-stopper is set to depart Villa Park following a tearful farewell to the Holte End on the penultimate weekend of Premier League fixtures.

It was thought that the Saudi Pro League would be Martinez's most likely destination, but Manchester United might yet be able to tempt him to remain in the Premier League as they consider moving on from Andre Onana.

It wouldn't be a summer transfer window without a teenage sensation out of South America being on the market, and Franco Mastantuono is set to become the latest youngster to make the switch to a European giant in the coming weeks.

The latest revelation to emerge from the River Plate academy has earned a maiden Argentina call-up after a breakout 12 months that has also led to Mastantuono being pursued by the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and PSG - the latter of whom are now heavy favourites to win the race for the 17-year-old midfielder.

For the second-straight summer it looks as if Brentford will be forced to part with their attacking lynchpin, as Bryan Mbeumo edges towards following Ivan Toney out of the Gtech Community Stadium. Only three players scored more than Mbeumo's 20 Premier League goals last season, while his seven assists highlighted that he is more than just a one-dimensional goal-scorer.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle are among the clubs said to be preparing bids for the Cameroon forward, and with his contract set to expire in 2026, they could get themselves a bargain to boot.

Given the explosive breakout he enjoyed back in 2023, it's a little surprising that Brighton have been able to keep hold of Kaoru Mitoma for so long. However, the Japan international might be about to bid farewell to the Seagulls as interest in his services begins to mount.

Arsenal are said to be battling Bayern Munich for Mitoma's signature, with Brighton reportedly unwilling to sell for less than £40m ($54m) having already rejected a January bid from Saudi side Al-Nassr.

It's honestly surprising that Christopher Nkunku is still at Chelsea. The French forward should have forced his way out of Stamford Bridge in January, as he's far too talented to be spending the majority of his time sitting on the bench.

Nkunku is good enough to be playing regularly for one of Europe's biggest clubs, and there was talk of a mid-season move to Bayern Munich, but those rumours didn't materialise into a transfer, with the Bavarians allegedly put off by Chelsea's ridiculous £62m price tag for a player that they signed for £52m in 2023. Manchester United were also said to be keen during the winter, while Tottenham have been floated as a potential destination for Nkunku in more recent times.

He may have become a cult hero among the Anfield faithful, but it feels like the time is right for Liverpool to cut their losses on Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan managed just five Premier League goals despite the Reds' dominant run to the title this past season, and it's difficult to see a way back into the regular starting line up for Nunez under Arne Slot.

The 25-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, and a switch to Al-Hilal doesn't feel out of the question, especially since it would likely offer Liverpool the best route to recouping as much of the initial £64m ($86.4m) that they spent on Nunez back in 2022 as possible.

Victor Osimhen was arguably the biggest loser of the 2024 summer transfer window. The Nigeria international was meant to join one of Europe's elite clubs after being linked with PSG, Arsenal, Chelsea and even Real Madrid. Instead, after a brief flirtation with Saudi side Al-Ahli, he ended up at Galatasaray, a great club but not exactly the destination Osimhen had in mind when he decided to leave Napoli.

The question now, then, is what will happen this summer. After scoring 37 goals in all competitions, Osimhen is clearly too good to stay in Turkey. and it would be a big surprise if he doesn't finally get the move he wants - provided both he and Napoli adopt a more realistic approach to transfer talks...

One of few prospective free agents whose future remains unclear is Thomas Partey, with the Arsenal midfielder yet to commit himself to any clubs for next season as his contract runs into its final weeks at the Emirates Stadium.

While the Gunners are keen to bring in another No.6 during the window, Mikel Arteta wants Partey to remain in north London. Whether that will happen remains to be seen, however, after Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Saudi Pro League clubs were all credited with interest in the Ghana international.

Joao Pedro's return of 25 goals over the course of his two seasons at Brighton has led to him being linked with bigger clubs in the past, but it remains to be seen exactly where he lands after a late-season training-ground bust-up with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke has led to the Brazilian forward being told to find a new team.

Aston Villa and Newcastle have emerged as Joao Pedro's most viable options early in the window, but it wouldn't be a shock if more established teams show an interest should they fail to land their other targets.

The question around Marcus Rashford isn't whether he will leave Manchester United this summer, but rather how much the Red Devils will get for their former academy favourite. Ruben Amorim froze out the England striker almost immediately upon his arrival at Old Trafford, but Rashford showed he can still produce during an encouraging loan spell at Aston Villa.

United are hopeful of earning £40m ($54m) from the sale of Rashford, though Villa's failure to secure Champions League football may have closed off that potential avenue to a sale. Barcelona are, however, said to be keen, though they are reluctant to meet United's asking price.

One of the few players to emerge from Milan's disastrous season with any credit, Tijjani Reijnders is among European football's more underappreciated midfielders, though one who could garner a not unsubstantial transfer fee in the coming weeks.

Manchester City have singled out Reijnders as the answer to their midfield woes, and have been working on a £55m ($74m) deal since mid-May. This isn't done yet, but it would be quite the surprise if Reijnders isn't wearing sky blue next season...

When Kylian Mbappe arrived at Real Madrid last summer, there was always a concern that Rodrygo's influence at Santiago Bernabeu would be diminished, and so it played out. The Brazil forward scored just six La Liga goals in 2025-25, and ended the season among the substitutes as Carlo Ancelotti opted for Arda Guler off the right instead.

Ancelotti is, of course, gone, and his replacement Xabi Alonso has spoken passionately of keeping Rodrygo. However, with Madrid in spending mode following their trophy-less campaign, a sacrifice may have to be made, and Rodrygo certainly has plenty of suitors, including both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Cristian Romero's importance to Tottenham was illustrated by the role he played in their Europa League success after returning from injury, and Ange Postecoglou would thus be reluctant to lose the central defender just as he has guided Spurs back into the Champions League.

Romero, though, has admirers at Atletico Madrid, including his Argentine compatriot, Diego Simeone, and the Spanish side have made the World Cup winner their priority summer target. To get a deal done, they may have to pay north of €60m (£50.5m/$68m).

Manchester United must have thought they were rid of Jadon Sancho when they waved him off to Chelsea on deadline day last summer. The Blues took the out-of-favour winger on an initial season-long loan with the obligation to buy Sancho at the end of the campaign set at £20m ($27m).

However, it has since emerged that Chelsea can pay £5m ($6.7m) to back out of the deal, and after some indifferent displays for Enzo Maresca's side, the Conference League winners are considering sending Sancho back to Old Trafford. Quite where he would go from there is anyone's guess...

At the end of the January window, Bayern Munich were in a position where they faced losing a host of key players come the end of the campaign. Joshua Kimmich, Alphonso Davies and Leroy Sane had all entered the final six months of their contracts while Jamal Musiala had just 18 months left to run on his deal. In the end, the Bundesliga champions managed to tie down Kimmich, Davies and Musiala to fresh terms - but Sane is yet to commit his future to Bayern, and is now just weeks away from becoming a free agent.

The German outfit are still in talks with the ex-Manchester City winger in a bid to keep him at the Allianz Arena, but both Tottenham and Arsenal are said to be keen on bringing Sane back to the Premier League, and there is a feeling in Munich that he may have had his head turned by that interest.

The feeling was that the much-touted Benjamin Sesko would join one of Europe's elite clubs last summer. However, despite links with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and AC Milan, the Slovenia international ended up committing himself to RB Leipzig until 2029. Of course, that deal was done purely to ensure that the Germans make as much money as possible on Sesko when they sell him this year.

It must be said that the striker wasn't always at his best despite scoring 21 goals in all competitions this past season, but he's still only 22 and has plenty of room to grow. Right now, the Gunners are said to be leading the race for Sesko's signature, but there are plenty of teams in need of a new No.9 who could yet challenge them.

A former Bayern Munich academy star, Angelo Stiller had to leave Bavaria to work himself towards the top of the game, but his performances over the past two seasons for Stuttgart are set to be rewarded with a big-money move to one of Europe's elite.

Stiller has been likened to Toni Kroos within Germany, and so perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that Real Madrid are plotting a move for the 24-year-old midfielder. Liverpool have also been linked in the past, but when Florentino Perez locks onto a player, he usually gets his way.

It was only back in January when RB Leipzig paid €50m (£42m/$56.7m) to make Xavi Simons' loan move from PSG permanent, but things move fast in the world of football, and the German side's failure to qualify for Europe has led to the Netherlands international requesting a move away.

Simons' ideal move is said to be a return to Barcelona, where he trained in La Masia before heading to Paris, but a switch to the Premier League is considered to be more likely right now, with Tottenham among those to have shown an interest.

James Trafford's first taste of Premier League football did not go to plan, as the England U21 international committed a litany of errors before being dropped by Burnley as they suffered relegation. The ex-Manchester City trainee bounced back in record-breaking fashion, however, and earned a nomination for the Championship Player of the Year award as the Clarets earned promotion at the first time of asking.

Despite that, Trafford's time at Turf Moor might be coming to an end, with Newcastle increasingly keen on bringing him to St James' Park to challenge Nick Pope for the No.1 jersey next season. Losing Trafford would be a big blow to Scott Parker's hopes of survival, and thus Burnley are demanding £30m ($40.4m) for their shot-stopper.

Dusan Vlahovic's situation at Juventus was getting uncomfortable even before Randal Kolo Muani rocked up in January and kicked off his loan spell with three goals in his first two Serie A games. The Serbia international subsequently started only five more league games before the end of the season, and it has been decided that he can leave this summer.

The 25-year-old is yet to be seriously linked with any potential suitors, but as the summer's striker merry-go-round kicks into gear, Vlahovic is sure to emerge as a tempting option for someone given his record in Italy.

For the majority of last summer, Nico Williams appeared bound for Barcelona. However, the Catalans never managed to rustle up the cash to sign the Spain international after rather bizarrely opting to spend what little existing money they had on Dani Olmo.

While things worked out for Barca this past season, they could be left to rue that decision long-term, especially if Williams ends up at Real Madrid this summer. Los Blancos are reportedly keen to make a splash in attack and Williams' €60m (£50.5m/$68m) price tag is very tempting. Arsenal, it should be pointed out, are also keen on the 22-year-old.

There's a real chance that Florian Wirtz finishes the transfer window as the most expensive signing of the summer, and yet his move could be one of the first to be completed. Bayern Munich and Manchester City both flung themselves at the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker once the Bundesliga season ended, but it is Liverpool who are in pole position to win this race.

The Reds have made a £109m ($147m) offer for Wirtz as they look to make the Germany international the centrepiece of the Arne Slot era, and should they get the deal done, it will send shockwaves around Europe that Liverpool are unlikely to be one-season wonders under Jurgen Klopp's replacement.

Martin Zubimendi's proposed move to Liverpool was one of the most engrossing dramas of last summer's window. Reds sporting director, Richard Hughes, thought that he had convinced the Spain international to move to Anfield and, thus, immediately solved the team's longstanding problem in midfield. However, Real Sociedad managed to convince Zubimendi to stay in his native San Sebastian because of his deep-rooted ties to the Basque club, leaving Liverpool stunned.

Of course, things worked out well in the end for the Merseysiders, as Ryan Gravenberch has since emerged as a top-class No.6, but Zubimendi reportedly regretted staying with La Real and is now expected to belatedly depart for pastures new, with Arsenal having moved ahead of Real Madrid in this particular battle.