A fascinating and engrossing transfer window lies ahead and with some big clubs looking to strengthen, and others to reset, no doubt fortunes will be spent this summer.
Harry Kane to Manchester United? That’s one that feels likelier by the day, while a tug-of-war between Manchester City and Real Madrid for Jude Bellingham seems destined to play out.
It is the futures of both England stars that will dominate the headlines in the coming months.
Elsewhere, don’t discount a transfer or three coming out of left-field. They always happen. They always throw us off-guard. And with that in mind, these five odd links should not be easily dismissed.
Harry Maguire to PSG
The Manchester United centre-back has endured a torrid time of it since arriving at Old Trafford, seeing his reputation greatly diminish via a series of poor performances and numerous mishaps.
Yet for all that Maguire has become – fairly or harshly - short-hand for United’s failings in recent seasons he remains a player of stature, who has led England to a World Cup semi and a Euro final.
Recent reports linking him with the French giants, for a fee exceeding £50m, does not seem so fanciful in that context.
Mason Mount to Arsenal
As of June, Mount enters into his final year contracted to Chelsea and with the midfielder unwilling to extend, that has naturally put several leading clubs on high alert about his availability.
It also crucially, affords the Blues one last window to financially capitalise on a player who came through their youth system.
A reduced fee for a Champions League winner with 41 England caps has lured Manchester United and Liverpool into the reckoning from the off but emerging from the pack, by all accounts, is Arsenal attracted no doubt by Mount’s versatility as much as his proven ability.
Deals between the two London clubs are not uncommon – Willian springs to mind – and Mount gets to stay in the capital.
The more you look at it, the more this transfer makes sense for all concerned.
Sadio Mane to Liverpool
Many Reds attribute Mane’s leaving as one of the main reasons why Liverpool have struggled this season, the team hugely missing his pressing in the final third, not to mention his explosive forward-play.
Unquestionably, the Senegalese star has been one of the best Premier League strikers in recent years, as 111 goals in 263 league outings demonstrates.
His move to Germany however has not gone according to plan with fall-outs with team-mates and a dearth of goals leaving him increasingly on the periphery at Bayern.
With the Bavarians looking to cut their losses and off-load the 31-year-old this summer don’t be surprised if Liverpool aren’t prominent in the queue.
Mohammed Kudus to Newcastle
A stand-out performer for Ghana at the World Cup, Kudus has this week reportedly informed Ajax that he wants to leave the Eredivisie for bigger pastures, a development that will surely prick the ears of Manchester United who are in the market for a player of his ilk.
A bustling, all-action attacking midfielder, the 22-year-old has fired 22 goals for club and country in 2022/23, an impressive double against South Korea in Qatar being the most notable of them.
Surely though, Newcastle will be also be in contention, a club that is very much on the up with Champions League football to offer next term.
All of the Premier League predictions tip even better and brighter things for the Magpies and they cannot afford to pass up an opportunity to sign a player of such quality for a perfectly reasonable sum.
Giovani Lo Celso to Aston Villa
According to Jurgen Klopp, Villa will be in the running to secure a top four spot next season but to continue their resurgence under Unai Emery some big names will have to be brought in over the summer.
Enter Lo Celso, who may not have the stardust of some other names being bandied around but who has previously played under Emery on three occasions.
The Argentinian playmaker is deemed surplus to requirements at Tottenham and a sensible fee should be agreed upon without much drama.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
