The big names who could get a transfer this summer
The 2022 summer transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most epic ones ever.
A combination of factors has led to a whole host of world-class players being ready to move this summer, and many more great talents besides them as well. This amount of shifting talent could upend the entire footballing landscape as we currently know it.
So, who are these major players on the move, and where are they going? We’ve got them here, with the exceptions being if their move is already confirmed.
Robert Lewandowski
Club: Bayern Munich
Possible destination: Barcelona, Chelsea
It appears that the Bundesliga’s most devastating marksman is eager to depart for pastures new. Having won the German title 10 times (and the last 8 consecutively) scoring 344 times in 375 games for Bayern and with a year left on his deal, Lewandowski is seeking a new challenge. The rejuvenated Barcelona look like his destination of choice while Chelsea are also rumoured to be interested.
Robert Lewandowski is 1/5 to join Barcelona this summer
Serge Gnabry
Club: Bayern Munich
Possible destination: Real Madrid, Arsenal
Seeing Lewandowski’s plan in action has apparently inspired Serge Gnabry who also has a year left to run on his current deal. The German international isn’t after a new challenge, per se, he just wants to play as a central striker. Seems like the smart move would be to stay at Bayern and take Lewandowski’s place, but a return to former club Arsenal has been mooted and with Kylian Mbappé staying in Paris, don’t rule out Real Madrid making a cheeky move for him.
Arsenal are 3/1 to sign Serge Gnabry in this summers transfer window
Ousmane Dembélé
Club: Barcelona
Possible destination: Chelsea, PSG
The ambipedal genius is finally making good on his immense talent at Barcelona. Five years after signing him, Dembélé has turned in his best (half) season in Blaugrana, ratcheting up a league-high 13 assists in less than 1,500 minutes.
His contract expires in the summer, however, and while he would like to stay his wage demands are said to be too high for a club who would like him to show a little understanding towards a club that has supported him throughout five years of injury-plagued underperformance.
No resolution has been made, but the likes of PSG and Chelsea are circling and with Kylian Mbappé staying in Paris and Angel Di Maria departing, what could be better for Dembélé then heading back to Ligue 1 to play alongside his good friend Kylian and old mentor Lionel? All while being paid whatever obscene sum of money he requests?
It’s 5/2 for Ousmane Dembele to make a move to Paris
Paul Pogba
Club: Man Utd
Possible destination: Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus
The French midfielder has seemingly been on the verge of leaving Manchester United for years now but finally, with his contract expiring, it looks like he might actually do it. Former club Juve join long-time admirers Real Madrid and big-time money-havers PSG in courting the fabulous Frenchman. Where he’ll go is anyone’s guess.
Frenkie De Jong
Club: Barcelona
Possible destination: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, PSG
Barcelona is Frenkie de Jong’s dream club so the idea he’d leave after three years is a bit ridiculous, but the Blaugrana are in a financially tricky situation thanks to their previous board. Joan Laporta has spoken to journalist Gerard Romero and said that if Barcelona can close certain deals then they won’t have to make sales for economic reasons, implying that right now they do have to make sales for economic reasons.
Chief among those sales would be Frenkie de Jong, who has the “misfortune” of still having a huge market value. Pretty much every big club in Europe would be in the market to sign Frenkie, but Manchester United and new coach Erik Ten Hag (who coached De Jong at Ajax) are desperate to recruit the Dutch midfield maestro.
Frenkie de Jong is 1/4 to be re-united with Erik Ten Hag at Man Utd
Paulo Dybala
Club: Juventus
Possible destination: Inter Milan
After years of playing for Juventus, both exceptionally and unexceptionally, Paulo Dybala has finally called time on his career there as his contract expires this summer. Still only 28, Dybala’s talents could be extremely valuable elsewhere, which is probably why Inter Milan are trying to take him to the San Siro.
Inter are 1/20 favourites to sign Paulo Dybala
Romelu Lukaku
Club: Chelsea
Possible destination: Inter Milan
Having left Inter Milan and failed once again to set the Premier League alight, Romelu Lukaku could end up being cast out at Stamford Bridge. Of course there’s no guarantee he’ll leave, given his pricetag Chelsea may be keen to give him another season. But Inter, where he bagged 64 goals across 95 matches in all competitions, are keen to reunite.
Romelu Lukaku is 1/10 to return to Inter this summer
Antony
Club: Ajax
Possible destination: Manchester United
While right-wing isn’t as high on the priority list for Manchester United as other positions, it is an area where they need improvement. Luckily for them that Ajax’s right-wing superstar Antony could be available. Ten Hag has confirmed “there is no agreement in place that would exclude him from taking players to Manchester United,” so, why not Antony?
You can back an Antony & Ten Hag reunion at 1/2
Jurrien Timber
Club: Ajax
Possible destination: Manchester United
Speaking of Ajax players that United might be after, Jurrien Timber recently joined the list equally because United’s centre-backs have been awful this season, he is capable at right-back as well, and finally when he was asked about it, Ten Hag said: “I think all top clubs have Timber in their sight.” He would help the Red Devils immensely.
Gareth Bale
Club: Real Madrid
Possible destination: Cardiff
Wales. Golf. Madrid.
Well, we can drop Madrid from that list as Gareth Bale’s contract in the Spanish has expired. What comes next for the superstar depends on what happens with his national side. Per his agent Jonathan Barnett: “He leaves Real Madrid, but we have to wait for what Wales will be able to do,” Barnett told Portuguese outlet Record, according to the Mirror. “It all depends on whether Wales qualify for the World Cup, then we will make a decision.”
So Bale will definitely be moving this summer, but will that involve him moving into retirement?
Fancy Gareth Bale to make a return to Wales? he’s 1/3 to sign for Cardiff
Angel Di Maria
Club: PSG
Possible destination: Juventus
It seems a lifetime ago that Angel Di Maria joined PSG, and sure enough he’s played 295 games for the Parisians and taken part in all of the clubs highs (and lows) over that time. Now he’s off on a free transfer and the destination is rumoured to be Juventus, which makes sense as they are in desperate need of someone to load the bullets for Dusan Vlahovic.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Club: Chelsea
Possible destination: Barcelona
Chelsea’s captain is entering the final weeks of his contract with Chelsea. The Spaniard has won everything with the Blues but has yet to agree a new deal and has been linked with a move to Barcelona for a while now. The Blaugrana are looking for some veteran leadership (possibly to mentor Sergino Dest) and Azpilicueta provides that while also being six years younger than current veteran right-back Dani Alves. There’s word the Blues could activate a clause to extend his deal by a year automatically, but we’ll have to wait and see if Azpi tries to make the move happen himself.
Memphis Depay
Club: Barcelona
Possible destination: Spurs
Memphis Depay joined Barcelona, the club of his dreams, with the intention of playing alongside Leo Messi. This quickly became having to replace Leo Messi, but he seemed up for the challenge until the misery of Ronald Koeman’s management as well as injuries dragged him down. Now under Xavi he is far from first or even second-choice in attack and the Blaugrana could move him on this summer to raise funds for other signings, like Robert Lewandowski).
Luis Suárez
Club: Atlético Madrid
Possible destination: Aston Villa, River Plate
Luis Suárez joined Atlético Madrid two years ago fuelled by hatred and vengeance after the previous Barcelona board had disrespected him. In retribution he helped fire Atleti to win La Liga in a beautiful bit of revenge. Absent that furious motivation his second season was much less impressive as he struggled with the ravages of age. He left the club in the summer, and allegedly Steven Gerrard is eyeing a reunion with him at Aston Villa.
Luis Suarez is 7/4 to get the band back together
Jules Koundé
Club: Sevilla
Possible destination: Chelsea, Barcelona
Jules Koundé has been linked with Chelsea every transfer window for the last few years but now, with the Blues losing two stud centre-backs this summer and possibly a third as well, it feels like this will finally be the window where the magnificent Koundé brings his unique talents to Stamford Bridge. Barcelona are rumoured to be after him, but that doesn’t seem likely given the fees involved.
Pau Torres
Club: Villarreal
Possible destination: Spurs, Manchester United
Staying in La Liga, Pau Torres was linked with Man Utd and Spurs last year but neither club could make the move happen. This summer both teams will surely be back for Torres, with Conte able to advertise Spurs with Champions League football and his own demonstrable coaching genius, neither of which was on offer a year ago.
Pau Torres to join the Antonio Conte revolution?
Youri Tielemans
Club: Leicester
Possible destination: Arsenal
Arsenal need midfielders as we have seen by their late season collapse without Thomas Partey. Youri Tielemans, a midfielder they’ve been linked with before and someone who is too good to be stuck with no European football at the King Power, makes an whole load of sense as a result. Will the Gunners finally land their man?
Arsenal favourites to sign Youri Tielemans this summer
Ilkay Gundogan
Club: Manchester City
Possible destination: Real Madrid
Of course if Arsenal were feeling very ambitious they could even make a move for Ilkay Gundogan. The Manchester City man has been told he can find a new club this summer, and so Mikel Arteta could convince him to come to North London (after they did work together at City). However Gundogan’s exceptional talents have already been linked to Real Madrid so would need some convincing to abandon that.
Gabriel Jesus
Club: Manchester City
Possible destination: Arsenal
Another Manchester City player who is more likely to pick Arsenal is Gabriel Jesus. There were murmurs of his departure all season but since City signed Erling Haaland those murmurs have developed into shouts. Again the Mikel Arteta connection is fuelling the transfer talk. Well, that and Arsenal’s chronic need for a no. 9.
Arsenal odds on favourite to sign Man City’s Brazilian forward
Raheem Sterling
Club: Manchester City
Possible destination: Chelsea
Raheem Sterling was linked to Arsenal for years but with the arrival of Erling Haaland and the continued failure to agree a new deal (his current contract expires in 2023) has hastened word of his departure. However in bad news for Arsenal fans, Sky Sports has reported that Chelsea are confident of signing the Man City and England forward.
Raheem Sterling 4/9 to sign for Chelsea
Declan Rice
Club: West Ham
Possible destination: Manchester United, Chelsea
“I said in the summer that I thought Declan Rice was £100 million. That was the sales, that was cheap, that was your chance to get Declan Rice cheap,” said David Moyes back in February. Now, Manchester United and Chelsea are both very much into signing Rice (and who wouldn’t be given his ability) but if the Irons are really holding out for £100m+ then they need to check themselves.
Chelsea favourites to beat Man Utd to the signing of Declan Rice
Jarrod Bowen
Club: West Ham
Possible destination: Liverpool
Liverpool had been linked with Jarrod Bowen for while and that was before his stunning brace against Manchester City almost gave the Reds the edge in the Premier League title race. Now? The Reds must be desperate to bring him to Anfield to provide even more depth (or starting quality should Liverpool do the unthinkable with their no. 11).
Liverpool 6/1 to sign Jarrod Bowen
Mohamed Salah
Club: Liverpool
Possible destination: ???
Yes, really. With just one year left on his contract and no sign of a deal being reached, Liverpool could do the unthinkable this summer and cash in on Mohamed Salah. Such has been his form this season that he could command a nine figure transfer fee (allowing Liverpool to finance their own bit of squad regeneration) and take his world-class wing wizardry elsewhere.
Where could that be? No one has been linked right now but Real Madrid would be the obvious destination both in terms of sheer prestige but also tactical structure. Los Blancos have Karim Benzema up-front and Vinicius Jr. on the left, Salah slots in perfectly on the right and would be a wonderful consolation prize for Florentino Perez having missed out so publicly on Kylian Mbappé.
