A record-breaking summer of spending in the Premier League and elsewhere is expected.
Numerous players of the highest caliber may be moving, including England stars Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham who may join new teams.
As Jurgen Klopp seeks a summer rebuild, Liverpool is in the lead in the race for three midfielders, while Manchester City has gained ground in the ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ for defender Josko Gvardiol.
There are many promising stars around the world catching the attention of the richest league on the planet. Other “Big Six” clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea will strengthen as well.
With the summer transfer window jolting open in less than three months, Sportsmail examines the biggest transfer sagas anticipated and rates the likelihood that the deals will be completed.
Harry Kane
The will-he-won’t-he saga that has dragged on for years may finally come to an end this year when Harry Kane finally departs Tottenham, with Manchester United leading the race.
This could be Harry Kane’s last season at Tottenham.
He is a large fish in a small pond, and although Spurs fans won’t like us saying it, it appears likely that this season will be his last in north London, two years after he ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ to move to Manchester City, where Erling Haaland is now the center of their ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ.
With 20 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions this season, the England captain is the best player on a sluggish team and may be the only player of his caliber at the club.
Only Haaland (27), who has more goals than his 18 league goals this season, is likely to finish his career as the Premier League, England, and Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer.
The chairman of the Spurs, Daniel Levy, will be adamant about not losing their prized asset for nothing when his current contract expires in the summer of 2024. At the age of 29, Kane is aware that his upcoming deal might be his final significant one.
Spurs are currently in fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying spot, but Liverpool and Newcastle are right behind them and are likely favorites to pass them because they have games in hand.
Given that Kane wants to compete at the highest level and win trophies, it is believed that Spurs will lower their £100 million asking price if they are not in the Champions League the following season. In this case, United is growing more confident that they can sign him.
The response United received after contacting Kane’s camp via a third party is also said to have inspired them.
Given their rivalries with Tottenham, he is extremely unlikely to join Arsenal or Chelsea, and Levy’s oath to never sell to an English club is the main obstacle to a move to United. Kane might need to reconsider that given his contract situation.
Mason Mount
Mason Mount of Chelsea is the top target for Liverpool, who are looking for one to three midfielders to rev up their midfield.
The club’s academy graduate and fan favorite Mount has been a part of the team for 18 years and is a true Blue.
However, similar to Kane’s situation at Spurs, the club is desperate to avoid losing their prized asset for nothing as his contract expires in 2024.
The way that Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen’s contracts with international teams ran out last summer astounds new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
If Chelsea and the Reds cannot come to terms on an extension before the season ends, Chelsea will look to sell him, with the Reds being first in line.
Although it is untrue that Mount is demanding £300,000 per week, the situation is thought to be complicated, with bonuses, image rights, and add-ons being the main points of contention.
While the player would prefer a slightly shorter contract, Chelsea wants him to sign on for the better part of a decade. According to The Athletic, there were fruitful negotiations in November, and both parties are confident they can reach a settlement.
Liverpool are leading the race to recruit Mount in the summer.
If not, a sale would still count as profit on the Blues’ balance sheets because he is an academy graduate, which would help them abide by FFP rules.
Newcastle has joined Liverpool in the race, as Sportsmail reported on Tuesday, but a stay at Stamford Bridge is thought to be more likely than a move to the Toon. Man United, Man City, and Juventus, according to Sportsmail, are also interested.
Jude Bellingham
Perhaps the most sought-after football player in the world is Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund star is already one of the best players in Europe at the tender age of 19.
Almost all of the top English teams were interested in signing him last summer, but Dortmund refused to let him and Haaland, one of their best players, leave in the same transfer window.
His departure from Signal Iduna Park for the Premier League this summer is all but a mathematical certainty.
Additionally, this year, Liverpool, City, United, and Chelsea have all expressed new interest. Liverpool is in the lead as they search for a much-needed midfield upgrade, and title-chasing City is also very interested in the teenager.
Bellingham will need bigger clubs if it wants to win the title.
Real Madrid, a Spanish powerhouse and the current Champions League champions, are also in the mix, but they recently made significant transfers of French youngsters Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga to strengthen their midfield.
Although they have an interest, Man United and Chelsea are less likely to make pursuing him a top priority. Liverpool fans went into a frenzy when Bellingham liked Reds right-back Trent Alexander-post Arnold’s commemorating their 7-0 victory over Manchester United.
No wonder, either. Bellingham is so good that he could make whoever he joins win the Premier League.
Josko Gvardiol
According to Sportsmail’s sources, City is very interested in both Bellingham and RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
One of the standout players at the World Cup in Qatar was the 21-year-old Croatian, who immediately caught the attention of virtually every major European club.
The talented center-half, who can also play left-back, is desired by several teams, including Liverpool and Chelsea.
A successful world cup season helped Gvardiol receive a lot of attention from big teams.
Although it will stretch their budget, City also likes Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and wants a pure left-back to compete with Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez, and (potentially) the returning Joao Cancelo.
As a result, City’s pursuit may be somewhat influenced by sales or the departure of defenders like Aymeric Laporte.
However, it appears that Gvardiol will leave Leipzig this summer.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice is a different player who likely outgrew his current team.
The 24-year-old is admired by Manchester rivals City and United, but they both spent a lot of money on midfielders Kalvin Phillips (£42 million) and Casemiro (£70 million) last summer, while Chelsea’s likely absence from Champions League play will work against them.
Whatever the case, Arsenal has advanced in the pursuit of the “Basmati Busquets” as they look to bolster their team in anticipation of a virtually certain return to Europe’s top competition. Rice has been identified by the Gunners as their top transfer target this summer.
Thomas Partey, who is talented but prone to injuries, Granit Xhaka, who is 30 years old, Jorginho, who is only a temporary fill-in, Mohamed Elneny, who is only a squad player, Albert Sambi Lokonga, who may be traded this summer, and Fabio Vieira, who is still developing, make up the center of the park.
Arteta would love to have a player like Rice in the squad.
Rice would be highly sought after if he were a young, mobile, dynamic central midfielder with room for improvement, Premier League experience, and the versatility to play as either a No. 6 or a No. 8 in Arsenal’s typical 4-3-3 formation.
Jack Wilshere, a legendary Gunner and Under-18 coach, is trying to convince his friend to move to north London as well.
The pair grew close to one another while playing together at West Ham, as Sportsmail’s Sami Mokbel ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ last week. This bond may play a role in Rice’s decision as to where he will play next.
His time in east London is likely coming to an end even if West Ham avoids relegation, though the nine-figure sum the Hammers are likely to demand could extend it.