Transfer Talk: Big name deals set to go through in the summer
Transfer Talk: Big name deals set to go through in the summer

Summer transfer window 2020: Deals set to happen and players on the move, including Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Gareth Bale


The January transfer window is closed and while some clubs secured their targets, and players secured their desired move, there are still plenty of moves already in the pipeline for the summer.

From players out of contract to those just ready for a new challenge, we will be set for another off-season full of drawn out sagas and intriguing moves in and out of the Premier League and across Europe.

We look at players likely to change clubs come the end of the campaign...



Edinson Cavani

PSG forward Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani: Atletico bound?

The Uruguayan handed in a transfer request at PSG in January and was subject to links with Atletico Madrid, Man United and Chelsea.

The Spanish capital was said to have been his preferred destination but a deal fell through late in the month - he had even said his goodbyes to his team-mates - but he is going to run down his contract in France.

The relationship with Atletico could be damaged after a club official recently said they were 'not here to be robbed' and Cavani's mother has waded in, demanding an apology.

"It's not impossible that Edinson could go to Atletico Madrid in the summer, as long as the president rectifies what he said," Berta Gomez told AS.

She admits Cavani wants to play for fellow South American Diego Simeone but now he is available for free in the summer, some of the world's biggest clubs will join them in circling, with David Beckham's Inter Miami reportedly among those already eyeing the striker.

Dries Mertens

Dries Mertens has been linked with a Premier League move
Dries Mertens has been linked with a Premier League move

From one former Napoli player to a current one, 32-year-old Mertens was strongly linked with a switch to Frank Lampard's Chelsea in the last window, but it has been reported that the Serie A side were not willing to let him go and he also has his eyes on becoming the club's all-time top goalscorer.

The Belgian's goal in Monday's win over Sampdoria saw him move on to 119 goals - above Diego Maradona already and just two off current leading scorer Marek Hamsik.

Barring a serious injury, it is surely a case of when Mertens sets the new record, rather than if. He is also out of contract in the summer, so it would be some way to end his seven-year stay in Naples.

Mertens is just 5ft 3in, and is no spring chicken with his 33rd birthday coinciding with the end of the campaign, but he is showing that age is just a number as he continues to score for club and country - including in their Champions League win over Liverpool in September.

Lampard does have a young side and Mertens would provide that experience when it matters, but there is also talk of Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis readying a new deal before other clubs start circling and tempting Mertens with huge sums.

Willian

Willian celebrates scoring for Chelsea at Tottenham in the Premier League
Willian celebrates scoring for Chelsea at Tottenham in the Premier League

According to reports at the start of the week, Willian is hoping to resolve his contract with Chelsea despite talk of Barcelona interest.

The Brazilian, who turns 32 in August, is free to negotiate with overseas clubs due to his expiring contract, but he is holding out for a three-year deal from Chelsea, according to ESPN, with his family settled in the English capital. The Blues are only willing to offer him two years, though, and Barcelona are not the only club keeping an eye on things.

Four clubs have reportedly already expressed an interest in the attacking midfielder, which could well help him persuade Chelsea to up their offer.

Willian joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013 and has made a total of 323 appearances for the club, scoring 57 goals and assisting a further 58.

If Lampard does want a squad overhaul in the off-season though, he may well be wishing Willian well if the two parties still cannot agree on a deal.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Kalidou Koulibaly: Napoli defender has been linked with the Premier League for a number of years
Kalidou Koulibaly: Napoli defender has been linked with the Premier League for a number of years

A towering central defender that has been linked with the Premier League for a number of years now, if Kalidou Koulibaly is going to move to England, he best do it soon.

The Senegal international is 29 in June and has reportedly been ear-marked by long-term admirers Man United as a perfect partner for £80m Harry Maguire.

Napoli apparently want around £90m for their vice-captain, who would be open to a switch, but the Express reports that Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen to secure his services, so a bidding war could ensue.

Koulibaly's name has been a regular in the transfer window and it looks like it could be mentioned a lot more this year.

Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho has been linked with a move to the Premier League
Jadon Sancho has been linked with a move to the Premier League

Here's another name we will be seeing plenty of in the coming months.

Jadon Sancho recently became the youngest player to score 25 Bundesliga goals at just 19 years of age, and he may be ready to step up after three years at Dortmund.

He signed a new deal with the club last summer worth an eye-watering £190,000-a-week and it will no doubt have a large release clause inserted with this summer in mind.

Manchester United have repeatedly been linked with the former City starlet, who is likely to command a fee of over £100m, and the Express are claiming the Red Devils are willing to go all out for him in the summer.

If Man City are willing to match any fee for Sancho, they have first refusal as part of the deal which saw him leave the Etihad in 2017. If not, they will be due around 15% of the fee.

As much as United need a player like him, Chelsea are also said to be circling with the Stamford Bridge club still missing a player in the mould of Eden Hazard since his departure last summer.

If that was not enough, Sancho has this week been linked with Premier League champions-in-waiting Liverpool. If Mo Salah or one of their front three is poached by one of the Spanish giants, Sancho has been mentioned as a potential replacement, as well as Kylian Mbappe.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale celebrates Wales qualifying for Euro 2020
Gareth Bale celebrates Wales qualifying for Euro 2020

The Real Madrid star was strongly linked with a January move to Tottenham, but his agent says he does not think his client will ever return to north London.

The Wales international left Spurs for Real Madrid in 2013 for a then world-record £85million and he has regularly been linked with a move back.

But Jonathan Barnett, who has often defended Bale in public after recent difficulties in the Spanish capital, says a move back to Spurs is not likely.

Asked whether it will ever happen, he told talkSPORT: "I don't think so, no. He's in a very fortunate position.

"When his contract is up hopefully he will sit down with me and his family and decide what he wants to do. Gareth is very happy over there. And let's be realistic, for most clubs he is out of their league, financially.

"It is all well and good to say, 'Go and give up that money and go and play somewhere else', but it is not all about money. It is about his lifestyle and his children, who have grown up in Madrid."

There was again strong speculation last month, with reports suggesting the two clubs were in dialogue, and that Daniel Levy visited Madrid for talks.

Bale's future has come under constant speculation ever since Zinedine Zidane's return to the club and the 30-year-old travelled to China in the summer transfer window before a move collapsed at the 11th hour.

He has had a fractious relationship with fans and was left out of the Madrid derby this week for tactical reasons, but Barnett continues to insist Bale is happy in Spain and wants to see out his contract at the Bernabeu.

"Gareth believes there is still a future there for him," he added. "He has two-and-a-half more years there, he has a wife and three children who are happy.

"He is still a very important part of Real Madrid. The only people who know what are going on are Zinedine Zidane, Gareth and the president of Real Madrid. They know what is going on."

If the saga does continue then, where does Bale go? Few clubs, as Barnett mentions, in England could afford to bring him in, which could open the door for Euro giants Bayern Munich or PSG, who could be on the lookout for replacements should Kylian Mbappe or Neymar follow Cavani out of the Parc des Princes.

Ryan Fraser

Ryan Fraser: Scotland international has previously been linked with Liverpool
Ryan Fraser: Scotland international has previously been linked with Liverpool

The Scotland international has been linked with Liverpool in recent years, but reports on Tuesday suggested that Man United made a late attempt to sign Fraser in the January transfer window.

The midfielder, 25, is out of contract at the Vitality in the summer and he has previously received interest from Arsenal and West Ham, but the Cherries were holding out for around £15million in January and now face losing him for nothing in the summer.

Fraser has shown glimpses of his talent in recent years in a Bournemouth shirt, with the ability to change a game due to his direct approach in the final third.

Clubs cannot negotiate with him just yet and it may all depend on which division Eddie Howe's side are playing in next season, but signing Fraser on a free could prove to be excellent business for a top-flight side.

Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe (right): France forward clashed with PSG boss Thomas Tuchel after being substituted in their win over Montpellier
Kylian Mbappe (right): France forward clashed with PSG boss Thomas Tuchel after being substituted in their win over Montpellier

The French talent fuelled talk of a potential exit when he clashed with boss Thomas Tuchel after being substituted during PSG's 5-0 thrashing of Montpellier.

Some speculation followed, suggesting Tuchel's clear-the-air talks along with sporting director Leonardo backfired and that could put Europe's top clubs on red alert.

A show of passion or petulance from Mbappe? Either way, it will not ward off suitors with the 21-year-old talent already among the best in the world.

Liverpool fans and their 'Mbappe2020' campaign will inevitably get excited, with the forward recently praising the club for their title charge this season, while Barcelona and Real Madrid are always on the lookout for a star name.

It will be interesting to see how the situation develops and whether the hatchet has been buried - Mbappe did feature for the whole 90 minutes in Tuesday's away win at Nantes.


Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet@SportingLifeFC

Related football links

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.Sky Bet's responsible gambling tools are detailed here and if you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.

Like what you've read?

MOST READ FOOTBALL

Sporting Life
Join for free!
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Race Replays
My stable horse tracker
giftOffers and prize draws
newsExclusive content

FOOTBALL TIPS

We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo