15 sagas that will define the transfer window
Though the transfer window is yet to officially open for every European league - it begins on July 1 for teams in Spain, Germany, and Italy - there has already been a flurry of activity in the market, with clubs in England particularly busy in the early days of what promises to be a fascinating period. Below, we examine 15 sagas that will define the summer window.
(Before you ask, no, we're not including Cristiano Ronaldo. He's not leaving Real Madrid this summer.)
Kylian Mbappe to ... wherever he wants
Kylian Mbappe has the world in the palm of his hand. The French sensation, 18, is the hottest name on the market. A stupendous 26-goal season with Monaco saw him go from touted teenager to the most in-demand player on the planet, with bids in the realm of €120 million reportedly being tabled for his services. Real Madrid, as always, seems to be leading the race for his signature, while the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have also been mentioned as potential destinations. If Mbappe departs the Stade Louis II, it will be for a record fee, and will be the defining move of the window.
Alvaro Morata to Manchester United
After Antoine Griezmann (finally) decided to spurn Manchester United's flirtations and remain with Atletico Madrid, the Red Devils' attention has shifted to 24-year-old Spaniard Alvaro Morata. Despite playing only 1,334 minutes in La Liga this past season, Morata still finished second on the club with 15 league tallies, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo. Reports suggest a £60-million bid could be enough to close a deal, as Jose Mourinho looks for the man to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the focal point of his attack.
Marco Verratti to Barcelona
Is Marco Verratti the man to lead Barcelona into its post-Andres Iniesta and Xavi era for good? The club seems to think so, and has reportedly identified the diminutive Italian as its main target in the market. After last summer's lacklustre dealings, Barcelona's boardroom is promising some "big-name signings" in the coming weeks. It will likely take a small fortune to get the crafty, slick-passing midfielder out of the French capital.
The race for Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma's decision not to sign a new contract with AC Milan rocked both the Italian side and the football world. The giant 18-year-old shot-stopper had long pronounced his love for his boyhood club, only to turn around and, in a move that had agent Mino Raiola's fingerprints all over it, reject a new deal that would have paid him some €5 million per season. The teenager has already faced plenty of vitriol over the decision, though there are now some rumblings he may yet renew with the Rossoneri. If he doesn't, Real Madrid will surely be lurking.
Can Arsenal keep hold of Alexis Sanchez?
The primary concern for Arsenal supporters this summer isn't new arrivals, but potential departures. Alexis Sanchez is at the centre of swirling rumours over his future. The Chilean's contract is set to expire in 2018, and, with a new deal yet to be reached, speculation is rife that Sanchez will be playing elsewhere this coming season. Mesut Ozil's contract situation mirrors that of his energetic teammate, though it certainly feels like Sanchez is the more likely of the pair to leave north London this summer. Bayern Munich is the side being consistently linked with an opulent move for the indefatigable 28-year-old.
Juventus set for a shopping spree
After consecutive years of rebuilding due to significant departures, this was supposed to be a summer where Juventus would simply reload, adding one or two missing pieces to an already impressive squad. Instead, recent news that Dani Alves has asked to leave throws a wrench into the Italian side's plans. In addition to signing a top-quality central midfielder and adding some more attacking flair with a new winger - or two - the Bianconeri will now need to fill a glaring hole at right-back. Add to that the search for Gianluigi Buffon's successor, and it promises to be a busy month for Beppe Marotta and Co., who will be desperate to help the squad make the step up necessary to get over the Champions League hump. Moves for youngsters like Riccardo Orsolini, Rodrigo Bentancur, and, potentially, Patrik Schick are both impressive and important for the club's long-term health, but they don't help bridge the obvious gap to Real Madrid that was on full display in Cardiff.
Andrea Belotti to leave Torino?
Italy's new No. 9 is being linked with a host of clubs following a breakout campaign in which he found the net 26 times in league play for Torino. Belotti, who mixes physical power with clever movement and an ability to finish chances in any multitude of ways, has been linked with the likes of AC Milan, Manchester United, and Chelsea this summer. His mammoth release clause of €100 million is applicable only to clubs outside of Serie A.
James Rodriguez's search for playing time
James Rodriguez can't afford to spend another season rotting on Real Madrid's bench. The Colombian playmaker, 25, made only 13 La Liga starts this past season, getting a total of just 1,180 minutes on the pitch. To highlight how dire matters became, he wasn't even among the substitutes for the Champions League final. Rodriguez always felt like an unnecessary "Galactico" signing when he joined the club on the back of his spectacular showing at the 2014 World Cup - a Florentino Perez special, if you will - and he desperately needs to leave the Spanish capital to revive what could still be a sparkling career.
Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku has already admitted he has an agreement with a new club, and with Diego Costa looking increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, many have surmised that the burly Belgian scoring machine will make a triumphant return to Chelsea to replace the Spaniard. Lukaku, one of only four players in Premier League history to score more than 80 goals before turning 24, could be a dominant force playing alongside a stacked Blues lineup.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's next move
Another summer, another fresh slate of rumours linking Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a move away from Borussia Dortmund. Now 28, the French-born Gabon international, coming off a season in which he led the Bundesliga with 31 goals, is in line for the final big payday of his career. He's one of the premier scorers in the world, and his ridiculous pace, which allows him to take up excellent positions inside the penalty area, makes him the type of devastating threat that various clubs, including PSG, are interested in signing. The summer promises to be dominated by the movement of strikers, and Aubameyang's potential transfer could be the table-setter.
Can Diego Costa engineer an Atletico reunion?
After Antonio Conte broke up with him via text message, Diego Costa has been left to find himself a new club. His affinity for Atletico Madrid, where he starred before his move to west London, is no secret, but the Spanish side's transfer ban complicates matters. If Costa really wants to return to Atletico, he'd have to be willing to sit in the stands until January, when the ban ends and he can be officially registered. With the World Cup on the horizon, a move to China seems unlikely, leaving Atleti as the front-runner for the polarising 28-year-old. This one could drag on for a bit.
Joe Hart back in England
Cast aside by Pep Guardiola last summer, an intrepid Joe Hart made the decision to test himself outside of the Premier League, spending a season on loan with Torino. There were ups and downs for England's maligned No. 1, but with the enriching experience coming to an end, Hart now finds himself staring at another decision over his future. Guardiola doesn't want him, and Everton's signing of Jordan Pickford eliminates one of the few realistic Premier League options he had coming into the window. Could Hart be heading out onto the continent once again?
Mohamed Salah gets another crack at the Premier League
Mohamed Salah's move from Roma to Liverpool is the most advanced of any on the list, but that doesn't mean the switch - which will reportedly cost Liverpool a club-record fee of £39 million and could be completed in the coming days - won't have longstanding consequences. For starters, Roma will need to replace its most dynamic attacker in a bid to keep pace with Juventus in Serie A. Daniel Sturridge will likely be looking for a new club with the arrival of another player who will operate as part of Jurgen Klopp's uber-mobile front three. And then there's the biggest domino of all for the Reds ...
Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona
Philippe Coutinho could simply move into a more traditional attacking midfield role with the arrival of Salah - Sadio Mane will likely operate out on the left wing - but will the pint-sized Brazilian be pulling the strings in midfield for Liverpool, or for Barcelona? The Blaugrana have been linked with a move for the electric 25-year-old, with some suggesting he is seen as the long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta as the most creative, attack-minded member of the Catalan side's midfield trio.
Manchester City's full-back problem
Kyle Walker. Benjamin Mendy. Ryan Bertrand. And now Dani Alves. Of all the holes that Pep Guardiola needs to fill in order for his side to play the brand of football he desires, none is more glaring than at full-back, and those four men have all been named as potential signings in what has already been a summer of lavish expenditure for the Citizens. Alves seems destined to reunite with his beloved former boss after parting ways with Juventus, and with an endless supply of cash, it's hard to envision a scenario where Guardiola doesn't get at least two more of his preferred targets.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)