B/R World Football Transfer Big Board: Summer 2024

The summer transfer window is creeping up on us.

With Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 approaching, we can expect the upcoming rumour mill to be longer and more tiring than ever as players have little time to agree deals in-between actually playing football.

As ever, we can expect the elite Premier League clubs to be linked to everyone who costs a ridiculous fee. Paris Saint-Germain also need major reinforcements after Kylian Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid was all but sealed.

Here, we look at players whose future could go multiple ways. Stars who have proven their quality, or indeed in some cases, have something to prove. Strap in!

Front runners: Any Saudi club

Dark horses: PSG

Jurgen Klopp’s exit undoubtedly signals a huge shift for Liverpool. While the Reds have seen icons such as Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino leave in recent years, Klopp, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are arguably the holy trinity of this historic era.

Of course, Salah remains a prime target for the Saudi Pro League. It’d be a huge coup for the region to land a posterboy signing.

He wasn’t great for Liverpool in the second half of the season and struggled after his African Cup of Nations injury, but he still notched 25 goals and 13 assists for the club this season.

He’ll be 32 with one year left on his contract when the new Premier League season arrives. Time to cash in?

Front runners: Liverpool

Dark horses: Manchester United

One player who could be majorly impacted by Salah’s future is Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanian superstar enjoyed an excellent first season in England, scoring 13 and providing six assists across the Premier League and Europa League for West Ham.

His final day bicycle kick against Manchester City underlined the point that at 23, he’s one of the hottest talents around. Kudus is well-proven across Europe and reportedly has a buyout clause of £85 million.

He’d be an exciting replacement for Salah and has the ability to improve any team who snap him up.

Front runners: Chelsea

Dark horses: PSG

Think back to summer 2023 and Napoli’s ability to keep star striker Victor Osimhen seemed like one of the biggest pieces of non-business of the season. The newly crowned champions had a bright future ahead after also keeping Khvicha Kvaratskhelia despite both attracting significant interest from clubs who regularly depart with huge sums of cash.

Twelve months down the line, things aren’t so rosy. Napoli put on an awful title defence, finishing 10th. Osimhen’s relationship with the club appeared to get tense around the time of him signing a new contract, and although he did ink a new deal, president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the Nigerian striker is likely to leave.

Despite never really hitting his stride, Osimhen still managed 15 goals in 22 Serie A starts this year. He is said to favour a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea noted as the most likely destination, despite interest from PSG.

At 25 years old and with things in Italy stumbling it seems the right time to try something new. Osimhen remains a terrific goalscorer who is more than capable of tearing up the English top flight. Napoli will just hope those clubs who were willing to part with the cash last year are still hovering.

Front runner: Real Madrid

Dark horses: Saudi Pro League

Reports that Alphonso Davies has agreed to join Real Madrid continue to appear. The explosive 23-year-old actually missed Bayern Munich’s worst moments of the season through injury, but his relationship with the Bavarian club seems to be somewhat coming to an end.

That is, unless new coach Vincent Kompany can get him back on side. The Belgian manager has reportedly held talks to extend Davies’ contract, which isn’t actually a great long-term indicator of whether or not he’ll stay. Bayern need to protect his value, as right now, the Canadian could walk for free in 2025.

It’s a gutsy game to play. Madrid don’t typically miss out on players they want for too long. Davies remains a game-changer at his best and would undoubtedly be a huge loss for the German side.

Front runners: Arsenal

Dark horses: Newcastle, Chelsea, Tottenham

I might be the only one who thinks the Ivan Toney boat may slowly be sailing away.

He found the net just four times in 16 games after his 18-month layoff after being convicted of gambling offences. He also dropped to the bench and didn’t have the sharpness in his play that made him such a shoe-in for a big move before his ban.

A lack of fitness, perhaps. But at 28 years old, with poor discipline and dwindling returns, is he really worth the punt for a club like Arsenal if they can go after Alexander Isak or Ollie Watkins instead?

Maybe I’m cynical and Toney could easily go back to the player we know. But right now, it feels like there’s better options at similar cost for the big clubs.

Front runners: Manchester United

Dark horses: Chelsea, Bayern Munich

Another summer, another set of Frenkie De Jong rumours.

The Dutch midfielder is turning out to be this generation’s Wesley Sneijder; perennially linked with Manchester United and yet little more than a ghost on the Old Trafford pitch.

Not much has changed since last summer. United still need key midfield reinforcements. Barcelona still teeter on financial disaster. De Jong’s fitness is an issue, though. He managed just 20 La Liga appearances this campaign and was stretchered off during the Blaugrana’s El Clasico defeat to Madrid in April.

He is in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for Euro 2024, but rightfully, this is more the boss giving him every chance to be fit rather than conclusive evidence he will be.

As ever with De Jong, can we expect a lot of huff and puff in the transfer columns without much happening? It seems that way.

Front runners: PSG

Dark horses: Arsenal

Marcus Rashford posted a truly poor campaign – and not just because his goal and assists output dropped off a cliff. His effort on the pitch seemed severely lacking at times.

While he has been vocal on social media about his passion for the club, failing to do the basics has frustrated a United fanbase that will now be wondering if he will ever rediscover the 17 goals he notched in last year’s Premier League.

It’s hard to argue against Rashford needing a new start. Just like Jadon Sancho, he could benefit from removing himself from the toxic nature of United, a club that swallows talent more than most. A certain French side need to fill the gap that will be left by Mbappé…

Front runners: Borussia Dortmund

Dark horses: PSG

A few weeks ago, Jadon Sancho’s form on loan at Borussia Dortmund was being used to beat Manchester United with. How could his parent club let him leave?! Press swelled on Erik ten Hag’s management of the English winger. The memes and social media jokes sharpened after Sancho’s excellent Champions League semi-final first leg display against PSG.

It’s funny how the conclusion to that narrative isn’t being prodded and poked so vehemently.

A month on from Sancho’s great performance, he went missing in the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid and watched on as United overcame the odds to triumph in a memorable FA Cup final victory against neighbours City.

A cup win that included one of the greatest games in recent memory when Liverpool visited United’s crumbling stadium and Amad Diallo–who probably wouldn’t have been in the side if Sancho remained in England–snatched a dramatic extra time winner.

It is not a sexy opinion to say, you know what, both United and Sancho did well from this arrangement.

Clearly there is a special player in Sancho. The Englishman has reminded everyone what he can do. Dortmund will likely have first dibs if United decide to cash in, but you can never rule out the PSG side he tormented moving in if he’s available.

Front runner: Manchester United

Dark horses: Manchester City, Tottenham

This year represented a true breakout season for Jarrad Branthwaite after putting in some excellent work at PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23.

The dominant centre-back is physically mature for 21 years old, has good pace, is a problem in the air and loves a one-on-one battle with his nearest mark. He’s absolutely ripe for a big move away from Everton, who are counting their pennies after stadium investment.

Manchester United could come calling. Raphaël Varane’s exit leaves a gap in the Old Trafford backline that would need hefty investment even if the Frenchman stayed. A partnership alongside Lisandro Martinez would be an interesting one if United have the funds to pry him away from Goodison Park (and that’s a big if).

Both Manchester City and Tottenham are said to also be tracking Branthwaite, two clubs who have been far more decisive in the transfer market than the Red Devils in recent times. He almost seems like too obvious a signing for United to go through with it.

Front runners: Chelsea, Manchester United

Dark horses: Manchester City

Michael Olise is one of those players that you’re just begging to stay fit. He is an incredibly talented winger; excellent on the ball, dynamic and a scorer of great goals. He’s missed nearly 200 days of football with hamstring issues in the last year, though.

The 22-year-old’s late flurry of Premier League form saw him finish the season with 10 goals and six assists in just 14 starts. New Palace boss Oliver Glasner has immediately got the best out of him, which of course, means interest has ramped up over the last few weeks.

Let’s not forget just how close Chelsea came to signing Olise last year:

It makes complete sense for the West Londoners to go back for their man. Raheem Sterling’s stock is fading already and Olise would represent a devastating alternative to Noni Madueke, who was perhaps overburdened and overworked under Mauricio Pochettino.

A frontline of Olise, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku (if he stays fit), would terrify anyone. But so would the injury records of the two French players…