Wanted property: which players look set to secure summer transfers across Europe?
Despite much of the season still to play, clubs across Europe and around the world have already had their chance to complete business over this season’s two transfer windows.
While January was a quiet one for most, Chelsea continued their spending spree by accounting for more expenditure than clubs across Europe’s top four leagues combined, not including the Premier League.
The Blues have already made plans for the summer, with Lyon’s Malo Gusto set to land in west London at the end of 2022-23. In reality, though, this is the tip of the iceberg from July onwards. Either through dazzling performances, being frozen out of the team or through needing a step-up in quality, there already looks to be a selection of nailed-on movers when the summer window opens.
With that in mind, here are five players that look set to secure summer transfers across Europe.
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
Arguably the hottest property on the continent right now, both for his spellbinding performances for Dortmund and a notable contribution to Gareth Southgate’s England side in Qatar, the clubs linked to Jude Bellingham this season have been endless. Three years after boyhood club Birmingham City retired his No.22 jersey upon his departure, Bellingham has made himself a midfield stalwart in Dortmund’s side. He has 20 goals and 24 assists in 120 appearances for the Black and Yellow, but his performances can mainly be judged on his dynamic box-to-box ability as well as his leadership skills that go way beyond his years – epitomised by his many games captaining Dortmund.
As a result, everyone from Chelsea to Barcelona to both Manchester clubs have been monitoring his situation, although it seems the race for his signature is now down to two. The connection with Liverpool is a natural one given his relationships with several players in the Three Lions setup, whereas Real Madrid’s European prestige – demonstrated against the Reds in their last-16 first leg tie – is never easy to turn down. Wherever Bellingham does end up, though, it seems almost certain that he won’t be at Dortmund for the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
Christian Pulisic arrived at Chelsea at the start of the 2020-21 season as arguably the United States men’s national team’s hottest prospect. Pulisic has spearheaded soccer in the U.S., alongside Leeds trio Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, as well as Dortmund star Gio Reyna. The growth of the betting industry has also been responsible for the growing popularity of soccer in the states. Websites such as OddsChecker allow users to compare odds and offers from the plethora of bookmakers and markets now available to consumers. For Pulisic, however, his influence in the UK has been less noticeable, as any sort of progress has been blighted by constant injury woes.
While the USMNT star currently finds himself sidelined with a knee issue sustained in early January, the biggest threat to his Chelsea career at present is the mass influx of players that have arrived in west London since the appointment of fellow countryman Todd Boehly as co-owner. In fact, it is thought that the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in January would have prompted Pulisic’s departure were it not for his knee injury, meaning a return to fitness in the summer will almost certainly be paired with a transfer out of the club.
Declan Rice (West Ham United)
Declan Rice also shined in England’s midfield alongside Bellingham this winter, building on a stellar 2021-22 with West Ham. Despite coming through the ranks at Chelsea, the midfielder was famously let go for not having sufficient physical attributes, a decision which the Blues have since regretted. Now standing at 1.88m tall and already West Ham captain at 24 years old, Rice has moulded himself into one of Europe’s most complete midfielders, being as comfortable in defence as in attack and always assured at bringing the ball out at pace.
While Rice is arguably David Moyes’ most prized player, the fact that his contract expires in June 2024 means clubs have already been circling him for some seasons, which hasn’t been helped by the player’s admissions of wanting to play Champions League football. Manchester United were in dire need of midfield reinforcements before the signing of Casemiro in the summer, and Chelsea seemed the most logical destination before their capitulation under Graham Potter this season. As a result, it is league leaders Arsenal who now appear best positioned to land the 24-year-old’s signature. In any case, it seems unlikely West Ham will turn down the opportunity to cash in on a mega-money deal for a player who, respectfully, wants to move on to bigger and better things.
Viktor Osimhen (Napoli)
As England’s top flight make all the noise in the market, Napoli are quietly tearing up Serie A some 33 years since they lost got their hands on the famous Scudetto. The Partenopei were a staggering 18 points clear of second-placed Inter after 24 matches and also had one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after an assured performance against Frankfurt in their last-16 first leg. There have been a number of underrated performers key to their success in 2022-23, however, striker Viktor Osimhen has received many of the plaudits, and rightly so.
The Nigeria international joined the Campania side in 2020 but really kicked on a year later, finishing 2021-22 with 18 goals to his name. This term, after just 25 matches played, Osimhen already has 21 goals alongside three assists in all competitions and has forged a formidable partnership with Georgian superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Such performances don’t come without their admirers, however, with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis resigned to losing the pair after their win in Frankfurt. Kvaratskhelia may be easier to keep given that it is his debut season in Naples. Osimhen, however, has attracted the likes of Man United, Chelsea and PSG, who could prove difficult for De Laurentiis to turn down come the summer.
James Maddison (Leicester City)
Many pundits and fans alike were surprised when Leicester midfielder James Maddison was unable to land a move away from the club before the start of the 2022-23 campaign. The decision proved vital, however as Brendan Rodgers’ side made a rocky start to the season, having lost defensive stalwarts Wesley Fofana and Kasper Schmeichel without finding adequate replacements. Maddison’s contributions have been pivotal, with the England international racking up nine goals and five assists despite a season blighted by a knee injury. In fact, the Foxes have won just one of the seven games in his absence.
Like Rice, though, Maddison is playing at a level way beyond his current side, who were placed 14th in the league after 24 matches. The rumours to Arsenal and Newcastle – which began last summer – won’t go away, as Man City are now also thought to have entered the race. There is no doubt that Rodgers and Co. won’t want to lose the 26-year-old – especially if midfield partner Youri Tielemans ends up leaving as well – but with just over a year left on his contract they may have no choice but to cash in on a wantaway player. What’s more, Maddison’s departure was all but confirmed after Rodgers himself admitted in a press conference that he “wouldn’t beg” the midfielder to stay.
It can be hard to fully predict the nature of a transfer window, but some players are more or less guaranteed to move even if the final destinations are unknown.
While the futures of certain loanees – such as the incoming and outgoing Chelsea signings Joao Felix and Romelu Lukaku – are still up in the air, it seems that these five players have all but secured their fate on the permanent transfer market in 2022-23.
It remains to be seen, however, what transfer sagas emerge and how long they rage on for, as Europe’s elite sides look set to battle it out for some of the continent’s most sought-after prospects.